Leupold SX-4 Spotting scope came with a description rating of 20-60X85mm and was first released in 2019. While the Leupold SX-4 scope is not the most popular, its users are passionate because of its clear advantages. It is built for the harshest conditions with a rugged build that makes other hunting scopes feel like toys.
With its price closer to high-end ranges, you would expect nothing less than a stellar performance from this scope. It doesn’t disappoint with features like toughness and clarity of the scope, among others. However, before you decide to spend such an amount of money on the scope, understanding all the scope can and cannot do would be in your best interest.
Also Read: 4 Best Leupold Spotting Scope
Features of Leupold SX-4 Spotting Scope
The features of a scope involve its parts and their effect on the scope’s performance. So put together, the features can make or mar a scope, which is why considering the features is important before buying a scope. In this section, we’ll consider all the top features of the Leupold SX-4 spotting scope and discuss how they may affect performance.
Magnification
Magnification or power is likely the first description you’ll see about a scope, highlighting its importance when choosing spotting scopes. The Leupold SX-4 spotting scope features a power range of 20-60x indication; you can multiply the target size by 20 to 60 times to make it more visible. The more times you can increase the target size, the farther you can see with the scope.
With the Leupold SX-4 spotting scope, you can view targets from 100 to 1000 yards. Although you should be wary of distances closer to 1000 yards as clarity may prove a problem here. Nevertheless, the magnification of the scope is not the only determinant of a scope’s clarity and viewing distance.
Eyepiece Design
Spotting scopes, in general, usually come in either a straight eyepiece or an angled eyepiece. The Leupold SX-4 scope features straight and angled eyepiece variants with few feature differences. The angled piece has a rating of 177597, while the straight eyepiece scope is 177598.
Typically, angled scopes are better on the eye and less stressful to use over a long period. Angled scopes are also easier to share with others since you don’t have to be at the same eye line to use the scope. On the other hand, the straight scope is easy to pack and easy to use for quick spotting. No adjustments are required for your tripod, especially when switching between spotters and binoculars.
Objective Lens Size
The objective lens size is closely related to the magnification of significance, which is why it is often represented in the main description of scope. The objective lens size is the figure after the “X” in the scope description. For this Leupold SX-4 scope, the objective lens size is a huge 85mm in diameter. Such a massive objective lens comes with several pros and even a few cons. Still, first, you should understand that the size of an objective lens determines the amount of light that can enter a scope.
Light is essential in producing clear and crisp images, and the absence of enough light reaching the optical system inside the scope will lead to blur images. The SX-4’s 85mm lens is massive and will allow the required light to enter the scope to produce good images. Large lenses like this make viewing in low light possible as it can still gather enough light to brighten the image.
Durability And Build
The durability of this Leupold SX-4 pro guide 20-60×65 spotting scope is the most noticeable feature, as it is built with the most rugged of materials to ensure durability in various conditions. Its durable aluminum body and polycarbonate housing ensure a high level of durability even for Leupold’s standards. It gets even better for this scope’s strength as it is covered in a rubber armor coating.
Leupold is the first to launch the waterproof technology in scope, so it is no surprise the SX-4 is 100% waterproof and fog proof no matter the conditions. You don’t have to worry about water damaging the scope or fog clouding the lenses. The rubber armor coating protects against scratches and makes it easy to grip, so the scope does not fall off your hands. In addition, all exterior lenses are coated with Diamondcoat2, which has one of the highest levels of abrasion resistance to improve the durability of the lenses.
For a scope with a massive objective lens, you would expect to see an extremely heavy scope that would prove difficult to carry for a long time. However, the lightweight materials used to make the scope have significantly reduced its weight to 78.2 ounces, with a length of 17.7 inches for the angled piece and 18.1 inches for the straight piece.
Optical System
For spotting scopes, optical clarity is non-negotiable as it deals with long distances and often over fields with bushes and slight obstructions. Leupold’s optical system features high-definition calcium-fluoride lenses common in high-end scopes, which provide clear images across long distances. Here you’ll find impressive color fidelity, depth, and resolution at all magnification levels, ensuring you get end-to-end clarity.
The SX-4 also uses the popular Twilight Max Light Management System to optimize light entering the scope by reducing glare and improving light transmission. It adds up to 30 minutes of extra viewing at low light conditions like dawn and dusk. The fully multi-coated lenses with coatings like the Diamondcoat2 for better light transmission and, ultimately, better images. The guard-ion lens coating covering all exterior lenses ensures water and dirt do not stick to the lens surface and obstruct your view.
The spotting scope comes with an integrated sunshade that reduces glare, especially when using the scope under sunlight when facing light rays. The sunshade will reduce glare and help the lens better process light with a little reflection off the surface.
Comfort
The comfort you can get using a spotting scope depends on many factors. For this Leupold SX-4 pro guide scope, one of the first few comfort matrices to consider is the type of design you choose. Angled and straight eyepieces have varying comfort levels depending on use. However, Leupold includes a large eyepiece in both designs to view through and prevent strain on your eyes.
For angled eyepieces, the eyepiece is rotatable, so you can view from different angles and prevent strain. In contrast, the intuitiveness of using a straight eyepiece improves your comfort.
Eye Relief And Field of View
Eye relief makes it seem insignificant, but it greatly affects how long you can use your scope or if you can see clear images with the scope. The Leupold SX-4 spotting scope has a generous eye relief of 19.0 mm at 20x to 17.8 mm at 60x, helping you comfortably see through the scope even while wearing glasses.
Seeing a wide area around your target makes it easier to spot targets and provides a better viewing experience, which is why the field of view is vital. The FoV of this SX-4 pro guide scope is decent but can be better, especially for the lower magnification ranges. The FoV is rated 91.7 ft at 1000 yards at 20x to 50.6 ft at 1000 yards at 60x.
Exit Pupil And Close Focus Range
While an objective lens deals with light entering the scope, the exit pupil deals with light leaving and reaching your eyes. The exit pupil of this SX-4 scope is 4mm at 20x and reduces to 1.3mm at 60x, which is large enough.
Leupold SX-4 pro guide spotting scope has a close focus distance of 22 ft, meaning you can only focus the scope on targets from 22 ft away and beyond. The close focus distance is farther than what is obtainable in some scopes in similar ranges. However, since this is a long-distance scope, most of your targeting will be far beyond 22 ft.
Warranty
The scope is covered under the popular Leupold lifetime warranty with a promise to fix or replace issues for free. Such a bold promise further adds to the appeal of this scope since you know you’re getting lifetime protection.
Price
Leupold SX-4 pro guide HD spotting scope comes at a steep price, just below $1000, as the scope sits close to the high-end range. However, with such a full-proof warranty, you can be assured when purchasing this scope as you get lifetime protection. Although this is a steep price, its features make it a great value for money, considering its rugged design and image clarity.
Pros And Cons of Leupold SX-4 Spotting Scope
The pros and cons section provides concise reasons for and against buying the Leupold SX-4 pro guide HD scope.
Pros
- Rugged aluminum build with a polycarbonate housing
- An impressive optical system that produces clear images
- Large objective lens size for better light intake
- Twilight Max Light Management System for improved light transmission
- Fully multi-coated lenses with coatings such as guard-ion lens coating and diamondcoat2
- Integrated sunshade for reduced glare
Cons
- Bulky scope due to the large objective lens
- Expensive
Summary
Considering some of them, it is best to do due diligence before spending money on a spotting scope, as the Leupold SX-4 pro guide HD scope comes at a steep price. However, the SX-4 scope has an extremely durable body and equally impressive optical clarity.
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