German scope or LPS Leupold?

M

mackie

New member
Need a new scope looking at a 1.5-6x42. Does anyone use the Leupold LPS 1.5-6x42? How does it compare to the German scopes? Or is it not worth the money?
 
My kneejerk reflex is "If it's Leupold, it's gotta be good."

Since you didn't say how much money is involved with the Leupold, nor give a comparison to any brand of German scope, that's as far as I can go...

Art
 
Art, the leupold is $799, and the three german scopes the S&B, Zeiss, and Swarovski range in price from $899 to $1049
 
Here's my 2 cents

The SB glass is the best out there. Followed closely by Swarovski then Zeiss. I would put the Leupold in the midrange category in terms of optical quality. I own several scopes and my hands down favorite is my SB.
 
Okay, now we have some comparisons. Now: What purpose for the scope?

Unless there is a sorta unusual need for ruggedness, or a need for 100% clarity instead of 98%, I'm personally unsure why one would spend that sort of money. (I grant that I'm chinchy about some things.)

A 1.5x6 is not a target scope, to me; it is a hunting scope. Further, it is more suited to walking-hunting than sitting-hunting. 1.5X while walking is good for those occasional snap shots. If one sees something at a distance and has time to sit/kneel for a steadier rest, there is time to move the scope up to 6X. It seems to me that if your nekkid eyebone can see something at a 6X distance, there is enough daylight that the smidgen of difference between a high-quality scope and an "adequate" scope won't make any difference.

For my way of thinking about a 1.5x6 scope--and I ain't the Guru on this--there is little to be gained from having "the best", vs. just a plain old usable scope. Sorta like using the Ferrari to go grocery shopping, three blocks from home.

But it's your money...

:), Art
 
Art, going on my old custom pre-64 .375 H&H will be used in Alaska and Africa this year. Scope being replaced is an old Zeiss 1.5-4 that I bought used. I have put 3500 to 4000 rounds thru this rifle in the past 8 years with this scope. Now you know why I prefer to buy the best scope possible regardless where it is made.
 
Well, given that it's going on a favorite galfriend, I reckon she deserves diamonds...

hk_cqb seems to be the one with a handle on comparative quality...

I'm sorta of the opinion that a high-optical-quality pair of binoculars for spotting game at long distance is more important than the equivalent scope for shooting game at short distance. But that's more of a billfold-thing.

:), Art
 
I would look hard at the Kahles 1.5x6x42. 30mm tube and stellar optics. Kahles is a division of Swarovski and their service rivals Leupold in my experience. The only downside is metric adjustments; 1cm per click at 100m, about .358" at 100 yds. Jerrys Sport Center in PA has good prices on the Kahles stuff.
 
The Europeans generally don't do as good a job at suppressing internal stray light reflections as does Leupold. You'll see this yourself if, while looking through the scope, you point it close to the sun - KEEP THE SUN ITSELF OUTSIDE THE FIELD OF VIEW! - or another bright light source. This simulates taking a shot into the sunset or sunrise, or across a snowy field on a sunny day.

Also, the Europeans don't generally offer as much eye relief, which might be a factor on a .375...especially if you're shooting uphill, or from an awkward angle in the field.

The European scopes mentioned should be very good optically, but remember, part of what you're paying for is snob appeal.
 
Problems with LPS scopes

mackie, IF you go Loopie....make sure you get a most recent manufacture.......
The first ones out, some have optics problems.....fyi, and for wiw.
 
Leica

My 375H&H wears a Leica 1.75-6 scope - it is sweet. Looked at the LPS Leupolds, they are a fine scope, but just not as good as the Leica. BTW, the Leica is made in Canada, so does not strictly qualify as "German."
 
Leica

gaijin -

FWIW, Leica glass is still German manufacture. The scope assembly is done in Canada. Leica makes excellent scopes and binos.

mackie -

Side by side, the Schmidt Bender 1.5-6x42 is the hands down winner. Edge to edge clarity and light transmission are superior to the Leupold LPS. The reticle is etched in the glass so it's one less feature to fail. I have the SB on my G3SG1 and I love it. However, listen to your budget and get the best glass you can afford. You don't have to break the bank to get world class optics.
 
Leica 'scopes are nice.

But unless things have changed recently, Leica 'scopes are assembled by Leupold. And many Leica camera lenses and binoculars are made in Portugal. And at least some Leica glass has been ground and polished in Japan.

So just because it says Leica doesn't mean its strictly German. Or even that ANY of the components came from Germany.
 
A combat reporter did a book on the Korean War, with pictures he had taken with a Nikon. Nikon published it. The introductory commentary included info that Nikon lenses were ground to Zeiss formulas.

I have no knowledge of the internal mechanism of a Nikon scope, but their lenses should be as good as most any other.

FWIW, Art
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top