Meopta Scope or Tract?

[Sniper66]

I'm looking to buy a new scope. I've narrowed it down to these two:

Meopta Meopro Optika6 3-18X 50. Second Focal Plane about $600
Tract Toric UHD 3-15X 50 (or 42) T-Plex also SFP. about $750

I have two Tract scopes and like them a lot, but could save about $100-$150 with the Meopta if it is as good. I have heard good things about the Meopta. Can you guys help with my decision??

 

[rabid wombat]

I cannot comment on the Tract, nor do I own a Meopta currently. I do own Swarovski, S&B, and Leupold. I will be buying Meopta in the future. Good glass.

Sorry for not being any help

 

[LoonWulf]

I recently just got two meaopro 6.5 - 20s and really like them. They are currently the nicest scopes I own.....(in my limited opinion).....
@hq mentioned in another thread that he thought the optika 6 and Meopros had very similar glass quality.


I still want to try a Tract UHD, but have not bought one yet.

 

[rayatphonix]

I have the 4-20 Tract FFP and the Optika 3-18 x 50 FFP scopes. Glass is excellent in both but I’ve never compared them side by side. If you can wait until Saturday, I’ll sit them side by side and let you know what I think.

 

[Sniper66]

I have the 4-20 Tract FFP and the Optika 3-18 x 50 FFP scopes. Glass is excellent in both but I’ve never compared them side by side. If you can wait until Saturday, I’ll sit them side by side and let you know what I think.

I will appreciate your report. While the ones I want are SFP, your comparison will still be relevant and helpful. Thanks. I look forward to future correspondence.

 

[Bacon buster]

Save the 150 bucks for something else

 

[I6turbo]

I have the 4-20 Tract FFP and the Optika 3-18 x 50 FFP scopes. Glass is excellent in both but I’ve never compared them side by side. If you can wait until Saturday, I’ll sit them side by side and let you know what I think.

A suggestion on the comparison: In addition to whatever other comparisons you will make, locate a high-resolution image of the Air Force Optical Resolution Target shown below and use it for part of your comparisons. (You can print a pretty decent one from some of the online images if you have an average quality printer.) Set it up and see which of the scopes lets you confidently discern the smallest set of three lines (that is, the smallest set that you can for sure tell that there are three lines present). I like to test at 50, 100 and 150 yards, depending upon the scope and what I'd likely use it for. You'll need to take the necessary time to adjust each scope to it's best possible focus for the distance you're testing, else the results will not be meaningful.

I've done this side-by-side test with about 20 or more different scopes. It is sometimes quite eye-opening to realize that some of the scopes that you THOUGHT were best - based upon normal use when you weren't comparing them side-by-side in a manner that allowed you to gauge them - actually couldn't keep up with others that you didn't realize were as good as they are.

 

[Sniper66]

This is quite helpful. I printed off a couple of them and will try it with my existing scopes. Thanks a bunch. Tom

 

[rayatphonix]

Thanks Turbo, that’s a great idea. I’ve downloaded the image. Any recommendations on what size to print? 8 1/2 x 11? Some portion of that? I can go up to 24” wide and try and convince everyone I’ve got the 2 best scopes around

 

[army_eod]

It is all about the reticle. You have to find a reticle that fits your purpose best. I do not know which reticle the Meopta has. I never had a Tract but I have owned the Optika6. It is good glass. You might want to also compare weights, eye relief, exit pupil, etc. The cost difference is not nearly as important as the criteria I just listed.

 

[I6turbo]

This is quite helpful. I printed off a couple of them and will try it with my existing scopes. Thanks a bunch. Tom

Thanks Turbo, that’s a great idea. I’ve downloaded the image. Any recommendations on what size to print? 8 1/2 x 11? Some portion of that? I can go up to 24” wide and try and convince everyone I’ve got the 2 best scopes around

I've printed them from about 4" square to about 8" or so. Those sizes have worked for me at various distances because the sets of lines vary from tiny to pretty large.

You'll need to set your scopes up on a very solid base where you can sight through them. There's no way to do it off-hand or just bracing the scope against a solid object. Here's how I usually do it.
Two scopes, each on its own shooting bag:


Multiple scopes on bags, one on a basketball shoe.
Can also see one of my charts here that I use to keep track of the evaluations.


I usually just tape the target to a tree or something. I "laminated" this one with clear packaging tape.


Once I started comparing my scopes I couldn't stop until I eventually compared them all. I've bought some scopes that I thought I might like, compared them, and if they didn't measure up, value wise or performance wise, sold them.

 

[Walkalong]

I haven't looked through those two scopes, but I have looked through a couple of Meopta Meapros and they are quite nice. At PRS matches I have been looking through a lot of binoculars and the two that stand out are the Meopta Meastar and the Tract. Both are outstanding.

 

[Sniper66]

I haven't looked through those two scopes, but I have looked through a couple of Meopta Meapros and they are quite nice. At PRS matches I have been looking through a lot of binoculars and the two that stand out are the Meopta Meastar and the Tract. Both are outstanding.

Good to hear your experience with the binos. I have two Tract scopes and want to buy a 3rd, but wanted to give Meopta strong consideration to save some money. I'm beginning to think it might be wiser to save money elsewhere like postponing the new car my wife and I have been considering

 

[cdb1]

To my eyes the Toric has better glass than the Optika. To my eyes MeoPro glass is better than Optika. In my unprofessional opinion I’d put Toric glass just a smidge better than MeoPro, about even with MeoStar.

I’m a Meopta fan and have two of their scopes and one set of their binoculars.

 

[Sniper66]

I think I've decided on the Tract scope. Thanks for the dialogue.

 

[rayatphonix]

Sniper, I’m a week late on my test. It rained and snowed last weekend and I just wasn’t up to it. This weekend I forgot my resolution target, but sat both scopes side by side anyway. I used a book cover at 100 yards figuring the different size fonts would help determine which scope had better resolution. Conditions were cool and sunny with some wind.

To my eye resolution was very similar, but the Tract scope clearly had less less chromatic aberration. In fact, it wasn’t even close as I couldn’t see any CA when looking through the Tract. I kept thinking that should result in more resolution, but my mind just didn’t see it that way. I like both scopes but overall image quality definitely favored the Tract.

Frankly I was surprised by the results. I’m looking for a new scope for a rifle that’s headed my way and the Optika was on the short list.

IMO, you made the right choice.

 

[Sniper66]

Sniper, I’m a week late on my test. It rained and snowed last weekend and I just wasn’t up to it. This weekend I forgot my resolution target, but sat both scopes side by side anyway. I used a book cover at 100 yards figuring the different size fonts would help determine which scope had better resolution. Conditions were cool and sunny with some wind.

To my eye resolution was very similar, but the Tract scope clearly had less less chromatic aberration. In fact, it wasn’t even close as I couldn’t see any CA when looking through the Tract. I kept thinking that should result in more resolution, but my mind just didn’t see it that way. I like both scopes but overall image quality definitely favored the Tract.

Frankly I was surprised by the results. I’m looking for a new scope for a rifle that’s headed my way and the Optika was on the short list.

IMO, you made the right choice.

Your feedback is helpful and appreciated. It really confirms my conclusion even though I had no side-by-side comparison. Good additional info. I had started to look at a Leupold VX3i 4,5-14X for around $400, but it would not meet my needs other than saving money. My challenge now is picking up my wife's new car Tuesday. That really kicks the legs out of my budget. But, I still have several guns for sale so my get enough to buy the Tract. My new rifle will not be available until around June 1st so I have some time. Thanks again. Tom

 

[taliv]

Thanks Turbo, that’s a great idea. I’ve downloaded the image. Any recommendations on what size to print? 8 1/2 x 11? Some portion of that? I can go up to 24” wide and try and convince everyone I’ve got the 2 best scopes around

Several years ago I looked into the proper use of that chart after the following post by hoofan. There’s quite a lot more to it than just the “eye chart”. If you’re bored enough...

Well in micrographics you obtain the resolution by finding the smallest set of lines which you can distinctly see are all separate lines, and do not seem to blend together. Then using the reduction ratio you can calculate the line pairs per millimeter.

Looks like the chart there is based on the USAF 1951 Chart
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1951_USAF_resolution_test_chart



Looks like 1951 USAF goes by the largest group you can't make out, instead of the smallest you can. (Microfilm resolution uses an ISO 3334 NBS 1010a/ ISO #2 target).

Obviously distance will matter, and it seems that the distance to the target should correspond to the focal length of the optic(I am finding a bunch of different numbers via google...)