Class of Glass

[grfox92]

I think it would be helpful to compile a list of Binoculars and Spotters by class.

I think for usable optics for hunting we would need 4 classes. A, B, C, D. Ill need help from the forum to compile an appropriate list because I haven't spent enough time behind enough different brands to do it on my own, and I will update this original post as we go. If anyone disagrees where a particular set of optics falls on the list, let's discuss it in the thread. If anyone thinks there are more classes, that can be addressed as well. My initial list will be short. Really will be relying on the glass snobs to contribute.

Binoculars.

Class A

Swarovski NL Pure
Zeiss Victory
Leica Noctovid

Class B

Swarovski SLC
Zeiss SFL
Leica Geovid
Maven B Series
Vortex Razor HD

Class C

Maven C Series
Vortex Viper
Burris Signiture
Zeiss Conquest
Leupold BX 4

Class D

Vortex Diamondback


Spotting Scopes

Class A

Swarovski ATX / STX
Kowa Prominar

Class B

Swarovski STS
Maven S1, S2, S3?
Zeiss Conquest

Class C

Maven C series
Leupold SX4

Class D

Vortex Diamondback

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[easternoregonballistics]

Leupold BX4 is every bit comparable to vortex vipers. Just my 2 cents

 

[Northern Outback]

And where does the vortex razor UHD stand if the Razor is in class B?

 

[Macintosh]

I dont own slc or sfl’s, but are those truly comparable to maven B’s?

I imagine a crowd-sourced relative rating system only among people who have owned both (ie you cant make a comparison unless you have something to compare to) would be the only way to do this, given different eyes and different levels of scrutiny are going to rate things differently.

 

[grfox92]

And where does the vortex razor UHD stand if the Razor is in class B?

I dont know? Do you have an idea?

 

[grfox92]

I dont own slc or sfl’s, but are those truly comparable to maven B’s?

I imagine a crowd-sourced relative rating system only among people who have owned both (ie you cant make a comparison unless you have something to compare to) would be the only way to do this, given different eyes and different levels of scrutiny are going to rate things differently.

Are you saying that Maven Bs arent as good as SLCs?

 

[grfox92]

Leupold BX4 is every bit comparable to vortex vipers. Just my 2 cents

Updated.

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[Macintosh]

Are you saying that Maven Bs arent as good as SLCs?

That is precisely ***NOT*** what Im saying.

Your ranking suggested to me that you thought they were comparable. I own a set of maven B’s, but not SLC’s or SFL’s. Ive always heard the mavens were a good value, and I like mine, but Ive never seen someone suggest they are in the same class as those particular swaro or zeiss models. So I dont have experience to say one way or the other. So Im asking people who DO have experience with all of them if your categorization is legit for MOST PEOPLE. Example, If you’d said zeiss terra ed I woulldnt have batted an eye…but SFL’s, that made me take notice, as I have seen numerous reviews from people with much experience that really like those. I am surprised, and wondering if other people aside from you consider them comparable. If so that makes the mavens an even better buy.

 

[grfox92]

That is precisely ***NOT*** what Im saying.

Your ranking suggested to me that you thought they were comparable. I own a set of maven B’s, but not SLC’s or SFL’s. Ive always heard the mavens were a good value, but Ive never seen someone suggest they are in the same class as those swaro or zeiss models. So Im asking people who DO have experience with all of them if your categorization is legit for MOST PEOPLE. Example, If you’d said zeiss terra ed I woulldnt have batted an eye…but SFL’s, that made me take notice, as I have seen numerous reviews from people with much experience that really like those. I am surprised, and wondering if other people aside from you consider them comparable. If so that makes the mavens an even better buy.

I have been able to look through SLCs and B Series and I think they are in the same class. I dont know where to find it on the forum, but I have seen some people claim to prefer the B series over the SLCs and know one biologist here in Wyoming who sold SLCs to buys Maven Bs. I have no experience with SFLs and me putting them there on the list is just my perception.

Hopefully others who have used both can chime in.

 

[swavescatter]

I dont own slc or sfl’s, but are those truly comparable to maven B’s?

I imagine a crowd-sourced relative rating system only among people who have owned both (ie you cant make a comparison unless you have something to compare to) would be the only way to do this, given different eyes and different levels of scrutiny are going to rate things differently.

 

[EdP]

There is a standard rating system for optical glass but it may not take into account the effect of coatings, which is significant.

Ref:
Optical glass is classified using an international six-digit code that details its refractive index \(n_{d}\) and Abbe number \(v_{d}\) (a measure of chromatic dispersion). For example, the popular crown glass BK7 is coded as 517642, indicating a refractive index of 1.517 and an Abbe number of 64.2. [1, 2]
Developed by major manufacturers like SCHOTT and Ohara Corp, this system serves as a standardized guide for optical designers. The classification details key properties: [1, 2, 3, 4]

• Refractive Index (\(n_{d}\)): Measures how much light is bent (refracted) as it enters the glass.
• Abbe Number (\(v_{d}\)): Measures dispersion; a higher number means less color fringing (chromatic aberration). [1, 2, 3, 4]

Manufacturers also rate glass quality using letter grades based on internal flaws, bubbles, and stress. You can explore the full matrix of optical properties and grades using the SCHOTT Interactive Abbe Diagram. [1, 2, 3, 4]

 

[schmidty3]

Seems like a waste of time.

Everyone's eyes are different (I think my leica geovid pro's are way better then EL ranges, but other people think the opposite).

Every individual bino unit can have tolerances inside or outside spec. (I really didnt like my swaro STC, eye relief seemed way short)

And every different model within a product line can be different...i.e... a lot of people dont like the nx8 2.5-20, but love the 4-32