How many lenses?

shenko · Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 11

How many lenses are there in a 4X, fixed-power scope? Something like a Leupole FXII or a Nikon Buckmaster.

Are there more lenses in a 1:3 range variable, such as a 3-9X?

Are there more than that in a 4-16 or a 2.5-16?

MrGman · Guest

The zoom scopes have more lenses and lense groups than do fixed mag scopes. Whether a larger zoom range scope has more lenses than a lower powered one or simply different lenses is the hard part. The makers don't typically publish the exact details of their scopes. Some of them have shown cutaway views representing a zoom scope to show you some of there features, but they don't show a comprehensive view of each one to say this one has 13 lenses in 6 groups and this one has 16 lenses in 7 groups. They simply don't publish that data. But its easy to see that the non zoom scopes have far less lenses and groups that they don't need that the zoom scopes. Simply shining a flashlight in a fixed scope or a zoom and looking at the reflections coming back will tell you that.

Steven-L · Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 852

The answer to how many lenses depends on what manufacturer and even what level of scope. Fixed power scopes generally have 8 or 9 lenses. 10 is pretty standard in a variable, although a side parallax adjustment will add another. Some manufacturers will have less lenses to boost light transmission, some will have more to increase resolution. A larger magnification range will generally not have more lenses than a smaller magnification range. Light transmission is generally the same, although the lenses are grouped differently. A lot of this information is proprietary and not normally disclosed to the public.
_________________
Aim Hard!

Steve at OpticsPlanet
www.opticsplanet.net

shenko · Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 11

Thanks for the answer. I was curious, and it was surprisingly difficult to find any factual information.