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Dumb Question of the Day-FOV calculation

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    Posted: December/08/2014 at 21:54
Tried to research this a bit but came up empty handed.  May sound like a dumb question, but I'm not sure of the answer.

Scopes advertise a specific FOV at 100 yards on a given power, usually highest and lowest.  If I want to know the FOV at 200 and 300 yards, is it as simple as multiplying the 100 yard figure by 2 or 3?

Or is it not a linear ratio like that?  Seems like the FOV would grow by more than double or triple, but maybe not??
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/09/2014 at 05:11

It is a simple linear ratio.

ILya

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Trailblazer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/09/2014 at 07:22
Thanks!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Trailblazer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/09/2014 at 15:55
...on second thought, are you sure it's linear???  Not challenging your knowledge, but.....well.....I guess maybe I am! Big Smile  But not in an argumentative way.


Let's use the example of a Zeiss 5-25x Conquest HD.  Stats show FOV at 100 yards on 25x to be 4.2'.  So if it's linear, then that means FOV at 200 yards = 8.4', and 300 yards = 12.6'.

This seems reasonable until you start thinking that the difference between each 100 yard increment is only 4.2', whether it's between 100 and 200 yards, or between 900-1000 yards.  Hard for me to believe that the FOV increase from 900 yards to 1000 yards would only be another 4.2'.

Maybe I'm wrong...but that just doesn't seem right???


The entire reason I'm asking this question is because I'm considering buying that scope with the RZ-1000 reticle.  Without getting into a debate about SFP ballistic reticles, my concern with this scope is that my particular load comes in at about 24x (nearly full power) for the reticle to be "calibrated" (according to the Zeiss calculator).  It seems to me that's a whole lot of power for the closer ranges, and target acquisition would be tough without constant power changes.  I realize I would still have to make power adjustments even with a FFP reticle, but at least with that setup I wouldn't have to make sure I was on a specific power in order to be accurate.  And then of course there is the whole debate about how accurate the ballistic reticle will be in the real world.

Maybe I'm just trying to talk myself out of it that scope...but I love Zeiss glass.  I have a Vortex Viper PST on order.  It's already been 5 months, and they're saying another 1-3 months.  My biggest concern with the Vortex is that the one I looked through got pretty hazy at the higher powers.  The Zeiss is nice and crisp, but I just don't know about the SFP ballistic reticle.  I would love to try it, but once I mount it, it's mine.  Can't return it.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/09/2014 at 16:22
Originally posted by Trailblazer Trailblazer wrote:

...on second thought, are you sure it's linear???  Not challenging your knowledge, but.....well.....I guess maybe I am! Big Smile  But not in an argumentative way.


Let's use the example of a Zeiss 5-25x Conquest HD.  Stats show FOV at 100 yards on 25x to be 4.2'.  So if it's linear, then that means FOV at 200 yards = 8.4', and 300 yards = 12.6'.

This seems reasonable until you start thinking that the difference between each 100 yard increment is only 4.2', whether it's between 100 and 200 yards, or between 900-1000 yards.  Hard for me to believe that the FOV increase from 900 yards to 1000 yards would only be another 4.2'.

Maybe I'm wrong...but that just doesn't seem right???


The entire reason I'm asking this question is because I'm considering buying that scope with the RZ-1000 reticle.  Without getting into a debate about SFP ballistic reticles, my concern with this scope is that my particular load comes in at about 24x (nearly full power) for the reticle to be "calibrated" (according to the Zeiss calculator).  It seems to me that's a whole lot of power for the closer ranges, and target acquisition would be tough without constant power changes.  I realize I would still have to make power adjustments even with a FFP reticle, but at least with that setup I wouldn't have to make sure I was on a specific power in order to be accurate.  And then of course there is the whole debate about how accurate the ballistic reticle will be in the real world.

Maybe I'm just trying to talk myself out of it that scope...but I love Zeiss glass.  I have a Vortex Viper PST on order.  It's already been 5 months, and they're saying another 1-3 months.  My biggest concern with the Vortex is that the one I looked through got pretty hazy at the higher powers.  The Zeiss is nice and crisp, but I just don't know about the SFP ballistic reticle.  I would love to try it, but once I mount it, it's mine.  Can't return it.

The FOV is twice wider for a distance that is twice longer.   That is what linear means.

At 200 yards, it is twice wider than at 100 yards.  At 400 yards, it is twice wider than at 200 yards.

At 300 yards, the distance is 1.5 times longer than at 200 yards, so the FOV is 1.5 times wider than at 200 yards.

This is pretty simple geometry.

ILya
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/09/2014 at 17:29
You didn't even mention string theory...
Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Trailblazer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/09/2014 at 17:51
Originally posted by koshkin koshkin wrote:


The FOV is twice wider for a distance that is twice longer.   That is what linear means.

At 200 yards, it is twice wider than at 100 yards.  At 400 yards, it is twice wider than at 200 yards.

At 300 yards, the distance is 1.5 times longer than at 200 yards, so the FOV is 1.5 times wider than at 200 yards.

This is pretty simple geometry.

ILya



Yes...that's the same thing I said.  It grows by only 4.2 feet for each 100 yards.  The math works out the same.   The increase between each 100 yard increment is only 4.2 feet, whether between 100 and 200 yards, or between 900 and 1,000 yards.  Still doesn't seem quite right, but perhaps it is.

I understand what "linear" means....that's why I asked if it was linear!  The question wasn't what linear means...the question was IS it's linear.  I'll take your word for it that you're right, but I may have to throw a challenge flag! 

The FOV from the scope to whatever the distance in question is represents an isosceles triangle.  There can be only one isosceles triangle at which the altitude (in this case the distance to target) would equal the width of the base (in the case the FOV), and that is where the peak of the triangle is at 90 degrees.  So I guess my question is...is the FOV ALWAYS at 90 degrees on every scope, every time?

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Trailblazer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/09/2014 at 17:56
...To correct myself, I meant to say is the base is twice that of the altitude, not the same as.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Trailblazer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/09/2014 at 18:24
O.K., I did some more thinking, and I believed I answered my own question.

It is NOT linear.  This can be proven by looking at the stats of different scopes that have the same zoom range and objective lens size.  Again, the only way it could be linear is if the FOV is a right isosceles triangle, and if this was always the case, then every scope with the same objective size would have the same FOV at 100 yards as every other scope if they were on the same power.

I think the way to calculate the FOV at various ranges would be to take each individual scopes FOV stats for the maximum and minimum power, and use that to figure out the angle at the peak of the  triangle.  Given that angle, you could then calculate the base of the triangle (FOV) at each given altitude (range).


....pretty simple geometry, really.  Big Grin
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Trailblazer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/09/2014 at 19:22
...but then again...the scope length (distance between the glass) could be the reason for the different specs, but I don't think so.  Still don't think it's linear.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SEMO Shooter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/09/2014 at 20:08
I had a Conquest 4.5-14x50 with the Rapid Z 1000 reticle.  I seldom trade or sell my scopes.  But that was one I traded.  The scope itself was fine, but the Rapid Z reticle did not match my loads very well. The reticle was ok for plinking steel, but not for serious longer range accuracy.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Trailblazer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/09/2014 at 20:10
What did you replace it with?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SEMO Shooter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/09/2014 at 20:29
I ended up trading it and some cash for a Nighforce.  I would have been happy with that Zeiss if it had a  plex reticle.  I did not find the Rapid Z 1000 reticle useful for my type of shooting which is 100 to 700 yard target shooting.  I still have 5 Conquest scopes so I'm not a Zeiss hater.  I have a 3-9, 3.5-10, two 4.5-14, and a 6.5-20.  All have plex reticle except the 3.5-10.  It has a #58 ZRF reticle.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Trailblazer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/09/2014 at 20:38
Did you play with the magnification to try to dial the reticle in?
How far off  would you say the reticle was in the 400+ yard range?  Within 4" or so?  Very curious about this because I wouldn't be using it for precise target shooing.  I would be using it for shooting steel, and possibly medium range hunting. 

The 14x wouldn't be so bad, but the RZ1000 only comes in the 5-25x HD now.  Can't get a lower power range. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SEMO Shooter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/09/2014 at 21:45
I played with the magnification ring.  It was within 4" at 400 yards with Federal 168 grain match.  It is supposed to be calibrated to work with 168 & 175 grain match ammo.  Who's match ammo, and what velocity does it match?  If you load your own will your loads match the ballistics needed?

Your hunting loads will have quite different ballistics that will not match up as well.  Do you think you would actually take a longer shot than 300 or 400 yards?  The center line of the reticle is for 500 yards with 100-400 all above center.  Lots of lines and a very busy reticle.

Have you considered a Rapid Z 600?  It is much simpler.  I am not saying the Rapid Z 1000 won't do what you want, but it is not a magic answer to making an acceptable hit at longer distances.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Trailblazer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/11/2014 at 07:49
All of the points you make are reasons I'm second guessing it.  The rifle is mainly used for having fun plinking steel at various ranges, all while practicing ranging and trying to get shots off quickly.

For the hunting aspect, I realistically wouldn't shoot past 450 yards, and even that may never happen.  I know my limitations and don't want to wound an animal.  The only reason I would even consider it is because my practice range and the field I would be hunting in are the same field, so I will have practiced at every distance within that area. 

As far as the RZ-600 is concerned, I have a Conquest 3-9 with the RZ 600 on top of my -.06.  That reticle doesn't match any of my .308 loads very well, at least according to the calculator.  The optimum power setting isn't high enough for longer range shots (even on the higher power scopes).  It's exactly the opposite problem as with the RZ-1000.

I think I'm just going to cancel the order and wait for the Vortex to come in.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SEMO Shooter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/11/2014 at 08:01
I think you will be quite happy with he Vortex.  One of my buddies has a Viper PST mounted on his Savage 260 and I like his scope.  He is a good shooter and consistently makes head shots on steel targets at 600 to 800 yards.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tucansam Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/12/2014 at 14:10
On a side note, what determines a scope's FOV?  I had my USO SN3 3.2-17x44 at the range today, alongside my friend's Razor HD with a 50mm objective.  He has a 35mm main tube, my USO's is 34mm.

At 20x power, his scope had a wider FOV than my USO at 17x.

What determines that?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Trailblazer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/27/2014 at 11:27
Well, I would say his 50mm objective versus your 44mm would be the biggest reason, but there must be other factors as well.  To a lesser degree, I would have to think that the geometry of the internal components would play a small factor as well.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/27/2014 at 13:56
Originally posted by Trailblazer Trailblazer wrote:

Well, I would say his 50mm objective versus your 44mm would be the biggest reason, but there must be other factors as well.  To a lesser degree, I would have to think that the geometry of the internal components would play a small factor as well.

Objective lens diameter has no direct relationship to the field of view.

If anything, it is easier to make a wide field of view scope with a smaller objective lens.

The FOV is determined by the lens presription, i.e. the curvatures of different lenses used, not by their diameter.

Go make a 30mm aperture and put it right up to your 50mm scope objective.  FOV will stay the same.

ILya
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