Theta Optics (#3) - Scopes

Introduction

Some time ago Gunfire store introduced quite significant set of Theta Optics products to it's offer. We have managed to test red dot sights, which performed quite well in conducted tests (Theta Optics (#1) - open sights; Theta Optics (#2) - tube sights). Are scopes going to follow the company motto and assure "clear view on your battlefield"? Are their worth our atention and money? With our tests we tried to answer this question as accurately as possible. Check this out!

The Package

I was given three Theta Optics scopes. Two significantly sized "fifties" with a bit different capabilites and construction each (3-9X50AOEG and 6-24X50AOEG) and one tiny scope with the lens of 32 mm diameter (4x32). All three scopes were packed in similar way, so I have decided to describe it commonly.

The packages are neat, dark cartons covered with appropriate sticker containing a picture of a scope (absolutely different one from the package content) and well known manufacturer motto, I have mentioned above: Clear view on Your battlefield. What is interesting, carton conatins information about scope resitance for shakes and... recoil.

Inside, apart from the scope, I have found a basic manual in English, leaflet with an extraction of manual in several languages (including Polish), CR2032 battery (only with bigger scopes with glowng aim) and lens cleaning cloth. In the box you can also find yellow lens cover (to improve a contrast). The manufactured wrapped scopes in protective, yet thin sponge and put them into plastic bags. In separate small cardboard two-part mount with hex key were put. They are essantial when one wants to place the scope on to a replica. As you can assume, everything is packed properly and cartboard itself makes an appropriate impression.

Scopes appearance and construction

THO-LUN-201-BLK uniw / 4X32

The least spectacular of tested set, the little "thirty two" does not make a stunning impression. Well, simple scope with constant zoom and without glowing cross. Black tube is simple and only markings are placed near the "lens". Two regulation knobs are hidden under screw covers, additionally equipped with rubber seal.

The cross setting can be regulated ussing flat-head screwdriver or a small coin. One "click" equals 1/4 MOA (minute of angle; approx. 0,725 cm for each 100 m). The cross of the smallest scope got standard grid (3 dots per cross arm) and a piece to be used for correction while shooting downward or upward. I do not want to go into details, as it is not the point of this article.

The cross is clearly visible. There is no focus regulation. For people with eye-sight problems or ones wearing glasses it may be a small trouble. What us interesting, there is a real gas injection port, what may mean it is actually filled with nitrogen. It does not happen in Chinese scopes (contrary to claims). The port makes it possible to refill this gas.

To sum up - this scope sems to be pretty good in it's class, despite a simple construction. Does not seem to be delicate or "unfinished".

THO-LUN-205-BLK uniw / 3-9X50AOEG

The former of bigger scopes is a lot more complicated than a one described above. Larger tube is equipped with regulation knobs under covers (again, as above - sealed), knob adjusting the cross glow -available in red or green - where battery is located, ring necessary for focus adjustment and spinning front part for parallax correction (a displacement or difference in the apparent position of an object viewed from different angles). Obviously, the ring for zoom adjustment is also placed on a tube. The scope has gas injection port as well.

As one can see, this scope can be customized to one's needs in a much greater degree than THO-LUN-201-BLK uniw / 4X32. Regulation knobs are calibrated to 1 click = 1/4 MOA standard. This time additional tools are not needed, as manipulators are equipped with insets. The aiming cross is MIL-DOT standard (5 points per arm).

Additionaly, there is a possiblility of unscrewing the element covering the dense threrad in the frontal part of a scope. It makes adding antireflexion cover possible, what is vital regarding such a huge lens. Unfortunately, the cover itself is not included in a set. It causes some troubles, as purchasing fitting one may occur to be hard. The thread is different than in Delta Optical, Schmidt & Bender or even cheap Kadar scopes (I have no other scopes to check the compatibility).

The whole product is magnificient and makes quite good impression in general. As for "fifty" the scope is not large. People who do not have "long sticks" for sharp shooting may like it really much.

THO-LUN-203-BLK uniw / 6-24X50AOEG

The most spectacular of all scopes presented here. The tube of remarkable size is equipped with properly marked regulation knobs, which does not demand tools to be set up (again, 1 click = 1/4 MOA), rings for zoom and focus adjusment  and a knob for regulating parallax displacement correction.

As in previous case, this scope also possess thread in the end of a scope, where sunshader may be placed. Unfortunately, as i have mentioned above - it is the another type of thread, what makes finding a matching element very difficult. Regulation knobs are coverred with sealed caps, what eliminates the possibility of damage or accidental turn. The scope is equipped with MIL-DOT cross, also glowng red or green (both colors got 5 degree of strength).

The tube possess gas injection port as well. The scope is huge, what may impose, this products is dedicated for the longest replicas and users who are not afraind of additional 0,5 kg attached to their toys.

The mount

Scopes are to be attached with a very simple set for RIS. It consists of two rings, secured with two hex screws each (appropriate key included). The mount adjusted for proposed product does not allow for internal diameter adjustment. On the other hand it lets for easy mount of a scope to replica, as screws got enlarged heads, so they can be easily operated with fingers. I can not imagine anything simpler and i think it is not the best solution (i am not convinced to two-part mounts), but it is added to he scope, so you already paid for it.

The usage and working

THO-LUN-201-BLK uniw / 4X32

The least complicated product has been tested at M4 replica. Screwing it to a rail was not a problem. The compact size lets for using this scope instead of a red dot sight, if someone prefers such a solution. The scope is cheaper than poor quality ACOG copies, which are one of the most popular products with preset zoom.

After placing the scope it was high time to adjust it. Covered knobs are not the most convenient solution, but they do their job. Each "click" is clear. They were not just a decoration too (what means the do not react or react incorrectly for adjustments, what frequently happens with ACM "brand" products) and moving them was easy. After adjusting the scope for a target at 40 meters distance the scope can be trusted.

It must be mentioned, that everything is visible clearly and a clarity of lenses is not bad. Of course products manufactured by well known brands pointed out above got better parameters, but this unexpensive scope provides solid and clear view (once I had more expensive product manufactured by a brand quite famous in the airsoft world, which used to distort the reality seen throug it). Unfortunately, I lacked the the possibility of setting the focus. I know, this scope is to be bare simplessness, but sometimes the possiblity of adjusting focus would be apreciated (I know, the zoom is preset, but such possibility becomes useful in certain situations). The lack of parallax is a drawback as well, but let's do not be too harsh. It is really simple product.

The lens covers are made of fragile materials. During the transportation to the testing site, one of them got broken. Well. I did not expected it to be rock solid, but now I know, it would be useless anyway, if scope lens got hit by a pellet. I do not know to know if it holds.

I more than satisfied of using this product. Knobs were working and the view was clear. The size of a scope let me go through dense bushes. Shame the focus is already set. Well, other products allowed me to test this function.

THO-LUN-205-BLK uniw / 3-9X50AOEG

The first one of bigger scopes. Wide possibilities of regulation and scope's size encouraged me to mount it at M16 rifle replica. As before attaching a gun to replica was rather troubleless, but I still hate two-part mounts, as I need to have my scopes placed really precisely. It's my personal twist. Because of it's size and mass, scope decreases you maneuverability in some point, but adjustability for player's needs partially compensates it.

Lenses clarity is fine again. However, with wider lens blemishes are more visible than in case of more expensive products. "Hybrid" konbs (as I have written, they are not completly "sniper" type, but easy to move with no tools) worked well, spinning with clear "click" and certain resistance. I managed to set the scope appropriately to my needs, so hitting targets at 60 meters was effective and pellet was still visible. Unfortunately, small insets on regulation knobs made it harder for me to operate them precisely wearing gloves. Despite it is possible to adjust the scope in a field without tools, I would not recommend it to people with big fingers, especially in gloves.

Parallax adjustment works as well, although I can not say the way it is designed is comfortable, as it requires to spin the whole frontal part of a scope. If "flip-up" covers were mounted there, it would become even harder. I prefer solution utilized in product of similar class - Kadar scope. There parallax asjustment is simply another knob. One pretty fine aspect is the possibility of adjusting a parallax from 14 meters distance. In some replicas and premium scopes this minimum distance i a lot longer, what practically disenable utilizing it in airsfot conditions.

I have not been using cross enlightment, especially it does not help, when set on a highest mode, but... Generally it worked well and players who use this function in their scopes will not be disappointed. The scope posses smooth zoom, which works correctly. The cross keeps one size, it does not enlarge, when we zoom the view (there are such scopes). Constant size of a scope faciclitates easy measuring the distance to a target. Zoom knob is equipped with comfortable inset, facilitating operating it, when shooter wears gloves. Pity, this inset gets "under" the scope when is set in position. It is not a major proble, but still needs to be mentioned.

This scope possess focus regulation ring as well. It works smoothly and I can not find any flaw of it. The only disturbing drawback was the lack of sunshader and the thread descripted above, what seems to be some Theta inner standard. For a shooter supporting an assault team maybe it will not be a problem, but if someone feels like being "hidden and dangerous", what includes state-of-an-art camouflage will be force to use a stocking. I reckon it should be fixed while working over new batches.

This scope performed quite well, especially while checking out it's price, quality seems to be really okay. Despite some minor drawbacks nothing disturbed me so much I gave up on using. Although the lack of sunshader and "strange" thread may be some sort of trouble while preparing a camouflage. I do not mention covers, as it is exactly the same product, as in a case of previos scope. Appropriately bigger though.

THO-LUN-203-BLK uniw / 6-24X50AOEG

Huge scope by Theta Optics demanded some time to attach it to L115A3 replica. I did not use a mount delivered by Theta Optics, as replica has own - one part. After setting appropriate position at dozen meter from a target I have started initial regulation to move away from a target until I reached 65 meters. The view through this scope was as clear as in case of previous cases or maybe even a bit brighter than in case of 3-9X50AOEG or maybe it is just an impression.

"Sniper" type regulation towers increase the comfort of work wiht the scope. Each click is clear. The size of knobs is perfect for hands wearing even thick gloves. I liked markings of full spins of a knob. However, the solution described below is rather funny - knobs are hidden under covers, which need to be unscrewed. It got an advantage, as they are protected against accidental turn. On the other hand it is annoying, when set must be quickly adjusted. I think it is not very important drawback, as I change the setup rather rarely during the skirmish, but each player got different habits. Knobs work similarly in the whole range of spin (Chinese scopes sometimes got too much resistance in border zone of movement).

The parallax correction works the same, as in the case of smaller "fifty" - with spinning the frontal part of a scope. This is moderately comfortable in exactly the same way as it used to be there. The setup works from 15 yards (approximately 14 meters, the same as above). The biggest scope seemed to resist more while adjusting this parameter. The zoom is regulated widely and the knob responsible for it works swiftly. Again, I have faced a knob going "under the scope", but while the range of zoom is so wide there is nothig to be surprised of.

The zoom does not apply to the aiming cross. Glow works flawless, but as in previous case it rather blinding than helpful when turn to the highest mode. The scope offers a possibility of adjusting the focus of a view, what is regulated by a ring placed in the frontal part. It works absolutely fine. Unfortunately, this prioduct lacks a sunshader very much. People interested in silent and covered actions will try to MacGyver it on their own... It would be just fine, as the manufacturer added just "a piece of pipe" to the box.

The cooperation with the biggest scope demanded some patience, as this replica was to be the most accurate. I reckon the lack of sunshader and rahter hard parallax regulator as the most significant drawbacks. The rest of my time spent wih the huge "fifty" from Theta Optics was really joyful. Especially I did not need to struggle with rather average mount added to the set.

The summary

Theta Optics scopes are fine products designed solely for airsofters. They do not try to be military scopes replicas or cheap All China Made products. Each of scopes that pass through my hands had some pros and cons, but all of them are quite solid and leaves you with nothing  but possitive impression.

I liked the smallest one the most, as I managed to adjust it perfectly to my replica, while it's simplicity is an advantage. Scopes with bigger lenses are good choice for you, if you need budget scopes of fine quality and you are not discouraged with the lack of sunshader. The mount in a set is for sure a huge advantage, when low price is to be considered, although it is the simplest product of it kind.

Taking everything into account - I recommend Theta Optics scopes to everyone, who wants to start the advanture with sniping and those people, who wants to purchase good (not neccesarily perfect) product in low price. It seems, as if producer was aiming to airsoft market while creating their products and... it was a good shot. Wonder, if Theta was using their own scopes?

Theta Optics scopes are tested with the courtesy of Gunfire.pl

Useful links

Theta Optics (#1) - open red dot sights - the first part of Theta Optics red dot sights test.

Theta Optics (#2) - tube red dot sights - the second part of Theta Optics red dot sights test.

WMASG - sights and scopes - WMASG subforum devoted for sights and scopes.