I’m an enormous Prism fan; I used to be raised on the ACOG, and that left an impression on me. I like simplicity, however currently I’ve come to understand the pink dot and magnifier combo. The SIG Romeo8T AMR transformed me. I’ve approached this as an novice, and as I used to be playing around with pink dots and magnifiers, I began questioning why nobody made a variable magnifier.
Instantly, I had an inkling why, however in an period the place individuals love choices, it looks like a considerably first rate concept that may very well be pulled off. But, the market appeared empty.
Then I noticed I used to be unsuitable; somebody had made variable magnifiers. Lucid produced a variable magnifier that was 2x to 5x, and I’m unsure if it’s nonetheless made. It’s bought out in all places, and in line with Optics Planet, the product is discontinued. Then I discovered one from Feyachi and knew from the $40 price ticket that it might be junk. Nonetheless, I grabbed one simply to test it out.
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The Variable Magnifier – An Inkling
Why are variable magnifiers a seemingly no-go zone for the optics world? The primary purpose I like prisms is their simplicity. Individuals are utilizing magnifiers as a result of they’re easy. Transfer it over, shoot, push it out of the way in which. Who’s going with a magnifier to differ the magnification?
There merely isn’t a requirement for one. In the event you needed that functionality, an LPVO roughly has you coated. There are some advantages, specifically the flexibility to push it out of the way in which and have a real 1x pink dot for close-range use, however the juice doesn’t appear to be well worth the squeeze.
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A variable magnifier would introduce problems, and one could be very pricey. This is able to get costly quick, and in the event you’re spending cash on a top quality variable optic, then an LPVO begins to make extra sense.
There are 3x, 4x, 5x, and 6x magnifiers, so you may get near LPVO functionality with no need a lot variability. Most individuals who use LPVOs are seemingly both working them at their minimal magnification or their max magnification with out a lot want for the numbers in between. A variable magnifier would seemingly be run the identical means, so why not simply buy the magnification you need and lower your expenses?
Magnifiers and pink dots are inclined to have a reasonably small footprint. A variable magnifier could be a bigger possibility, and due to this fact a heavier possibility. This takes away from a few of the advantages of a magnifier and pink dot combo. This creates a mixture of optics that weigh the identical as an LPVO and is simply as lengthy.
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Extra Than Me
I reached out to Mike at Gideon Optics. I requested him why he thought a variable magnifier didn’t exist, and he basically strengthened my ideas. He additionally talked about he’d like to create one which’s a 2x-4x design that’s extraordinarily compact and light-weight, but it surely’s merely not there but. He stated if we may shrink that one, it could be well worth the squeeze.

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Mike talked about the Elcan Specter, an optic that’s famously a 1x or 4x or 1.5x to 6x prism. It’s heavy and weighs a ton, however that sort of magnifier could be the important thing to a profitable variable magnifier. Having the ability to immediately swap from 2x to 4x or 3x to 6x could be helpful, however it might be troublesome to create in a small, light-weight footprint.
My Expertise With the Feyachi
The Feyachi Variable Magnifier glass high quality is absolute rubbish. It’s remarkably unclear, and the whole lot seems fuzzy, as if there’s a haze within the air. Attempt as I’d, I may by no means get a transparent picture that didn’t look hazy. The variable magnifier moved from 1.5x to 5x, and a magnification ring managed motion.

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I discovered myself simply utilizing the 5x. I didn’t want something much less in most conditions the place I wanted a magnifier. It was robust to seek out conditions the place I wanted 3x as an alternative of 5x. I definitely by no means wanted 1.5x. It’s neat, it’s low cost, and distinctive, however that doesn’t make it good.
I believe a variable magnifier may work, however I don’t see numerous use for one among pink dot and magnifier lovers. Time will inform, and I hope to be confirmed unsuitable within the close to future. I need higher optics similar to everybody else; I’m simply unsure how helpful a variable magnifier could be.
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