Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Ultra Dot 30 - parallax

I noticed on their site it is listed as parallax free @ 50 meters. How big of an issue is it at different ranges? How would you compare it to a 2X handgun scope?

The only red dot I've used is a Burris Fast Fire 3 which is listed as being parallax free. To be honest, I normally keep the dot near the center of the "screen" and have not actually tested it.


Thanks.

There is no parallax with a red dot. There are no components needed to erect the picture and bring a focus to a reticle.

I've never noticed parallax with my Ultradots, and I've used it in competition on targets from 25 to 200 meters.

That is what I always thought but, straight from their own website;

Specifications:Tube Diameter: 30mm
Field of View: Unlimited
Windage/Elevation Adjustments: 1 MOA per click
Dot Size: 4 MOA
Dot Brightness Adjustment: 11 Settings / ClickLength: 5.1 Inches
Battery: 3v Lithium CR2032
Battery Life: 20 - 4,000 Hours (User Dependant)
Weight: 3.9 oz
Parallax Free @ 50m


And for the Ultradot L/T ;

Specifications:Dimensions:51 x 28 x 37mm
Weight: 58g
Sight window:25.76 x 22.01
Battery: CR2032 3V Lithium
Windage adjustment range: 305cm @ 100yElevation adjustment range: 457cm @ 100y
Dot size: 4 MOA
Dot brightness adjustment: 10 settings
Parallax Free @ 100m
Shock proof: 1000g
Waterproof: Waterproof



Hence the question. Kind of figured it was just something else I don't know.

If in fact there is "no parallax, " both statements are true.

All red dots have parallax for the same reason as telescopic sights - focal plane of the dot (reticle). Parallax is less apparent in red dots since there is no magnification. The dot can be 'focused' at a specific range to minimize or for all practical purposes eliminate parallax. Parallax will be more apparent at close range.

Getting a handle on the POI shift due to parallax is tough to answer. Due to the sleep inducing properties of the topic I've only scanned a few studies, but the shift depends on how far off center the shooter is viewing the dot, the shooter's individual perception, and the red dot itself. Plus, there is both vertical and horizontal shift and they can be different. In other words, two shooters can report different results. Ballpark, across a dozen different red dots, 0-15 MOA.

Shown at the link is too much information: Comparative Study of Red Dot Sight Parallax

This video by the same group shows the same thing at a glance:

This. There is a specific range at which there is zero parallax, but at other ranges there is some amount of parallax. The actual amount depends on the optic.

Interesting video, JOG. I thought for some reason that they didn't have much parallax. I will have to pay more attention and keep the dot in the middle the screen.

I just changed from a Leupold M8 2X EER to the UltraDot 30mm, with a 4moa dot, on my Ruger Redhawk. I never thought about parallax with a red dot, I'll have to experiment with it! Thanks for the post.

Bringing this back up because I finally got the Vortex Venom the other day. I tested it and my Burris FF3 today for parallax. I mounted 2 old weaver bases to a small piece of 2x4 and mounted it to a tripod so that they were side by side. Just testing at various ranges there was no apparent parallax past about 20 feet. I'm not doubting that there was some but it was small enough that I couldn't detect it. I tested from 10 feet to about 150 yards. At around 10 feet each of them had somewhere around 1" total movement. At 20 feet it was a very slight shift but it would still be good enough for minute of squirrel head.

I'm still curious about the Ultradot 30.