Stay away! - poor image quality for a $500 scope - Bushnell Nitro 15-45x65 Spotting Scope

Considering this was from Bushnell,and from their new mid-level Nitro line, I expected reasonably good image quality. I was wrong. I had an opportunity at a PRS match to compare this scope to 2 others in its class, a Vortex Diamondback and a Leupold SX-1. The Bushnell Nitro wasn't even close to the same image quality at either of it's competitors. The Leupold was much better, and the Vortex Diamondback blew everything away. The SX-1 and Diamondback are in the same $500 price range, and have the same specs.

The performance is so much worse, that I contacted Bushnell to see if I had a manufacturing issue. The only response I received was an automated email with an address to send it to for repair, at my expense. No call, no one reached out to see if they could assist. Don't be fooled by the "no questions asked" warranty pitch.

The two major issues are poor image quality around the edges of the image, and more noticeable was the "smearing" of colors on the target at full magnification. At 200yds, and 45x magnification, the orange bulls eye and rings of the target are severely "smeared". Not really out of focus or heat mirage, the colors look as if the orange areas of the target were wet ink, and someone ran their hand across the ink. The smear is static, and doesn't dance around like heat mirage.

Overall, Bushnell is very disappointing. I don't even want to sell this thing to anyway. I'm stuck with a paper weight. Get the Vortex Diamondback, it was amazingly clear for a $500 scope.