Elcan Digital Hunter

I am reviewing the subject scope, testing it, putting it through its paces.  I toyed with it some, before mounting it to the rifle (BAR 30-06 w/BOSS).  My first impression was not very positive, but in the mounting and zeroing processing, I've come to appreciate it more.  It has some very nice features, zeroes easily once understood, no mirage effects that I've been able to introduce to date (good and bad... I use mirage for wind determinations).  It does not like very bright sunlight without the rubber eyepiece and does not like lowlight conditions (there is a day/night version that I would like to try sometime... actually considering purchasing one of the next generation models).   I have not had a chance to test any real performance, yet... just got it mounted, and boresighted a few days ago, reboresighted and zeroed today.  There IS DEFINITELY a learning curve for proper operations.  As I've manipulated and operated the scope/camera, I've become more comfortable with it.  I spend a lot of time with CCD systems and many things about the Digital Hunter are not intuitive.  However, the learning curve is not onerous or excessive and is worth the end results.  Once I got the scope finally mounted and boresighted, it took three shots to zero dead center at 30m.  I use my short range right now because my 200 yard backyard range is grown over with saplings and briars... just have not had the time to mow everything down.  And... I like the "battlesight zero" concept.  Right now, without using the Digital Hunter's electronic BDC computer, I am "dead on" with a point blank zero on an 8 inch target out to 305 yards.  Effecitve Employment of the BDC is one of my test objectives.

I should never have posted that tree picture.  I should just shoot trees in silence...

This is the "daytime only" version.  I've had it out at dusk and dawn several times and it does not perform well in low light.  I'm taking some pretty detailed notes on it.  The day/night version, I am assured, works quite well.  I spoke with a Raytheon rep today and he provided me with some useful information.  As I test it out, I will reference his comments.  

SVT_Tactical wrote: Kickboxer wrote: I use my short range right now because my 200 yard backyard range is grown over with saplings and briars... just have not had the time to mow everything down.   mow or "target practice" ?

             

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElJFYwRtrH4

cheaptrick wrote: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElJFYwRtrH4

HAHAHA

     The ELCAN Digital Hunter Riflescope/Camera

 

It’s DIGITAL (actually a CCD camera), THEREFORE it runs on electricity.  It is not an optical system in the traditional sense… it’s a camera.  Some old diehards may not like that.  GET OVER IT… it’s the wave of the future, it’s where “riflescopes” are headed.  If you can’t get over it, get used to it.

 

Initial impressions are that 1) it’s heavy and some people will not try it out for that reason EVEN if they could overcome their fears of the advance of technology, 2) the layout suggests there was not enough input from actual shooters… adjustments, etc are not indicative of good “human factors engineering” for field use… it is reminiscent of a laboratory instrument where time and ease of access are not the most important considerations... design features will probably improve significantly over time , 3) the battery compartment is one of the absolute WORST features on the “scope/camera” (from now on, I will use those terms interchangeably)…hard to get to, hard to get the batteries out, hard to put new batteries in… I am always worried I will break something… THAT is a big negative, 4) the camera is “adequate, but not outstanding (I suspect it was chosen a while back and has not been upgraded and that it was an experiment that did not command a great deal of monetary investment (relatively speaking) in case it failed… there are better cameras), 5) the ability to change reticles via software uploads is wonderful… if you have any engineering skills or artistic skills that you can combine with ballistics knowledge, this feature is just amazing, 6) it has Bullet Drop Compensation (BDC) (more on this later) but does not include laser rangfinding…which would be a real boon… ballistics information for a particular rifle/ammunition load is downloaded into the memory of the camera, 7) the reticle adjustments are just downright amazingly accurate… there are no mechanical limitations as in a traditional riflescope, each “click” (not clicks really but button presses) is 0.2MOA, so it is finer adjustment than the ¼ MOA mechanical scopes… zeroing the scope is about as easy as anything I have ever done with a scope and it is dead on… what you see, where you put the crosshair, if you can shoot, THAT’S where the bullet goes, 8) the instruction manual STINKS, finding things you need to adjust the scope seems “out of sequence” and disorganized, but there are online instructions that are much better… could be a lot more informative, there are things that can happen, like when the batteries get weak, that are not explained in the book.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             .

does look a bit odd...... maybe this will be justification for you to buy an AR to test it's appearnce on?   Or maybe on the FNAR?

I haven't seen the movie... if it is the same Predators that Arnold and Danny Glover fought, I suspect there would be too much time required from the scope to use it very effectively.  Maybe she had the next generation...

There is great potential for a scope like the Digital Hunter, I hope it is pursued and realized, not shelved.  Raytheon/Elcan probably came out with this a few years too soon.