Zeiss vs Schmidt&Bender

[Vegeta]

Hey folks

 

I was after a S&B hungarian 8x56 illuminated reticle. I tried to purchase one from opticswarehouse. They do not have one in stock and the due to S&B being in use by the american military delivery of them is very hit and miss

 

Now in fairness to the guy at opticswarehouse he has offered me an alternative

 

A Zeiss Classic Diatal 7x50 T IR Compact

 

So the question is, the Zeiss versus the S&B, are they of similar quality. The scope is for a .270 sako 75 hunter.

 

All input is greatly appreciated

 

G

[Dunkield]

I hate to be boring but I wouldn't part with that sort of money based on what someone else says/thinks, I would have a realy good look through one yourself - or find someone that has the S&B you were after.

 

Have you tried FA Anderson/York Guns/The Sportsman?

[Vegeta]

I hate to be boring but I wouldn't part with that sort of money based on what someone else says/thinks, I would have a realy good look through one yourself - or find someone that has the S&B you were after.

 

Have you tried FA Anderson/York Guns/The Sportsman?

 

No problem with being boring, it is sound advice :blink: . The brother and I have looked through the S&B and it is a cracking scope and we really like it. If the Zeiss is generally regarded as being of the same quality I wouldn't mind that either.

 

As you say though I would prefer to know exactly what I am getting.

 

I just want peoples opinions on the differences between the fixed mag scopes from both manufacturers.

 

I'm in Ireland and I priced the scope in a shop over here and it was 1200 euro compared to 820 euro over there. Mad or what.

[Dunkield]

I only say that as I blind bought an new S&B 3-12x50 30mm tube.

To my eyes it was horrible, I had to take it back the next day and get a full refund (150 odd mile round trip, twice)

You get the idea anyway. .

 

Andersons do the 8x56 S&B illuminated for £567, I don't know what that works out to in Euro's.

[harv]

after giving MY opinion on a similar thread yesterday i wouldnt dare comment on either apart from

look thru them yourself and see which you find best. they are both very good.

[Vegeta]

after giving MY opinion on a similar thread yesterday i wouldnt dare comment on either

 

well in fairness yesterday you were just plain wrong :blink:

 

Only joking.

 

I have a NXS 12-42 x 56 and my friend has some form or target leupold and his scope has much better contrast than mine. Everything looks washed out through the nightforce. It is a very subjective thing, is scope buying

[deadeye ive]

I only say that as I blind bought an new S&B 3-12x50 30mm tube.

To my eyes it was horrible,

Why stuart :blink:

 

Vegeta

 

If you can look through one then all well and good but zeiss ,s/b ,swaro, khales ,etc etc are quality glass .I will say that the s/b your after is ideal for fast eye focus ...............The true value of this scope is only really apparant in very poor light conditions and daylight comparisons with alternatives might give a false indication .

[kip270]

mmmm now this is a good one

 

I have a S&B 3-12x50 30mm tube on my .222 and i love it, a cracking scope and glad i spent the money on it :blink: on my .270 is a Zeiss 6x42, and that is also a lovely piece of glass.

 

Now with me recently getting my ticket to include Fox, i am thinking about buying another S&B 3-12x50 to go on top, but purely for the higher mag

 

When i was out lamping the other night the Zeiss was doing very well, and finding anything in the scope at night was no problem

 

Try to take a look at both of them, and spend your money once, i made the mistake of buying a Leupold 3-9x40 30mm for the .222 when i first bought it, and within a year i had bought the S&B which i should of done first

[Vegeta]

Thanks for all the input folks

 

appreciate it :blink:

[Holland&Holland]

Another thing to think about is where are you going to use it for? If you want to use the scope in different hunting situations buy one with a variabel magnification (2,5-10). If you primarily hunt at night or dusk without the use of a lamp you might be better off to go for the S&B 8 (or 2,5-10) x 56, but i think there will not be much difference with the Zeiss 7x50. Both are good scopes, with the zeiss being of slightly better build quality. And if you want the best go for a Swarovski. Better spent youre money on a good quality scope for life then a bad one that just somewhat does the job. (but you will have to invest and that always hurts in the wallet, i know from experience) :blink:

[Dunkield]

I only say that as I blind bought an new S&B 3-12x50 30mm tube.

To my eyes it was horrible,

Why stuart :blink:

I am a sucker for a bargain Ive, the scopes were on offer, so I just had a quick look through it in the shop and down the road and decided I wanted it. They gave me a good deal on my 6x42 S&B and Leica rangfinder as part ex so I was happy.

When I got home I had a real good look through it and tried looking at detail at some bricks on a house a few doors down and it didn't seem right, it was focussed in the centre but kind of tunneling outside of that. I got my Swaro out to make sure I wasn't going blind, and looked at the same few things and difference was huge. Called the shop applogised and asked if they would take it back + cash for the equivilent Swaro - which they did, luckly.

I will never buy a scope or bino's without a real good testing ever again, or take someone elses word for something optical being good.

 

BTW the S&B wasn't the 'normal' one, it was a Klassic - I never did find out what the difference was.

[tuck1]

Funnily enough, I'm currently on with buying some binos, and found the same thing. I had read great things about Nikon Monarch bins. Couldn't get them locally, found a place on the web with them at a good price. Luckily, I ordered them on the basis that I could return them if they didnt suit me. They didnt. Optically very good, light, nice to handle, etc etc. But not right for me. So back they went.

 

It's a strange phenomenon (?) that optics can differ so much from eye to eye, and from one unit to the next. I will HAVE to bite the bullet and drive to a shop where I can try out a lot of pairs. So I think the above advice is sound, don't just try one, try THE one you are buying. It's the only way to be sure for that kind of outlay.

 

Best regards

 

Tuck