Vortex Diamondback HP 2-8x32, poor image quality at low end of zoom range

[Cbf123]

I mentioned some of this in a separate post, but I figured I'd lump it all together for future googlers.

I just received a 2-8x32 Diamondback HP riflescope that I bought online after trying out the Diamondback 2-7x35 in a store. (They didn't have the 2-8x32 in stock.) On paper it sounded ideal...great glass, great coatings, nice zoom range, and adjustable parallax for close-range shooting with a .22LR.

I haven't mounted it yet, so I don't know how well it tracks or holds zero, but I'm disappointed in the quality of the image at the low end of the zoom range. Basically I think Vortex is misrepresenting the scope.

It's supposed to be a 2-8x, but when I go wide the maximum field of view is achieved at about 2.4x or so. From there down to 2x the image gets smaller, but the field of view doesn't actually improve. (Instead the whole picture shrinks.) This makes it pointless to go any lower than roughly 2.4x. It would be more honest to call this a 2.4-8x scope and limit the zoom at the point of maximum field of view.

Also (as mentioned in my other post) if adjust the parallax so the image is sharp at 8x, then start zooming wider, at 4x the image is still basically okay, but at 3x the edges are going soft, and at 2x the edges of the image are positively blurry and the image distorts if I shift my eye laterally or vertically. For a scope that seems intended for use on a hunting rifle, it's kind of pointless to have blurry edges on the zoom setting intended for max field of view--it basically means that there's little point going below 3x...and if I wanted a scope with a minimum 3x zoom I could have gone with a 3-9x instead of what is effectively a 3-8x.

The place I bought it from doesn't allow returns on optics so I'm kind of stuck with it...hopefully the mechanical bits are worth the price--the fancy glass and coatings don't help when the lens design is bad.

The only other similar scope that Vortex makes is the Viper PST 2.5-10x32 FFP. While I'm sure it's a nice scope, it's 3X the price, which is more than I wanted to spend.

 

[Hitzy]

They sell you on features and their warranty, not on quality.
There are several other proven companies that make much better optics for much less money. They may not have fancy features, or that extra 1x zoom which practically makes no difference in real use, just good bright clear glass, and will hold up to heavy use on heavy recoiling guns. A Nikon Prostaff2 in 2-7 is about $180, Redfield make a nice one too for under $250, Leupold VX-1 is around $300. There are plenty of proven optic companies out there, don't buy into the Vortex hype, they are a marketing company with a sub par product.

 

[Cbf123]

They sell you on features and their warranty, not on quality.
There are several other proven companies that make much better optics for much less money. They may not have fancy features, or that extra 1x zoom which practically makes no difference in real use, just good bright clear glass, and will hold up to heavy use on heavy recoiling guns. A Nikon Prostaff2 in 2-7 is about $180, Redfield make a nice one too for under $250, Leupold VX-1 is around $300. There are plenty of proven optic companies out there, don't buy into the Vortex hype, they are a marketing company with a sub par product.

Agreed, those are good scopes. I was specifically looking for the ability to adjust parallax down to short range (20yds or so) since this is for a 22lr, and that narrows the options dramatically.