Nightforce doesnt gather light?

realtree hunter

realtree hunter

New member
I was in the sporting goods store today and overheard something surprising to me. I head a guy tell another guy that a Nightforce scope does not and is not made for gathering light, that they are known for their clarity. Not being something I have ever heard before, I thought I would bring it before the forum and see that all the Nightforce guys think. The conversation was about the NXS 5.5 x 22 x 50 scope. Is this guy rite? I really had my heart set on one of these scopes in the near future but I wanted it for a hunting rifle, according to him, its not a good choice for a hunting gun, just a target rifle. Opinions?
 
No idea what he was talking about, but when talking about daytime optics there is no such thing as "light gathering". There is such a thing as "light transmission". Maybe that is what he was talking about?

Chupa
 
I havent got a clue, he just said that it wasnt a good choice for low-light shooting. Exactly opposite of everything I have ever heard about a Nightforce.
 
buy the nightforce and don't look back. they are hard to beat for the money. the light transmission is great. i used one at night for predator hunting and couldn't of been happier.
 
I agree with Chupa, scopes do not "gather" light. That word makes it sound like somehow there is more light being sucked in than there otherwise would be.
 
Originally Posted By: realtree hunterI was in the sporting goods store today and overheard something surprising to me. I head a guy tell another guy that a Nightforce scope does not and is not made for gathering light, that they are known for their clarity.

I was at the sporting goods store a couple of months ago, and the guy behind the counter told me that Swarovski scopes were made by Leupold.
I didn't know that.
 
Get that nightforce scope and smack him in the head with it, maybe that will show him the light. Most people have never been behind a product that they are badmouthing. I had never even heard about nightforce scopes until my buddy started showing me his.....he only has about 17 of them. Now I have one.

If you can afford one, get one.....simple as that, you won't be sorry.
 
I've talked to people who assume that since "night" is in the name, that it is night vision. Maybe that's where the light gathering came in?
 
Doesnt Trijicon have a scope with some sort of fiber optics on it to help "gather" light?

I bet he was simply stating nightforces have no paticularly special features that make them transmit more light than another comparable scope...
 
Uhmmm... YES and NO.

Trijicon does have a fiber optic coil to gather light, however it's sole purpose is to increase the intensity of the lighted reticle dot/triangle, during daylight hours. In low light, or in dark, it serves no purpose; the lighted portion of the reticle is powered by a radioactive phosphorus dust.
 
Originally Posted By: Rocky1Uhmmm... YES and NO.

Trijicon does have a fiber optic coil to gather light, however it's sole purpose is to increase the intensity of the lighted reticle dot/triangle, during daylight hours. In low light, or in dark, it serves no purpose; the lighted portion of the reticle is powered by a radioactive phosphorus dust.



+1

Outstanding explanation Rock!


Chupa
 
OK, I'll say it, The few Nightforce scopes that I have looked through were not that bright, clear, or sharp. Rugged, repeatable, built like a tank, yes. Other high end scopes have better low light coatings. I will say that I have only limited experiance with Nightforce, and was looking through them at dusk, and then under a full moon. Leupold Mark 4 LR/T was much better, day or night, IMO. Made in USA. You might also look at Swarovski Z5, or Zeiss.
 
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I wish all Leupold scopes still came with the "Made in USA" on them.

Take a NF scope with it's inner workings add Swarovski glass and the price of a mid grade Leupold !
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Originally Posted By: gonzagaGet that nightforce scope and smack him in the head with it, maybe that will show him the light. Most people have never been behind a product that they are badmouthing. I had never even heard about nightforce scopes until my buddy started showing me his.....he only has about 17 of them. Now I have one.

If you can afford one, get one.....simple as that, you won't be sorry.

thumbup1.gif
 
Originally Posted By: ninehorsesOK, I'll say it, The few Nightforce scopes that I have looked through were not that bright, clear, or sharp. Rugged, repeatable, built like a tank, yes. Other high end scopes have better low light coatings. I will say that I have only limited experiance with Nightforce, and was looking through them at dusk, and then under a full moon. Leupold Mark 4 LR/T was much better, day or night, IMO. Made in USA. You might also look at Swarovski Z5, or Zeiss.
you are right on this as well, NF glass is good but not great, they are very repeatable when it comes to tracking and wind/elev. adjustments, IF leupold would get their $hit together and offer a MKIV with and MOA reticle i believe they would increase sales big time, i'm not gonna puchase a leupold and have holland put a MOA reticle in it when i can buy a NF for the same price or cheaper and have it on my rifle up and running sooner.
 
Originally Posted By: Rocky1Uhmmm... YES and NO.

Trijicon does have a fiber optic coil to gather light, however it's sole purpose is to increase the intensity of the lighted reticle dot/triangle, during daylight hours. In low light, or in dark, it serves no purpose; the lighted portion of the reticle is powered by a radioactive phosphorus dust.

The other night, one of my local vendors (Bass Proshop) let me take the Trijicon Accupoint into a dark room with no lights and I could not see the tritium. I also looked at the Leupold VX-R and the illumination looked blurry to me just like EOTech, etc because of my astigmatism.

Let me define blurry, Starts off looking like a perfect round dot, then it start flaring ((kind of like fireworks popping in the sky) until after a minute, then it looks like a smug (kind of like a thumb print).

However, I can see an illuminated reticle (not a dot) just fine and I’ve been considering NF because they have a rep for being tough but with not so good glass for their price point and I can't find them locally to see for myself.

 
I think the glass quality is what the guy was talkin about, he was sayin that the nightforce just isnt the scope for hunting earlyand late because of its light gathering capabilities.(i agree, im sure he was talking about light transmission) My problem is that I was under the impression that the Nightforce was up at the top of the line in that catagory also. Am I wrong on this one? I'd hate to spend 1800 bucks only to find out that my buddy's leupold varix3 was a more clear scope in lowlight conditions.
 
I have two and love them. Tough, clear and dependable.

More times than not, an individual will talk smack about a certain product that he or she is unable to afford.
 
i love these threads! (Swarovski owned by Leupold: that's awesome!)

i will absolutely agree that there are better scopes for low light bird watching. my nightforce is 3rd behind IOR and Zeiss in my herd for low light use and clarity/sharpness of picture. however, i do not think that the low light performance would ever cost me a shot over the other scopes. and i think that the illumination on the NF is much easier to use than most which helps in low light shooting.

in NF defense it is lighter in weight than IORs and the illum. is easier to use, the eye relief is more comfortable for me, and the turrets are a lot nicer than the zeiss and the zeiss doesn't have illum. ret.

i like that all of my scopes have their strong points. and until i can put Premiers on all of my guns i'm very happy with what i have.

(i got rid of my VX-3s after looking at the other scopes. they weren't on par; but they held their value exceptionally well. try reselling an IOR.)
 
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Iv got a 5.5x22 NF the glass is good but not great. I have no trouble seeing pretty early and late in evening with it. At the times I would be able to shoot.

I have other scopes that pick up light better and are a little clearer. Do I want trade off my NF no way. Would I look at other scopes instead of NF probably.

With that being said. I can look thru one scope and love it. The next guy will probably hate it. Main thing buy the scope you want and adjust it to you.
 


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