Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Nikon ED50, eye relief?

Is the Nikon ED50 scope with the 13-30 eyepiece usable with eye glasses? There is no data on the web about the eye relief. Note that I find the Swaro angled 65mm adequate (but just barely).

Any comments on the angled versus straight Nikon ED50 scope regarding eye relief? Also, the photos of the angled eye piece show a large collar at the lens.......what is it and is it removable?


Thanks!

Kurt

I just grabbed my ED50 and my wife's sunglasses then took a look. Yes, it will work but I feel the frames against my eyebrow. I can't tell you if there is a difference between the angled and straight eye-pieces. I couldn't find an angled eye-piece to save my life when I was shopping for one of these. I really like this scope but now I'm in the market for an angled Swarovski 65mm.

I have the angled ED50, and I would say your comments about hit the nail on the head. I have a fixed power (x27?) eye peice and its supposed to be a touch better than the zooms, but I find the eye relief just ok/workable, but not brilliant..

I wear glasses and the nikon ed 50 absolutely SUCKS for eyerelief its totally unusable for me. the only think close that kinda works and is compact is the leupold 15-30, otherwise the 12-40x60 is as good as it gets for eye glass wearers.

Thanks for the information! I use an old (1987) Leupold 20x50 for a pack scope that works well but thought about upgrading for bear and deer. Sounds like the Nikon is marginala since I wear my glasses. I'd like to look through an angled and straight ED......but don't know where to find them to look at in British Columbia without ordering them in.

I love the Swaro 20-60x65 HD but it is heavy for non-sheep hunting uses that are far from the roads. With horn and or age restrictions it is the only way to fly on sheep hunts.

Kurt, that old 20X Leupy spotter is probably unusable at least 20min sooner than the Nikon 50 ED. I used that Leupy as an army sniper, we later got in a Bushnell that spanked it. Army snipers really like that ed/HD version of the box Leupy, it may not have swaro/leica grade glass but it is tough and Leupold will stand behind it.

When I went through school I used the 12-40x60mm Leupold. They work well and aren't overly heavy nor do they take up a lot of volume in a pack. I can spot through them with my Oakleys on. The only time I take them off is if it's overcast.

My instructors had 20-60x65 Swarovski spotters and there is no comparison. The angled eye-piece on the Swarovski was awesome for staying on glass. The eye-relief seemed to be longer and less critical. If you have the Swarovski I'd keep it and just pack it.

I like my Nikon but it isn't perfect. It's clear, light, and could be carried in any pack including a small hydration bladder carrier. The eye-relief is short and the field of view is narrow; I sometimes have trouble getting on target with it.

I've found the digiscoping 27X WA eyepiece makes a HUGE difference!

I routinely use mine with shooting/sun glasses on with no problems.....

Doug had the eyepiece for like $49 IIRC.

It does have a collar though.



Another view:

Well, I see this thread is a tad bit old, but I'm considering purchasing an ED50 very soon as well. As for the straight vs angled...on a scope this size, I prefer straight, even though I'd probably go for an angled version in a larger scope.

The straight version should also be a bit brighter than the angled version since the angled version adds an extra prism behind the porro prism, which adds two more reflections.

oldslowdog, would that be the banks of the Trinity River?

Good eyes.....

Thanks again for all the responses. Note that I finally found eye relief data for the ED50 with the two most popular eyepieces online:

13-30X = 12.9mm (or .51")

27X wide MC = 17.8mm (or .71")

Looks like the eye relief of the zoom is marginal for my uses and I'll probably stick to the Swaro and the old fixed Leupold 20X.

Spent quite a bit of time there, my grandfather spent a lot of time running trotlines on that river. Seen a pretty good gator down there and some bald eagles.