Digital Video Scopes, like the Sight Mark Wraith?

[Cableaddict]

I just recently discovered the Sight Mark Wraith 4K mini  2-16x32 scope.

If you're not familiar with it, it's one of the new breed of scopes with built-in video recording, and does night vision as well
I'm very curious about this model, but I don't understand a lot of how it works, so hoping some folks here are already using one, or something like this.

It looks like a prismatic scope, visually, especially with that accordion eyepiece.  So this is basically a "short eye relief" design, correct? 
The FOV is insanely wide, so regardless of eye relief, it has that feature.   And how !   40' at 100 yards.
===========================

MY QUESTIONS:

I assume that the image is actually displayed on a tine lcd screen, yes?  If not, then how does it work?
- And is the image ALWAYS an lcd display, both night and day?
-  And if so,  how does this "feel" when hunting,  compared to a normal "look through the glass" scope?


FOCUSING?   I see in the manual that there’s a focus knob. (And I love that it’s accessible from either side.)  Is this a parallax adjustment, or “just image focus?   What's the minimum parallax adjustment?  Or does that note even apply, since the image is digital?

The FOV is listed as 40’ @ 100 yards, which is incredible. - But is that the view seen in real-time, or just on video playback?

It's "only" 32mm.   Does that not matter since it's digital.  In other words, does the sensor / electronics compensate for the smallish objective, and still give a bright image at dusk? 

Also,  how do you adjust the thing?  Looking at the pics, I don't see any parallax / focus knob.  Heck, I don't even see turret knobs!

[Cableaddict]

They also have a Wraith HD 4-32x50.   No need for 32x magnification with a pcp rifle! -  But I’m wondering if the 50mm objective offers benefits even at 16X.  I recently tried a fixed 14x50 scope, and found it unusable at 10 yards.  (Even though, technically, it could parallax-focus to 7 yards.)

 -  But these are digital scopes, so again, maybe the extra light gathering is not needed?   

-  Or maybe the larger objective is better for range-finding (it would be cool if the scope could display range in the corner, based on the focus-ring position) But then there’s still the issue of possibly too thin a DOF at shorter range.

[Cableaddict]

So no one uses this type of scope?

Really?     


Well,  I sent the same questions to Sight Mark,  so hopefully they'll respond soon and I can post that info here.
This scope looks like a potential winner.

[Firewalker]

$500.00, not gunna happen....

[Cableaddict]

$800

https://sightmark.com/collections/night-vision-monoculars/products/sightmark-wraith-4k-mini-2-16x32-digital-riflescope


If it all works, and is ergonomically pleasant to use, then it's a bargain:

It has a wider FOV (by far) than even the MTC Swats and Immersive Optics prismatics.
It has 12 selectable reticles!  (And 4 of them are FFP.)
It has bullt-in night vision.
And it has a 4K digital recorder.

Plus, you can focus it with your right hand,  which IMO is a HUGE plus for right-handed bullpup users.

Plus,  (remains to be seen) it may have zero parallax error, and could theoretically even have a digital range indicator built-in.

One important thing I'm not sure of yet is what the "4X zoom" means.  IS this actually a 2-4x scope, plus 4X digital zoom?   If so, that would likely mean only 1/4 of the claimed FOV at 16x.   Hmmm ....

[customcutter]

SIGHTMARK never again.   Many years ago I bought one of their ATN scopes when they first came out.  Fantastic claims, however almost every week or 2 there were software updates that the users were supposed to download to fix issue after issue.  Could barely see 50 yds with a $100 aftermarket IR flashlight.  After several months I finally asked for a refund due to it being at best a BETA model dumped on the unaware public.  Went back and forth with the regional rep until I finally got tired of it and threatened to involve the States Attorney.  I got a refund and bought an Armasight Zeus Thermal.  Like I said never again.

[Cableaddict]

Thanks for your thoughts, ken.

This is definitely a problem with pretty much anything digital these days,  and worth considering.  Still, I don't mind having to occasionally update firmware,  as long as the company is fixing problems or adjusting to user feedback.  IMO, it's worse if they DON'T.  Still, rushing a product to market is a bad strategy.

Also, the problem with any digital scope will always be obsolescence.  It's hard to consider spending $800 on a scope that will be "old technology" within 1-2 years.   - But that's just the way it's going to be from now on, unless you want to deal with the bulk and mechanical issues of using separate recorders and night vision attachments. 
Buy it, use it, be happy, and try not to notice when newer, cheaper and better units come out.      


My big issue with Sight Mark as a company right now (besides your own experience) is that they are sort of "trying to fool us" with the magnification numbers.  The Mini, for instamce, is not actually a 2-16X scope.  It's a 2-4X scope, with 4X digital zoom added.  So you can go to 16X,  but not optically,  which means you lose definition. Granted, with a 4K camera, that's not a huge issue, but it's still a little deceptive, IMO.

Also, I did get an email response form the company today.  Not much clarification at all (the responder didn't seem to understand / care about the obvious REASONS for my questions, and just gave quick, basic answers, which didn't help too much.)  Still,  he did verify the magnification thing,  and also:

1:  Yes, you view the display even in daylight. (I found a Youtube video that shows this through an external recorder, and it looks fantastic. Note that there's quite a bit of chromatic aberration in bright sunlight,  but that's not a deal-breaker for a hunting scope.)

2:  Zero parallax error.

3:  The 40' FOV is only at 2X magnification, sadly.  This is NOT a close-eye / wide FOV scope like the MTC Swat and Immersive Optics models.   
     In fact, that FOV is actually pretty awful.  Although I have to check, it seems no like the FOV at 16X would only be 5'.   There's actually pathetic.

4:  Regarding brightness,  I THINK his response was that there is no bright-assist in daylight, that the brightness control is only for the IR sensor. - but he really didn't elaborate.

[customcutter]

Allan, thanks for updating their reply to your questions.

My issue was they rushed a product to market to fund their R/D, and had buyers doing all of the BETA testing.  If the scope had done half of what they claimed I would have been a happy camper.  The other and major issue to me was safety.  I had permission to take pigs on 300acres close to my house.  The first night out with the scope and aftermarket IR illuminator I had a pig come by at probably 30 yds.  I could barely make him out, I was afraid to take the shot because it was a cow pasture and I couldn't see 50 yds.  I didn't want to have a pass through with my Grendel and have to buy a horse or cow that might have been standing or bedded down 10 yds behind it.   If I had been 10' off of the ground different story.  I finally got my money back and invested in an Armasight Zeus 3X12X75 thermal.  I now know exactly what is down range for hundreds of yards unless it is blocked by brush or something else.  I can see trees, brush, fence post, structures, abandoned vehicles, etc.  If there's a 5 degree temp difference I would venture to say it shows up. 

One night I shot 3 pigs out of a group of 5.  I walked up within 15 yards and shot the first.  They started running.  I shot the second and dropped it about 30-40 yds away.  I finally acquired a 3rd about 75 yds and running perpendicular.  First shot I hit it just in front of the hams and knocked it sideways.  Second shot was through the lungs but I didn't know that.  Third shot was through the heart/lungs, and dropped it.  I had been instructed not to allow any pigs I shot to make it onto the neighbors property by the owner as he didn't want problems with the neighbor.  He did guided dog hunts for pigs at night with catch dogs.  Not even possible with IR.

[Cableaddict]

Update:


i still don't have many concrete answers,  but it does seem that the FOV is massively compromised. -  Exactly the opposite of what I initially thought, based on their misleading marketing specs.

It seems this is the case with any digital system and in fact, with any camera system.  They all limit FOV rather drastically.  Even with a short eye relief / wide FOV design, adding a camera system does this.  (According to both MTC and Immersive Optics.) 

I'm sure the technology exists to overcome this,  but so far no manufacturer seems to have developed purpose-made components with which to accomplish it.


Sigh .....