BUILT FOR LONG RANGE AND THE LONG HAUL

Majestic mountain tops, wide open plains, and severe weather challenge Western hunters to not just place long range shots, but to place them consistently under stress. The Razor® HD LHT™ 4.5-22x50 FFP riflescope delivers. You still get the core of the Razor® HD LHT™, including a stunning HD optical system and rugged build in a hunting scope that’s among the lightest in its class. Where the Razor® HD LHT™ 4.5-22x50 FFP distances itself is in offering more magnification, and a first focal plane reticle featuring the XLR-2 reticle system, which is intuitive, easy to use, and illuminated. You also get our RevStop™ Zero System for a reliable return to zero after dialing in the field, and a locking elevation turret keeps your zero safe.

What Makes Great Low-Light Performance

Vortex Optics www.vortexoptics.com

The optical system design, lens design, and coatings on the lenses are what determine how good an optic is in low light. Pretty simple, right? Well, not necessarily. There’s a lot of information and misinformation out there about what makes an optic work well in low light, and we’re here to shine a little light on the subject.

OBJECTIVE LENS DIAMETER ISN’T THAT IMPORTANT

First, let’s get this out of the way: Objective lens diameter has something to do with it, but is not the most important aspect. Too many people will tell you the objective lens is basically the only thing that matters, but they’re only saying that because it’s the only thing they can see and the only lens in the system that’s given its own number in the scope’s name (like a 4-16x50). That “50” is referring to the objective lens diameter. What you don’t see is a bunch of other numbers behind that “50” about the 5, 10, maybe even 15 other lenses behind that one! All are very important; you can shove as much light as you want down the bell of a scope with a massive objective, but if all the lenses behind it can’t handle it, the image will still be disappointing.

A Word Or Three On Coatings

Most people just kind of blow off optical coatings and want to talk about the glass or lens size, but there are countless chemical makeups of coatings and it really is like an art form for optical engineers to not only develop the lenses and optical system in a scope, but also determine the best recipe of anti-reflective coatings to keep the wrong light out of the scope and keep the best light flowing through the lenses, to your eye.

It’s also more complicated than it looks. Not only are the chemical compositions of lens coatings different, there are actually different ways of coating a lens.

For example: You might hear about coated, fully coated and fully multi-coated lenses. In general, different manufacturers can use these terms a little differently, but in the end, “fully multicoated” usually means that all surface-to-air glass is coated, and that’s ideal. You will likely pay more for such coatings, but if you demand low-light performance, “fully multicoated” is more likely to get you the optical experience you’re looking for.

Objective Lens Diameter Is Important

It isn’t completely a moot point.

If you took the same exact riflescope and changed nothing else other than making the objective lens bigger, you would be allowing more light into the scope and probably most importantly - improving your exit pupil. Exit pupil most of the time can be calculated by dividing the objective lens diameter by whatever magnification you’re on. A 50mm bell on a riflescope set at 10x will have a 5mm exit pupil.

As our adult eyes age, the ability for the pupil to dilate in darkness becomes less and less, and our pupils may only be able to dilate 4-6mm, so there’s a chance some of the exit pupil from a riflescope like that might even be wasted as it’s not even making it through your pupil.

The point here remains, though: Your optic will always perform better in low light on a lower magnification, as the exit pupil will increase to maximize the ability of your eye to take in as much light as possible.

When it comes to low-light performance, optical design and quality of lenses and coatings is most important. A higher end optical system with a relatively smaller objective bell will almost always trump a lower-end optic with a giant objective. Objective bell size does affect exit pupil, but your eye can only suck in so much light, even in the dark as it dilates and your pupils become larger. Lowering your magnification will also help greatly in low-light scenarios.

In general, when you spend more on an optic, one of the things you’re spending more on are better lens coatings and better glass, and that can matter way more than a bigger objective lens.

Make the most out of your time behind the glass. Whether spotting distant targets at the gun range or searching for game miles from the truck, Mountain Pass™ delivers a unique balance of packability, reliability, and value. Perfect for large binoculars and spotting scopes.

■ Aluminum Leg Construction

Excellent balance of packability and durability.

■ 2-Way Pan Head Provides simple, intuitive controls and full range of motion.

■ Arca-Swiss Head Mount Compatibility across a broad range of mounting options.

■ Four Leg Sections Provide a wide range of height options.

■ 3-Angle Leg Pivot Locks Position each leg individually for multiple heights and easy, secure set up.

■ Counterweight Hook Holds extra weight on the bottom of the center column for greater stability in windy conditions.

■ Flip Lever Leg Locks Ensure a solid hold.

■ Rubber Feet Provide solid footing on slick surfaces.

Included in the Box

- Quick-Release Plate with 1/4”-20 Thread

- Rubber Packing Strap

- Counterweight Hook

- Carry Case

- 1.3mm Hex Wrench

Watch a video here: https://vortexoptics.com/ mountain-pass-tripod-kit.html

UNLIMITED UNCONDITIONAL LIFETIME WARRANTY

Cooper