Opticron MM4 60

[willfrye027]

Anybody tried these or compared them to some of the more popular hunting brands? I have been saving up for the kowa 55 but ran across a lot of positive reviews of the opticron on the birding forums. Also, anybody know the actual weight? Can't figure out if the advertised 25oz weight is body alone or body+eyepiece...

 

[sndmn11]

This is perfect timing then! I have been looking for a lightweight spotter for some time and was told by Terry Kramer that Opticron's made one of the best he has seen in the MM3, but he had not yet looked through the waterproof and made in Japan MM4. I looked into Opticron initially at the 50mm version, and then noticed that the 60mm version was only 4oz more, so I ordered the 60mm with SDLv2 eye piece direct from Opticron. 15-45x60, made in Japan, waterproof, ~35oz (25.7body + 9.5 eyepiece), and the birder's seem to love it. I should receive it Monday and will have it in SLC at the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo if anyone wants to have a view.

 

[wind gypsy]

I was planning on going the Opticron direction before getting the kowa 553. They are a nice option, I believe it has a wider field of view and you can rotate the body which is nice on the angled spotters.

Kowa's can be had for $1500 if you call some of the supporting vendors that sell them. The weight and reputation as the best in that segment was enough for me to lean that way.

 

[willfrye027]

This is perfect timing then! I have been looking for a lightweight spotter for some time and was told by Terry Kramer that Opticron's made one of the best he has seen in the MM3, but he had not yet looked through the waterproof and made in Japan MM4. I looked into Opticron initially at the 50mm version, and then noticed that the 60mm version was only 4oz more, so I ordered the 60mm with SDLv2 eye piece direct from Opticron. 15-45x60, made in Japan, waterproof, ~35oz (25.7body + 9.5 eyepiece), and the birder's seem to love it. I should receive it Monday and will have it in SLC at the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo if anyone wants to have a view.

Wow I cannot wait for your reviews on all of those! What kind of testing are you planning to do?

 

[sndmn11]

Probably just see how I like the view and how it compares to others for my eyes. A big part of why I am bringing it to SLC is to let others have a go at it as well since all the reviews I found were from birders and my chart I made up seemed to glaringly point out that it might be fantastic for backpack hunting.

 

[willfrye027]

Probably just see how I like the view and how it compares to others for my eyes. A big part of why I am bringing it to SLC is to let others have a go at it as well since all the reviews I found were from birders and my chart I made up seemed to glaringly point out that it might be fantastic for backpack hunting.

Did you get a chance to compare some of these? Still haven’t decided which direction I want to go.

 

[sndmn11]

I did! It showed up at the hotel in SLC a day late, so I got one morning out downtown trying to find pigeons at different angles to the sun. I am super happy with my purchase. I just got back two days ago and have been catching up on being gone from home and the office for a week. I have a herd of elk that cycles through by my house about a week on and a week off, and they were around yesterday and today. My hope is that they will be around Saturday so I can get some pictures of the view from different distances and angles to the sun. With the weight being a driving factor, I weighed the body on cheap digital kitchen scale at 1lb 12.4oz (with a arca plate screwed on) and the eye piece at 10.7oz. Together they were 2lb 7.1oz, which tells me that scale was consistent but the accuracy unknown. So, I went to the post office and weighed them together at 2lb 7.2oz or 39oz if there is still 16oz to a pound. So, still relatively lightweight, but maybe not quite as advertised.

 

[willfrye027]

I did! It showed up at the hotel in SLC a day late, so I got one morning out downtown trying to find pigeons at different angles to the sun. I am super happy with my purchase. I just got back two days ago and have been catching up on being gone from home and the office for a week. I have a herd of elk that cycles through by my house about a week on and a week off, and they were around yesterday and today. My hope is that they will be around Saturday so I can get some pictures of the view from different distances and angles to the sun. With the weight being a driving factor, I weighed the body on cheap digital kitchen scale at 1lb 12.4oz (with a arca plate screwed on) and the eye piece at 10.7oz. Together they were 2lb 7.1oz, which tells me that scale was consistent but the accuracy unknown. So, I went to the post office and weighed them together at 2lb 7.2oz or 39oz if there is still 16oz to a pound. So, still relatively lightweight, but maybe not quite as advertised.

Did you have a chance to compare with the kowa? I’m kind of torn between those two.

 

[sndmn11]

Did you have a chance to compare with the kowa? I’m kind of torn between those two.

I did not. I visited the booths of manufacturers only and Kowa was not present. There may have been a retailer with Kowa scopes, though I don't remember seeing any displayed, but I would not have felt right taking up that retailer's time having a view knowing full well that I had no intention buying. It is different in my eyes with a mfg's booth because that is their purpose for exhibition and they do not sell. I was able to get (from my chart above) the 60mm Leupold outside, and had a view of the 50mm Vortex inside and nothing about either gave me reason to reconsider.

I am of the belief that quality businesses are willing to work with customers in a reasonable manner, and usually go above and beyond "fair". BH Photo carries both brands and it might be worth it to reach out to them about a potential test/trial period of both, the worst someone can say is no. The only draw back to that is I do not see BH listing the SDLv2 eye piece listed, but I am sure they could get one.

 

[Matt G.]

I am really curious about this scope as well. What is the difference between this one and the MM3 ED

 

[willfrye027]

I am really curious about this scope as well. What is the difference between this one and the MM3 ED

Waterproofing among other things.

 

[sndmn11]

I am really curious about this scope as well. What is the difference between this one and the MM3 ED

MM4 is made in Japan, "ED glass" is used, and the body is waterproof. The SDLv2 eye piece is also waterproof, but will fit many of the bodies not just the MM4.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I am really curious about this scope as well. What is the difference between this one and the MM3 ED

They tweaked some stuff from the MM3 ED to the MM4 ED but one thing to pay attention to is the "ED" badge, they re-released the MM3 line and it is not ED and is a budget line from what the MM3 ED is.

Hey sndmn11, I actually acquired a decent collection of opticron stuff and am somewhat local. I might cull a couple things eventually but at the moment have:
50mm MM4 ED straight
60mm MM3 ED angled
80mm HR GA ED straight
SDL v2 zoom eyepiece
HDF T zoom Eyepiece
40809 fixed wide angle eyepiece

I tend to carry the 50mm body alot since its so small and light and I'm more comfortable with straight body spotter currently. Just got the wide angle fixed, liking that in initial tests, I'd likely carry the SDL along as well if needing to zoom in further (9.7oz on my scale).