Vortex Diamondback HP 2-8X32, edges blurry at 2x zoom but fine at 3X or more. Cause?

[Cbf123]

I just picked up this scope for use with a .22LR. At 2X magnification the edges of the image are a bit blurry, and shifting the eye laterally or vertically causes visible distortion of the image. At 3X or higher this effect seems to go away and the image is basically sharp from edge to edge.

Is this a faulty scope, or is it just the way this model is designed?

 

[Ar180shooter]

Normal with lower end low magnification scopes like the Diamondback.

 

[Prairie Plinker]

I have the same model and the exact same thing happens when cranked all the way down to 2x. It's sitting on a fun little semi-auto .22 that I use for plinking/range work only, but if it was on a hunting rifle I'd be looking for a replacement ASAP.

 

[Hitzy]

It's more of a low end 4x erector system causing the distortion. Things need to be much more precisely made when you get into higher mag erectors. 3x are fine in lower end scopes as that technology has been around forever and it's easier to make it work properly.
You would be better off with a cheaper 2-7 or 3-9 then a cheaper 2-8 or 3-12. Not sure how much that Diamondback was, but Tradex has some NOS Japanese Elite 2-7x32 for $225 which has very good glass.
https://www.tradeexcanada.com/content/bushnell-elite-2-7x32mm-e2732

 

[Cbf123]

You would be better off with a cheaper 2-7 or 3-9 then a cheaper 2-8 or 3-12. Not sure how much that Diamondback was, but Tradex has some NOS Japanese Elite 2-7x32 for $225 which has very good glass.
https://www.tradeexcanada.com/content/bushnell-elite-2-7x32mm-e2732

Those are 100yd parallax, which is a bit much for a 22LR.

I wanted the flexibility of the adjustable parallax, but maybe it wasn't that important. Might have been better to go with a 50yd fixed parallax.