RECON RT 15X50
The first thing I had to figure out was what was I trying to accomplish with this optic. Some scopes are better for scanning an environment, others for seeing closer. I ended up deciding on the latter and opted for the most zoom and clarity I could get in a small package. The biggest sacrifice in this package is that you have to already know where you want to look as the 15x zoom makes scanning at most distances a tunnel vision nightmare.
While I’d prefer the capabilities of the full size spotting scope. The Recon can get the majority of the same work done at a third of the weight and size.
To go from the naked to looking through clear glass at 15x is a huge multiplier.
More magnification has diminishing returns as well when you take ambient conditions and atmosphere into account. Rain, fog, darkness, heat mirages all degrade the image quality and even more so when zoomed in.