Japanese quality scope for under $1K?

[ONE-TEN]

This is the Riton 4-32x56 Series 7 Conquer. They use HD/ED Glass, have zero stop, Stainless Steel Turret internals and YES, they Made in Japan. But the crazy thing here is this scope is available for $969! This is mind blowing.

I’ve looked at this company for a few years now. So Riton is much like Athlon or Bushnell, or Vortex. They have a full line of different series scopes, most of which are all made in China. And they have like 1 or 2 models available that are made in Japan. Much like Athlon with their Cronus scope. A GREAT scope by the way that’s been going strong for many years now! But the Cronus is like $1500. This is $970! A Japanese made scope for under $1K. In THIS day & age!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRJS21P5

This is much like what was talking about in another thread I did. The whole scope environment has changed drastically! I really can’t see the other manufacturers continue to charge $2K, $4K…. $6,000, even $8,000 on some their scopes! I’ve said for sometime that Scope technology and ability from China has been poll-vaulted into the future in recent years! The scopes being produced are a phenomenal! This coincides. We now have Japanese Glass & build quality available for what the high end Chinese scopes are selling for. For instance, the Athlon Eres 4.5-30x56, or my US Optics TS-20 2.5-20x50. These both use ED Glass, have exceptional build quality & are built in China.

 

[Shoots100]

Still prefer Leupold and SFP, but I've been using March optics for my ELR needs for awhile now after trying everything under the sun.
Scopes made in Japan have been top notch performers and reliable as the day is long.
It's great to see a MIJ scope breaking the $1k price range.
SJC

 

[Txhillbilly]

The Riton scope is nice, but it is a bare bones scope compared to many other Japanese scopes in the same class. I've got an original Cronus. It's been a fantastic scope, the Gen 2 is even better. I also have a Delta Stryker HD that I like even more because it has locking turrets
My newest Japanese scope is the Valdada G2 mini. The glass is excellent, as are the turrets. The only negative I have with it is the reticle lines are too fine for my taste.
I still prefer European scopes, but can't afford to put them on all of my rifles.

 

[Tacoma]

FWIW, I owned the Japanese made $1500 Athlon Cronus. It was a nice enough scope with very good glass, That said, I sold it and now keep 5 (chinese made) Athlon ARES ETR HD 4.5-30x56s. IMHO, they are that good and still under $1k if you shop right. In my experience, the ETR actually has brighter glass. ( The glass is reported to be imported from Japan.) The turrets and other build features are every bit as good as the CRONUS. Don't underestimate the Chinese quality potential these days. They have become masters at copying ANYTHING to whatever quality level the customer is willing to pay for.

 

[ONE-TEN]

FWIW, I owned the Japanese made $1500 Athlon Cronus. It was a nice enough scope with very good glass, That said, I sold it and now keep 5 (chinese made) Athlon ARES ETR HD 4.5-30x56s. IMHO, they are that good and still under $1k if you shop right. In my experience, the ETR actually has brighter glass. ( The glass is reported to be imported from Japan.) The turrets and other build features are every bit as good as the CRONUS. Don't underestimate the Chinese quality potential these days. They have become masters at copying ANYTHING to whatever quality level the customer is willing to pay for.

I agree. I figured this out several years ago. There are still so many people who refuse to believe it. China can build anything to whatever specifications they are asked to build it to. Some scope manufactures have certain scopes that meet this criteria. And yes, just as I said, ythe Athlon Eres ETR is one. As is my USO TS-20x. It’s Glass clarity & build quality are far better than any of the lower line Asian made scopes. It’s also better than many older Leupolds I remember. Now, it was retailed at like $1499 from US Optics, which was way overpriced. But it sold many places for under $1K, which is the lower price I got. The Eres ETR also was like $1200 when first released. But is now available for under $1K.

But it is good to see a Japanese scope under $1K.

 

[ONE-TEN]

The Riton scope is nice, but it is a bare bones scope compared to many other Japanese scopes in the same class. I've got an original Cronus. It's been a fantastic scope, the Gen 2 is even better. I also have a Delta Stryker HD that I like even more because it has locking turrets
My newest Japanese scope is the Valdada G2 mini. The glass is excellent, as are the turrets. The only negative I have with it is the reticle lines are too fine for my taste.
I still prefer European scopes, but can't afford to put them on all of my rifles.

What do you mean “Bare Bones”? Have you actually looked closely at the one I linked? It’s Made in Japan with all Japanese components. Has 4-32x magnification, 34mm tube, 56mm objective & 31MRAD elevation & is FFP. Xmas tree reticle with illumination. Has Zero Stop, HD/ED Glass & dual throw levers. I don’t know what other features other Japanese scopes have that make them NOT “bare bones”, as you put it. Do you think Japan is now building LOWER quality components? Lower quality Glass and thus, lower quality scopes? This would be a completely NEW age, if that’s so. Please expound. I honestly have not had my hands on one. I’m going off it being a Japanese Scope & by what is featured. Also, the many reviews of this scope, which are ALL positive. Not to mention, if we go back just a few years, Japanese scopes didn’t really have any of these features.

I do agree with you about German Glass. I to think it’s the absolute best. I even prefer Carl Zeiss HD lenses for my prescription glasses. Been using Zeiss HD lenses for over a decade, pretty exclusively. However, my latest pair are another brand HD lens and are the best I’ve had to this point) Its things like this that really make me think hard on all this. And why I post some things, like my other thread. It’s like we are so brand driven, it makes us believe things that just really aren’t true. Even myself. Why do I still think Zeiss Glass is best, when these other no-name HD lenses in my eye glasses are the absolute best I’ve had! My vision was a solid 20/15 in my right eye through these. (Remember, my left eye is blind, so it doesn’t matter.)