optics for crossbow

[brayhaven]

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The best I've looked through in low light has been a Zeiss. It was'nt the cheaper U.S made Conquest line. If I remember correct it was around $1300.00

Scope are definetly one of those items where you get what you pay for.

Totally agree on the quality of Zeiss scopes. That's what I use on the only modern rifle I shoot. But as you know, you can get a decent used car for what one costs you. There is a myth that scopes can actually make it "lighter". That does not happen. It might help you to see something better by magnifying it, but if you can't see it with your eye, you won't see it with the scope, unless you're using a starlight scope ). The zeiss is the best at light "gathering" in tests and actual use, but it still doesn't extend (responsible) shooting time.
Greg

[maddog]

Save your money. Use the Varizone......the advantages far outweigh the possible disadvantage of less light being transmitted.
I have a excalibur Varizone on both my Horton and Excalibur xbows. The original Horton scope I had was junk!
Bill from PA

[brayhaven]

I use the Simmons 4X crossbow scope This scope definitely has "light gathering" capabilities. You can see much better through the scope in the dark than you can without it and its not due to the magnification. Its because of the physical size of the objective lens (front of scope). Same reason deer/cattle can see in the dark better than we can. Their eyes are much larger so they gather more light.

Congrats, your scope has eclipsed the laws of physics & you didn't even have to pay zeiss prices for it ). Try this: take a light meter and tape it to the ocular lens, totally blocking any light that doesn't come through the scope. Take a light reading. Then remove it and take a light reading. You'll see that the scope reduces ambient light considerably. Some are more efficient than others due to, magnification, objective diameter, superior optics etc, but none actually increase or even transmit the actual ambient light level. Same with binocs. Or you can look at the specs and the extensive testing done by companies like Zeiss, Swarovski, Leitz etc, and you'll get an idea.

[terry1]

All scopes loose light through the lens. Most real good scopes put maybe 90%-95% of light to your eye. But however with that said You can see better alot of times with good optics than your eyes alone. I often see a dark object moving toward me about dusk and pick up my binoculars and can see it is a deer buck or doe. without them it is just a dark spot.

[brayhaven]

Yes Terry, binoculars or a good scope definitley help with resolution in poor light. They do it by magnifying the object and clarifying it but not by increasing the light. No (purely) optical instrument can amplify ambient light. On the contrary, none can transmit 100% of the existing light either. I use Zeiss binoculars (8X30) because they are the very best I've found in low light and have the best resolution I've seen. Same for the Zeiss scopes but, even they can't increase visibility; only sharpen an image that you can see already and bring it closer and more focused. I had a good friend ,who I've lost contact with now, that could explain it much better than I can . He was a light engineer who designed spetrophotometers, laser and other light related equipment. The bottom line is to get the best equipment you can afford and look around at a few scopes that you think might work for you; testing them in poor light. I don't worry about it because I won't use a scope on my crossbow again. I'm working on adapting a tritium fiber optic sight pin to a front sight I'm machining for mine to use in the low light of the early AM. I'll let you guys know how it works out.
Greg

[brayhaven]

I'm not sure if Zeiss makes a "crossbow" scope. I think most crossbow scopes are basically the same as rifle/shotgun scopes with a little difference in reticles or range adjustments (rangefinders) and or paralax adjustments to compensate for the much shorter ranges.
As a gunsmith I look through a whole lot of scopes day in & day out. I think, generally, cheap scopes have gotten better and closed the gap between them and the outstanding European scopes. I think they have really closed the gap between expensive mid/upper lines like Leupold etc. (though there is still a gap ) I see less of them with broken reticles, full of water etc. A lot still have trouble holding a zero and inconsistent adjustments. I try to advise my customers not to skimp when buying a scope. Some of them even listen ).

As for "bright" scopes, the brightes scope I ever looked through was the old Weaver K-1, 1 power. It was a very fast, strong scope that I installed on some African dangerous game rifles I built.
Greg

[brayhaven]

Greg: Glad to find out you are a gunsmith. Now I know where to go for "free" advice on smithing! Just kidding of course. I'm glad to have had this discussion. Regards

Bob

Glad to give any advice I can to my friends here on the crossbow hunting forum. They've certainly given me plenty (of good advice) on crossbow hunting which I just took up this past season after many years of "vertical" archery.
Greg

[Guest]

Terry1,

I have good glass on my rifles (Zeiss/Leupold). I tried a Leupold Vari III 1.5 x 5 on my Xcalibur.
I learned from hunting Black Bear, nothing beats a cheap RED DOT.

Let me explain, in open woods on a clear sunny day my glass optics were good enough well past legal shooting times.

However, in dark cedar swamps you loose almost 15 minutes of shooting light. In addition, the animal is black and blends in with the dark background.

I found with a RED DOT and aiming with both eyes open provided me enough picture acquistion to securely make killing shots.
In a darkened field of view, the RED DOT was crystall clear against the dark hide of a bear.
I know use the exact same set-up for deer and have never had to pass up a shot because of low light conditions.

[brayhaven]

As long as you remember to change the battery every day and adjust the dot brightness as the light changes etc.

I think the tritium sight pin might be the thing for simplicity, dependability & low light conditions.

Greg