Bx4 10x42 problems

[Waterboy]

I’ve had these binos for about a month now. They are fantastic. Crisp clean image. Kinda narrow on fov but that isn’t an issue. The problem is the low light ability is unreal. I’ve seen a large bob cat and two shooter bucks. I haven’t been able to pull the trigger on any of them because my scopes are dragging behind. Nikon pro staff (bobcat) (worst of the bunch by far), meopro 4-12x50, optika6 3-18x50 4k illuminated. I think the optika has been the best but it doesn’t compare to the bx4. Any scopes out there under $1k match the bx4 on low light? I’ve looked at the zeiss v4 3-12x44 and it looks very nice but not sure about low light.

 

[Matt Cashell]

What magnification were you using on the scopes?

 

[Waterboy]

4 for the Nikon and meopro, 3 for the optika. I always keep the scope at the lowest setting for quick shots. So I’d prefer to stay in the 2,3,or 4 for lowest power. High end I’d say 9-15.

 

[Thinkingman]

Low power and 50mm objective are going to be your best combo, unless you go 56mm.
I would argue an illuminated crosshair might tend to wash out some of your details of your target, even if it's red.

 

[SirChooCH]

From the specs on the website, the Leupold VX-3HD scope line has the same "Elite Optical System" dusk to dawn coatings as the BX-4 binos

 

[Waterboy]

Yeah the optika 6 has the best reticle to me. It has thick lines on the side and bottom and a small portion of the crosshairs are illuminated kinda like a dot. It doesn’t wash out. I’m good with the 50mm objective. Not sure if I’d like the 56mm but I’m open to any suggestions. I really just wanna know what scope can stay out in the woods as long as my 10x42 bx4’s

 

[Waterboy]

From the specs on the website, the Leupold VX-3HD scope line has the same "Elite Optical System" dusk to dawn coatings as the BX-4 binos

I’m looking more for hands on. Applied and tested specs. If the scope uses the same coatings then I probably need to check on that.

 

[Bearwhisky]

Trijicon accupoint 3-9 is excellent in low light


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Matt Cashell]

This is a mystery.

While it is unsurprising that the binocular would be brighter, The Meopta scopes are quality multi coated scopes that should provide an image at least nearly as bright as the binocular at their lowest powers. The exit pupil should be large and forgiving at those low powers.

Binoculars also often seem noticeably brighter due to “binocular summation” (the utilization of both eyes), but again it is hard to imagine the riflescope being unusably dim at lowest powers if the binocular is providing a suitably bright image under the same conditions.

I might have to do an experiment tonight.

 

[Waterboy]

This is a mystery.

While it is unsurprising that the binocular would be brighter, The Meopta scopes are quality multi coated scopes that should provide an image at least nearly as bright as the binocular at their lowest powers. The exit pupil should be large and forgiving at those low powers.

Binoculars also often seem noticeably brighter due to “binocular summation” (the utilization of both eyes), but again it is hard to imagine the riflescope being unusably dim at lowest powers if the binocular is providing a suitably bright image under the same conditions.

I might have to do an experiment tonight.

I agree. I’ve kinda been thinking it’s a coatings thing. The glass on the optika seems way brighter than the meopro to me and several friends. The glass on the meopro is sharper to me though. I think the meopro glass is close to the bx4 glass but the coatings on the meopro are darker.

Trijicon accupoint 3-9 is excellent in low light


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’ve heard that. Trijicon reticles look funky to me but I’m sure I can find one I can live with.

 

[robby denning]

I might have to do an experiment tonight.

Do it!

 

[SirChooCH]

This is a mystery.

While it is unsurprising that the binocular would be brighter.

I might have to do an experiment tonight.

Yeah I have noticed since I got my BX-4s that I can see deer through them way easier than my bow site or shotgun scope. This is at very last light moments.

I’m looking more for hands on. Applied and tested specs. If the scope uses the same coatings then I probably need to check on that.

I now have both...but have not used the scope much to say its as good as the binoculars at low light since its on a CM and I live in a shotgun zone so haven't deer hunted with it yet.

 

[Waterboy]

Yeah I have noticed since I got my BX-4s that I can see deer through them way easier than my bow site or shotgun scope. This is at very last light moments.


I now have both...but have not used the scope much to say its as good as the binoculars at low light since its on a CM and I live in a shotgun zone so haven't deer hunted with it yet.

Does the glass and coatings seem similar on the vx3 and bx4?

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Getting the same coatings and objective size is not how it works. Contrary to belief, larger objectives don't gather more light, they allow more in. As soon as you squeeze that 50mm or whatever down to a 1", 30mm, 34mm, etc tube you're now down to the light that can pass through that so the only thing you're actually gaining with that larger objective size is exit pupil. The barrels on binos are A LOT bigger than a scope tube.

As far as coatings and glass, that's all fine and dandy but a variable power optic has more lenses and complications than a pair of binos. Therefor further reducing light transmission.

You're going to need a lot better glass than those BX4's to see the same thing in low light. You need to be looking at higher end euro glass for the most part with a few exceptions. Swaro and S&B are excellent optically as is Hensoldt.

 

[Waterboy]

Getting the same coatings and objective size is not how it works. Contrary to belief, larger objectives don't gather more light, they allow more in. As soon as you squeeze that 50mm or whatever down to a 1", 30mm, 34mm, etc tube you're now down to the light that can pass through that so the only thing you're actually gaining with that larger objective size is exit pupil. The barrels on binos are A LOT bigger than a scope tube.

As far as coatings and glass, that's all fine and dandy but a variable power optic has more lenses and complications than a pair of binos. Therefor further reducing light transmission.

You're going to need a lot better glass than those BX4's to see the same thing in low light. You need to be looking at higher end euro glass for the most part with a few exceptions. Swaro and S&B are excellent optically as is Hensoldt.

Exit pupil being larger is better to a certain extent. The meopro allowed me to see the animal but not near as good as the bx4’s. I could possibly make a shot with the meopro if I could make out the cross hairs. I agree that the bigger tubes are better for low light. The 30mm optika looks brighter than the 1” meopro in daytime. I haven’t seriously compared them in low light but based of usability I’d say the optika gets the nod based on reticle alone.

 

[Thinkingman]

Getting the same coatings and objective size is not how it works. Contrary to belief, larger objectives don't gather more light, they allow more in. As soon as you squeeze that 50mm or whatever down to a 1", 30mm, 34mm, etc tube you're now down to the light that can pass through that so the only thing you're actually gaining with that larger objective size is exit pupil. The barrels on binos are A LOT bigger than a scope tube.

As far as coatings and glass, that's all fine and dandy but a variable power optic has more lenses and complications than a pair of binos. Therefor further reducing light transmission.

You're going to need a lot better glass than those BX4's to see the same thing in low light. You need to be looking at higher end euro glass for the most part with a few exceptions. Swaro and S&B are excellent optically as is Hensoldt.

Are you saying the scope tube diameter is relative to the light transmission?

 

[redneckbmxer24]

The bottom line is that those are both lower end riflescopes that have just ok glass, and those binos are more mid range binos that have excellent glass for their price range. You're not going to see the stuff with the scope that you will with the binos. Buying a better scope is the answer.

 

[Matt Cashell]

Getting the same coatings and objective size is not how it works. Contrary to belief, larger objectives don't gather more light, they allow more in. As soon as you squeeze that 50mm or whatever down to a 1", 30mm, 34mm, etc tube you're now down to the light that can pass through that so the only thing you're actually gaining with that larger objective size is exit pupil. The barrels on binos are A LOT bigger than a scope tube.

This is an incorrect, although common misconception. The tube diameter has absolutely nothing to do with the amount of light getting through the system. It only allows the erector to move a greater distance, resulting in more available adjustment. The path of light in that part of the riflescope system is relatively small in diameter and not constrained by any tube size.

This is the consensus of every optical engineer I’ve discussed it with.

 

[centershot]

Burris Signature HD Scopes are a lot like your binos. They punch way above their price tag. I have a couple 3-15x44's that are amazingly bright and priced for the working guy.

 

[Matt Cashell]

I might have to do an experiment tonight.

Got too dark on me last night, but I will get to this sometime soon and update the thread.