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Question for Bitterroot

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tompac View Drop Down
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    Posted: January/03/2011 at 10:32
 Bitterroot, was wondering if you could give a comparision of your old Pentax PF80 vs your Razor . Something like "pentax was 75% as good optically as Razor"etc. ?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bitterroot Bulls Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/03/2011 at 12:24
That is an interesting question. 

To be fair ... I never owned a PF80ED.  I owned a PF65EDA.  I've used one plenty of times, and there is one (with SMC Zoom) available at the nearby Federal Waterfowl Refuge.  I actually had my Razor side by side with it a couple months ago, but I didn't take notes.  The better scope is the Vortex.  Particularly in contrast and color.  The Vortex wins on resolution as well, but the PF80ED is quite impressive in this category, IMO.

I don't think I could quantify a "The Razor is X% better than the PFED," but it is easily noticed side by side.  It is easier to explain that the Razor shares a quality and performance tier with the Big Three, while the Pentax occupies the next lower tier.  It is just about alone on that tier (although great things are said about the new Celestron Regal ED series, but I haven't yet seen one), while the next lower tier is quite crowded by the Vortex Skyline ED, Bushnell Elite 80, and their competitors.



What I notice most about the Pentax scopes are they are extremely flexible due to their acceptance of astro eyepieces.  The scopes had appreciably different views with different eyepieces.  The PF65ED was quite the competitor to the Zeiss 65tFL when the Pentax was wearing a Pentax XW14 astro eyepiece.  The XW eyepiece would narrow the gap between the PF80ED and the Vortex Razor 85HD.

Sorry tompac,

That is the best I can do to answer your question.
-Matt
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rancid Coolaid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/03/2011 at 12:28
I compared them side-by-side in good light, the Razor was superior in all aspects.

Resolution was obviously better - so for looking at bullet holes or bird feathers, the Razor gets the nod.

I did really like the Pentax eye piece.

The Razor is quite good, I just spent 4 days looking through mine and remembering why I bought it.

Hard to give something like "75% as good", that would be a dramatic oversimplification.  For hunting, it is appreciably better; for birding, more so.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tompac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/03/2011 at 12:47
Originally posted by Bitterroot Bulls Bitterroot Bulls wrote:

That is an interesting question. 

To be fair ... I never owned a PF80ED.  I owned a PF65EDA.  I've used one plenty of times, and there is one (with SMC Zoom) available at the nearby Federal Waterfowl Refuge.  I actually had my Razor side by side with it a couple months ago, but I didn't take notes.  The better scope is the Vortex.  Particularly in contrast and color.  The Vortex wins on resolution as well, but the PF80ED is quite impressive in this category, IMO.

I don't think I could quantify a "The Razor is X% better than the PFED," but it is easily noticed side by side.  It is easier to explain that the Razor shares a quality and performance tier with the Big Three, while the Pentax occupies the next lower tier.  It is just about alone on that tier (although great things are said about the new Celestron Regal ED series, but I haven't yet seen one), while the next lower tier is quite crowded by the Vortex Skyline ED, Bushnell Elite 80, and their competitors.



What I notice most about the Pentax scopes are they are extremely flexible due to their acceptance of astro eyepieces.  The scopes had appreciably different views with different eyepieces.  The PF65ED was quite the competitor to the Zeiss 65tFL when the Pentax was wearing a Pentax XW14 astro eyepiece.  The XW eyepiece would narrow the gap between the PF80ED and the Vortex Razor 85HD.

Sorry tompac,

That is the best I can do to answer your question.
 
 
 No apologies neccesary! I appreciate yours and rancids comments. The reviews I have read on the Celestron is that it is optically it's equal, but the Pentax gets the nod on quality build. I am defintely going to buy a spotter this year. Never owned one. But I think if I was going to spend 1200 for the Pentax, I could justify 400 more for the Razor. All that said, I am leaning towards the Regal. And like the Pentax it takes 1.25 eyepieces. The Zen Ray sounds promising also. Time will tell. I am going to spend the money for a good tripod and head regardless of which scope I buy.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bitterroot Bulls Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/03/2011 at 17:25
Originally posted by Rancid Coolaid Rancid Coolaid wrote:

I compared them side-by-side in good light, the Razor was superior in all aspects.

Resolution was obviously better - so for looking at bullet holes or bird feathers, the Razor gets the nod.

I did really like the Pentax eye piece.

The Razor is quite good, I just spent 4 days looking through mine and remembering why I bought it.

Hard to give something like "75% as good", that would be a dramatic oversimplification.  For hunting, it is appreciably better; for birding, more so.


RC, I find myself telling myself the same thing every time I use my Razor, "Yep, still awesome."
-Matt
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote PopCulture Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/14/2011 at 16:30
That definitely sounds like the one I should get for myself.  So, please forgive my ignorance, but what exactly is the Razor scope you're talking about?  I've never heard of it.Embarrased
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 300S&W Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/14/2011 at 16:49
 Here you go,PC.  And WELCOME to OT!
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote PopCulture Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/19/2011 at 15:57
Thanks!
 
Happy to be apart of the forum! Yippee
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