Maven Spotting Scopes

[Rizzy]

The specs say fluorite glass, isn't that what separates Kowa from the competition?

 

[Matt Cashell]

The specs say fluorite glass, isn't that what separates Kowa from the competition?

The Kowa 88 has a fluorite crystal element. Sounds like the maven uses optical glass with fluorite as a component, like other HD, APO, ED designs.

The source of raw glass likely has very little to do with the end performance. Most optical glass suppliers offer quality raw glass. End performance has much more to do with what the designer DOES with that raw glass.

 

[WRO]

The source of raw glass likely has very little to do with the end performance. Most optical glass suppliers offer quality raw glass. End performance has much more to do with what the designer DOES with that raw glass.

I disagree with that, there is a definite performance difference between the German glass and all of the other glass (kowa being the one exception in my opinion) when it comes to sport optics.

The glass is like the engine block, its the overall starting point. Cheap glass is like a Honda 4 banger, not matter what you do to it, it will never have the performance potential of a V8 Chevy block.

 

[Matt Cashell]

I disagree with that, there is a definite performance difference between the German glass and all of the other glass (kowa being the one exception in my opinion) when it comes to sport optics.

The glass is like the engine block, its the overall starting point. Cheap glass is like a Honda 4 banger, not matter what you do to it, it will never have the performance potential of a V8 Chevy block.

I am not saying there aren't different quality levels of optical glass or that the quality of glass is irrelevant to performance. What I am saying is that most major optical glass suppliers offer excellent raw glass, regardless of country of origin.

I have little doubt that every sport optics company would love you to believe that their raw glass is inherently superior to the competition, but many source glass from multiple suppliers or the same supplier as the competition.

In the end, performance matters.

 

[troutdreamer]

performance potential of a V8 Chevy block.

So you must own a high performance american vehicle instead or a "cheap Japanese" one.

 

[WRO]

I am not saying there aren't different quality levels of optical glass or that the quality of glass is irrelevant to performance. What I am saying is that most major optical glass suppliers offer excellent raw glass, regardless of country of origin.

I have little doubt that every sport optics company would love you to believe that their raw glass is inherently superior to the competition, but many source glass from multiple suppliers or the same supplier as the competition.

In the end, performance matters.

Coming full circle the generally accepted best sport optics on the market, High end Zeiss/Hensdolt, Leica, Meopta, Schmidt and Bender, and Swaro/Khales all come from Schott in Germany, In my experience these on average have glass that is better than the rest of the competition.

 

[WRO]

So you must own a high performance american vehicle instead or a "cheap Japanese" one.

The Japanese make damn fine rigs, they have a ways to go on sport optics glass.

The really high end nikons were nice, to bad they never caught on.

 

[Matt Cashell]

Coming full circle the generally accepted best sport optics on the market, High end Zeiss/Hensdolt, Leica, Meopta, Schmidt and Bender, and Swaro/Khales all come from Schott in Germany

Schott does come full circle on my point. Schott is based out of Germany but manufactures/processes glass in countries all over the world including the USA and ... GASP ... China. Further, some of the most respected optics in the world including Canon and Nikon telephoto lenses and extremely high performance astro telescopes use raw glass from Asian suppliers other than Schott.

My point is, whether or not Maven uses Schott glass or some other brand, I will be evaluating the performance, and don't really care who they buy the glass from.

In my experience these on average have glass that is better than the rest of the competition.

Is it the brand of raw glass that makes them better, or the precision manufacturing, design, and coatings? From conversations I have had with optical engineers, the latter is far more important.

I really look forward to sharing my thoughts on the Maven with Roksliders.

 

[Ryan Avery]

Is it the brand of raw glass that makes them better, or the precision manufacturing, design, and coatings? From conversations I have had with optical engineers, the latter is far more important

Matt,
I asked a Swarovski engineer that exact question this week. He said, glass does matter but coatings matter more.

 

[Josh Wright]

All I know is my Maven's are excellent.

 

[WRO]

I really look forward to sharing my thoughts on the Maven with Roksliders.

I look forward to reading it, when i did side by side testing with a buddy, our results matched your atx/kowa test.

 

[HookUp]

The competition is making all the companies better. Do your homework, talk to people and get a feel for what glass and price works for you. I like my Swarovski's but I'm sure I would be very happy with some Maven's, Nikon's or Vortex.

 

[MT Bill]

I really look forward to sharing my thoughts on the Maven with Roksliders.

Any updates on when we might read about your thoughts on this scope?

 

[Fireguy]

I'm curious too. Not real thrilled that is only zooms to 50x though.

 

[sneaky]

I'm curious too. Not real thrilled that is only zooms to 50x though.

That's with the WA eyepiece

 

[Fireguy]

That's with the WA eyepiece

Just checked their site and that seems to be the only eye piece that they offer.

 

[MT Bill]

That's all I saw for an eyepiece too and I'm not sure that it's removable. Maybe they'll come out with more options soon.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

 

[Steve C]

I have a Maven and a Meopta S2 on the way for review. Looking forward to the comparison. I saw the Maven at a show a few months ago and was really impressed. We'll see if that impression holds up outside against good competition.

Matt is right about the glass.

 

[MT Bill]

I have a Maven and a Meopta S2 on the way for review. Looking forward to the comparison. I saw the Maven at a show a few months ago and was really impressed. We'll see if that impression holds up outside against good competition.

Matt is right about the glass.

Looking forward to reading your review! They ate always well done and informative, in fact they helped me to decide on my binos.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

 

[Fireguy]

Anyone have any updates?