Loggy said:
I can always modify Poll is we get a heavy French following here. :lol: Wouldnt surprise me if Batchief likes those French offerings. :lol:
Batchief can weedle out of most anything.
As far as scopes, here is an
opinion. We really don't know. :shock:
Though many of us get more emotionally involved with our little plastic and aluminum tubes than would be considered normal, there is no way for the consumer to tell the difference from country of origin alone. Many of the off-shore scope lines are owned and operated by American or European firms. Few of us have EVER seen a scope line, and can say if the Chinese guy is better or worse than the Korean guy working in Japan, or a German engineered scope made in Thailand-- or in Rochester, NY. We just don't know.
There
are run-out tolerances, and tolerances as to the machining of the tubes. Seldom stated by manufacturers. There are resolution specifications, just like other optical gear-- but they are not published.
There are lab-tested light transmission specs-- but, they are not clearly stated. Some "specs" include the non-visible light frequencies as well. I sure don't care about that. :?
Scopes are built per print-- with allowable machining tolerances that directly affect repeatability of adjustments. The consumer cannot compare them.
Every single scope design is a unique individual. We would like to think that all Elite 3200s are the same or similar, all VX-II's are the same or similar, all Conquests are the same or similar. They are not, a different tube means different components. A different design means different compromises. The human eye is a poor judge of these things, and the scope makers know that. Most of us cannot tell the difference between a VX-III, an Elite 4200, or an Elite 3200. It is nearly impossible, unless compared side-by-side. Then, it is still subjective.
Which scopes have leaf springs, which the proven superior coil springs? We don't know in most cases. What is the best erector tube design? No one talks about that-- and that is what allows a scope to hold its zero.
Just like binoculars, if we REALLY want a bright, clear scope-- large objectives and low magnification rules, regardless of brand. But, we don't really want what we think we do.
Most of us just cannot look through a scope and tell whether it is multi-coated, or fully multi-coated-- much less how many coatings are used. Much less the difference between 4, 5 , 7, 10 coatings. Quality of machining and quality of assembly is not something we can see under normal circumstances.
Economy of scale comes into the equation, as well as perhaps the most important point in determining the cost of a scope: the cost of hand labor.