The new Vortex Skyline
A Review by Michael and Diane Porter
Here are some of the things we think you'll like about the Vortex Skyline. And our minor reservations are here, too.
It's a full-sized 80mm scope. So it takes in plenty of light to provide a bright image even in dimming light.
An eyepiece is included with the scope. (Many scopes sell the eyepiece separately, so you have to add the price of the eyepiece on to the price of the body.)
It's a truly usable zoom eyepiece, and that sets the Skyline apart from other inexpensive scopes we've reviewed It gives a nice sharp image at 20 power. It stays good as you increase the magnification. And it gives a creditable image at 60 power. OK, it's not as sharp as a Zeiss Diascope or a Swarovski HD. But at 1/4 or 1/5 the price, it does amazingly well. When you do crank it up to 60x, you see lots more detail than you did at 20x. You get the impression of a clean image.
And the eyepiece is generous. It's big, so it's easy to see through. The eye relief allows anyone, even a person wearing glasses, to see the whole image. It's better on that score than some much more expensive scopes.
The focus knob is a small wheel on top of the scope body. It's easy to turn it with thumb and index finger. It lets you make fine adjustments without shaking the scope, so you can get a precise focus easily. It would be nice if the Skyline had a dual focus knob, one for fast focus and the other for fine focus (as the Diascope has), but it seems like this was a reasonable way to cut the cost and keep the scope affordable.
Good quality basics. Broadband coatings reduce interfering reflections. Fully multi-coated optics maximize the amount of light that gets through the scope to your eye. The housing seems sturdy and rugged. The scope is waterproof, fogproof, and nitrogen purged.
Nice extras. The Skyline includes a tough-material carrying case that can stay on while you're using the scope. You also get a table-top tripod. And of course the eyepiece cover and objective lens cover come with. So you get everything you need to actually set up your scope and look through it as soon as it arrives. You'll probably want to buy a full-sized tripod as well, but that little table-top tripod often comes in handy.
Outstanding warranty. The manufacturer's warranty is one of the most generous in the industry. The warranty is, in the words of the manufacturer (Vortex), "Unlimited. Unconditional. Transferable." There is no warranty card to fill out and no time limit on the guarantee. The scope stays under warranty even if you transfer ownership. It even covers mishaps. However, the warranty does not cover theft, loss, or deliberate damage.
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