Schmidt Bender Pricing

[paulbshooting]

Been to the S&B factory in Germany and Hungary. Very impressed with the design, engineering, team and facilities. Service team and testing was top notch. Ideal for military sniping and serious target shooting but overkill for stalking IMHO. I have always used zeiss. Have a HT and V8, both with ASV. They get lots of use and abuse, both been superb. Chatted to Zeiss at the stalking show and they remain committed to the sports optics market, despite rumours.

 

[Malxwal]

@Dave45 Im based in ROI so afaik I wouldnt be able to ourchase due to UK export restrictions

Unless you have a pal in NI

 

[Overlay]

I use all three Swaro, Zeiss and S&B
If I had to choose 1 it would be the zeiss V8 or as a 2nd choice a variable Schmitt they are all brilliant scopes but reticules may not be to you liking try as many as you can

 

[Leec6.5]

Been to the S&B factory in Germany and Hungary. Very impressed with the design, engineering, team and facilities. Service team and testing was top notch. Ideal for military sniping and serious target shooting but overkill for stalking IMHO. I have always used zeiss. Have a HT and V8, both with ASV. They get lots of use and abuse, both been superb. Chatted to Zeiss at the stalking show and they remain committed to the sports optics market, despite rumours.

Overkill means bombproof and 100% reliable which is why they don’t have warranty issues

 

[C h r i s]

Certainly not bombproof, but the warranty is good.

 

[Nimrod1960]

INMH
S&B Polar 96 2.5-10 x 50 all you need, perfect all rounder unless you need to shoot right out there (which most people don't)

 

[Muntybuck5803]

I love S&B, but their pricing has gone a touch mental. Not sure I’d buy a new one with their new pricing.
I’ve had many through the years from all the different classes and my two favourites of all time are a 3–12x42 with the P3 ret, and an old 3-12x50 PMii. Both very reasonably priced and everything you need for a good stalking / target crossover setup.

 

[Heym SR20]

@Dave45 Im based in ROI so afaik I wouldnt be able to ourchase due to UK export restrictions

A great scope, I don't target shoot anymore only stalk, Ive used a 3-12 to shoot out to 800m before on targets. The lack of adj parrallax, and bdc, and tbh the 4a ret just wouldn't suit my needs.

Haven't seen the 6-36 tbh, and it would be too much scope for a stalking rifle. Im looking at the ZC420H, its around the Meta price wise. The Razor gen 3 would probably be a bit heavy for a stalking scope, although it does have the warranty(as much as some people knock it). Havent looked through the k525.

Yea, completely agree with that, but Im looking at the hunting line of optics not the PM series.

A great scope but not suited to my stalking

There is not a lot to choose between the component parts of S&B Military and Hunting line in optics. They use similar quality lenses, tubes and internal bits, together with the same assembly lines etc., albeit some of the hunting lines use simpler reticles and fewer features such as dialable turrets.

Fundamentally you get what you pay for. S&B work reliably for a very long time. A have a 4x36 with a post style reticle. It was delivered in 1974 as the scope of a Rigby built rifle. Nowt wrong with scope and its accounted for man many deer. Its optical clarity and ability to hold zero, is just as good as the Leica that the rifle currently wears.

S&B are premium grade optical instruments. The cost is high, both due the cost of the components used, but also due to the cost of ones that don’t get past the inspection and end up in the bin. Premium grade will cost really good money.

 

[BelMali]

Been to the S&B factory in Germany and Hungary. Very impressed with the design, engineering, team and facilities. Service team and testing was top notch. Ideal for military sniping and serious target shooting but overkill for stalking IMHO. I have always used zeiss. Have a HT and V8, both with ASV. They get lots of use and abuse, both been superb. Chatted to Zeiss at the stalking show and they remain committed to the sports optics market, despite rumours.

Ive looked at Zeiss aswell, definitely seems like you get more features/function for the price point. Im not say S&B aren't top quality just that their hunting line prices seem high compared to competitors.

I use all three Swaro, Zeiss and S&B
If I had to choose 1 it would be the zeiss V8 or as a 2nd choice a variable Schmitt they are all brilliant scopes but reticules may not be to you liking try as many as you can

A V8 is definitely cheaper than the Meta.

Overkill means bombproof and 100% reliable which is why they don’t have warranty issues

I know of a few warrsnty issues with all brands tbh

Certainly not bombproof, but the warranty is good.

Nothing is bombproof

INMH
S&B Polar 96 2.5-10 x 50 all you need, perfect all rounder unless you need to shoot right out there (which most people don't)

Thing that gets me is that the T96 is discontinued, Ive actually looked at the t96, 4-16 model mind and its still north of 2.5k

I love S&B, but their pricing has gone a touch mental. Not sure I’d buy a new one with their new pricing.
I’ve had many through the years from all the different classes and my two favourites of all time are a 3–12x42 with the P3 ret, and an old 3-12x50 PMii. Both very reasonably priced and everything you need for a good stalking / target crossover setup.

At least Im not the only one.

There is not a lot to choose between the component parts of S&B Military and Hunting line in optics. They use similar quality lenses, tubes and internal bits, together with the same assembly lines etc., albeit some of the hunting lines use simpler reticles and fewer features such as dialable turrets.

Fundamentally you get what you pay for. S&B work reliably for a very long time. A have a 4x36 with a post style reticle. It was delivered in 1974 as the scope of a Rigby built rifle. Nowt wrong with scope and its accounted for man many deer. Its optical clarity and ability to hold zero, is just as good as the Leica that the rifle currently wears.

S&B are premium grade optical instruments. The cost is high, both due the cost of the components used, but also due to the cost of ones that don’t get past the inspection and end up in the bin. Premium grade will cost really good money.

Im not doubting their premium grade, just their price point vs competitors, not the headline price, but what you get for what you pay

 

[C h r i s]

Ive looked at Zeiss aswell, definitely seems like you get more features/function for the price point.

Aren't Zeiss winding down their traditional scope manufacturing facilities and moving to digital optics?

 

[enfieldspares]

Maybe now ten years ago plus I bought a "cheap" Zeiss in Paris from the gunshop on Boulevard de Courcelles when I live in the 17me. It was cheap as its previous owner had used araldite to fix the gap problem between his 26mm rings and its 25.4mm UK and American market 1" diameter body. A Diatal-C.

Now the rings came off easily enough but left an all around layer of araldite on the 'scope body. So I put the 'scope in the ice compartment of my refrigerator for three days, took it out, and the araldite came off easily enough because of the different effects of the cold temperature and the relative contraction in size.

Used an appropriate cloth and wiped the frost off the lenses. View was as clear as ever and the focus worked and the clicks on the elevation and adjustment worked. It is that which you pay for. Indifferece to extreme of temperature. If you don't need it it's money wasted. But when you do need it is beyond price.

 

[Heym SR20]

Ive looked at Zeiss aswell, definitely seems like you get more features/function for the price point. Im not say S&B aren't top quality just that their hunting line prices seem high compared to competitors.

A V8 is definitely cheaper than the Meta.

I know of a few warrsnty issues with all brands tbh

Nothing is bombproof

Thing that gets me is that the T96 is discontinued, Ive actually looked at the t96, 4-16 model mind and its still north of 2.5k

At least Im not the only one.

Im not doubting their premium grade, just their price point vs competitors, not the headline price, but what you get for what you pay

You don’t pay for features, you pay for quality.

To be honest if a real quality scope for not a lot of money buy a second hand Schmidt & Bender 6x42, 8x56 or 10x42. Find the best you can and pay a few hundred pounds for it. For 95% of deer stalking any of these scopes will do a superb job. If really need a close range wide angle option mount a wee red dot on the side.

You don’t need a zoom scope with huge magnification range for the vast majority of hunting purposes. All you do is make a huge hole in your bank account, first when you buy it and second for all the physio / chiropractors you need after you tried to carry the damn thing.

If you want lots of features and cheap don’t expect it to last. It pay be perfectly good optically, but internals of chinesium chocolate don’t last. Its the little internal springs controlling the reticle adjustment that are critical.

 

[BelMali]

Aren't Zeiss winding down their traditional scope manufacturing facilities and moving to digital optics?

Well they've just released an entire new budget line, the V3, but I hadn't heard that.

Maybe now ten years ago plus I bought a "cheap" Zeiss in Paris from the gunshop on Boulevard de Courcelles when I live in the 17me. It was cheap as its previous owner had used araldite to fix the gap problem between his 26mm rings and its 25.4mm UK and American market 1" diameter body. A Diatal-C.

Now the rings came off easily enough but left an all around layer of araldite on the 'scope body. So I put the 'scope in the ice compartment of my refrigerator for three days, took it out, and the araldite came off easily enough because of the different effects of the cold temperature and the relative contraction in size.

Used an appropriate cloth and wiped the frost off the lenses. View was as clear as ever and the focus worked and the clicks on the elevation and adjustment worked. It is that which you pay for. Indifferece to extreme of temperature. If you don't need it it's money wasted. But when you do need it is beyond price.

I kind of have a "Id rather be looking at it than looking for it" mentality when it comes to gear. Although for me mag, parralax, illum, bdc are a requirement. Glass I want to buy the best I can afford, weight doesn't bother me, i.e. 1 to 200g differences wouldnt sway me.

You don’t pay for features, you pay for quality.

To be honest if a real quality scope for not a lot of money buy a second hand Schmidt & Bender 6x42, 8x56 or 10x42. Find the best you can and pay a few hundred pounds for it. For 95% of deer stalking any of these scopes will do a superb job. If really need a close range wide angle option mount a wee red dot on the side.

You don’t need a zoom scope with huge magnification range for the vast majority of hunting purposes. All you do is make a huge hole in your bank account, first when you buy it and second for all the physio / chiropractors you need after you tried to carry the damn thing.

If you want lots of features and cheap don’t expect it to last. It pay be perfectly good optically, but internals of chinesium chocolate don’t last. Its the little internal springs controlling the reticle adjustment that are critical.

I've no problem paying for quality, thats why Im also looking at V8s, ZCOs, Kahles, I could buy a Swaro but its not on my list. I would think they are all top quality. At a certain price point I would think you should be getting quality and featured, not just good glass and maybe illum, but thats just me.

You're right you definitely dont need a huge zoom range for hunting. Most of the big brands have great glass even in their entry to mid range optics but again at a certain orice point you're not just paying for build quality and glass.

If you have a look at the different models across the different brands I also looked at, features and cheap is definitely not what Im after.

 

[C h r i s]

Well they've just released an entire new budget line, the V3, but I hadn't heard that.

It was all over the shooting press, even got a mention on here...

Thread 'Zeiss quitting the sport optic market'

Jun 5, 2025

A friend from Germany has just told me that apparently Zeiss are going to stop making sport optics in Germany.

Not sure if that means they are continuing in the market or not

• Scuffy
• Replies: 56
• Forum: Equipment & Accessories

 

[BelMali]

It was all over the shooting press, even got a mention on here...

Thread 'Zeiss quitting the sport optic market'

Jun 5, 2025

A friend from Germany has just told me that apparently Zeiss are going to stop making sport optics in Germany.

Not sure if that means they are continuing in the market or not

• Scuffy
• Replies: 56
• Forum: Equipment & Accessories

Right, well I completely missed out on that so, thankfully I haven't bought anything yet, and Ill cross Zeiss off the list

 

[kieran222]

S&B scopes are excellent, and I have found them to be very reliable. I have three PMIIs But… IMHO Kahles scopes have caught up. I no longer purchase S&B - the waiting time to get the exact spec you want is too long and as the OP says, the prices are through the roof (although the same could be said for everything at the moment). Perhaps Kahles scopes are not quite as tough, but as I’m not about to go into battle it doesn’t matter to me. The field of view on the new Kahles scopes and the FFP reticle offering is outstanding. I am sure there are other brands that potentially offer better VFM. The thing is I have had my PMIIs for decades now and never, ever had a problem. They’re used a lot for long distance target shooting (1000m +) with long strings in all weathers. I have changed rifles but never my glass.

I considered getting a S&B PM2 but bought a Nightforce instead. I needed something that was going to stand up to a good knock about on a specific hunting trip. The Nightforce has been great but with regards to the premium paid for the more robust scopes, I think that most scope issues are due to the mounting (screw torque). I have had various scopes over the years, cheap and expensive and whenever I have had an issue it's always been something loose on the mounting setup, never the scope itself.
I think that you could buy any scope with decent glass and as long as the mounting is done properly you will never have any issues if you treat your setup with respect and don't knock it about too much. I would definitely recommend a torque screwdriver for mounting a scope. Why spend thousands on a scope and rifle and then not mount the scope properly. It's easy to underestimate the torque required for some of the screws.

 

[Leec6.5]

Personally i would have bought a new scope by now, you say you have the coin, so why are you hanging about?

The SD’s opinion doesn’t matter at the end of the day, you don’t want to pay the money for S&B so don’t simple as that really, it’s just going around in circles.

Click bait springs to mind!

 

[HonestJohn]

Zeiss are definitely moving away and have announced their intentions to do so. The new V3 line is nothing more than a far east production contract, many a company can, and do this regularly. They can see the European and U.K. markets are on their arse, it would take an idiot not to see it, both in terms of people’s disposable income, propensity to spend, but equally, the move towards digital. Those enjoying glass will still do so, but most will keep their existing scopes or buy second hand, which is a buyers market with the influx post digital age.

The V3 line is designed to hit the American consumer, who have always aspired to own European glass - yes, it’s a thing over there! A. From a price point it will work (Americans don’t pay $3,000+ for optics, to them $700 ish is premium), B. Branding wise, many will see the ZEISS printed in BIG letters and want one. C. Glass - glass is very much alive in the US, people still know how to hunt properly.

The V3 line will not work in europe. Nothing will work in europe during the HIK occupation era.

Schmidt makes the best scopes quality wise, no doubt and all that - but pricing is making it hard for retailers as the second hand market is growing with surplus scopes due to the digital meat grinder style attack.

I’d buy Schmidt used, not new, then you get the best scopes quality wise at a fair price

 

[Leec6.5]

glass is very much alive in the US, people still know how to hunt properly.

100%

Unlike here in the UK!

 

[BelMali]

I considered getting a S&B PM2 but bought a Nightforce instead. I needed something that was going to stand up to a good knock about on a specific hunting trip. The Nightforce has been great but with regards to the premium paid for the more robust scopes, I think that most scope issues are due to the mounting (screw torque). I have had various scopes over the years, cheap and expensive and whenever I have had an issue it's always been something loose on the mounting setup, never the scope itself.
I think that you could buy any scope with decent glass and as long as the mounting is done properly you will never have any issues if you treat your setup with respect and don't knock it about too much. I would definitely recommend a torque screwdriver for mounting a scope. Why spend thousands on a scope and rifle and then not mount the scope properly. It's easy to underestimate the torque required for some of the screws.

I considered NF initially but but when I looked at the pricing it wasn't a very good value proposition due to customs, VAT and markup i.e. as an example the new NX6 3-18 is €1600 in the US, its €2600 in the EU. Im not saying the NX6 is NFs premium line, just that €1000 worth of taxes on an optic is leaving a lot of value on the table.

Personally i would have bought a new scope by now, you say you have the coin, so why are you hanging about?

The SD’s opinion doesn’t matter at the end of the day, you don’t want to pay the money for S&B so don’t simple as that really, it’s just going around in circles.

Click bait springs to mind!

I can see where you are coming from but ad an example last year I got a PSE EVO, and I'm glad I did, it took me around 6 months from the time I first looked at the website to place the order. I don't make big purchases quickly.

I didnt start this thread as clickbait, it was more out of surprise, once I started comoaring optics, at the orice to features/functions offered.

Zeiss are definitely moving away and have announced their intentions to do so. The new V3 line is nothing more than a far east production contract, many a company can, and do this regularly. They can see the European and U.K. markets are on their arse, it would take an idiot not to see it, both in terms of people’s disposable income, propensity to spend, but equally, the move towards digital. Those enjoying glass will still do so, but most will keep their existing scopes or buy second hand, which is a buyers market with the influx post digital age.

The V3 line is designed to hit the American consumer, who have always aspired to own European glass - yes, it’s a thing over there! A. From a price point it will work (Americans don’t pay $3,000+ for optics, to them $700 ish is premium), B. Branding wise, many will see the ZEISS printed in BIG letters and want one. C. Glass - glass is very much alive in the US, people still know how to hunt properly.

The V3 line will not work in europe. Nothing will work in europe during the HIK occupation era.

Schmidt makes the best scopes quality wise, no doubt and all that - but pricing is making it hard for retailers as the second hand market is growing with surplus scopes due to the digital meat grinder style attack.

I’d buy Schmidt used, not new, then you get the best scopes quality wise at a fair price

I didn't know about Zeiss moving away until it was pointed out to me upthread, and at the price of a V6 or a V8, Im bloody glad it was.
I think a lot of manufacturers, not just S&B have priced themselves out if their own market tbh. Not just optics, I bought my Tikka for €1350, that same model now is €1900 to €2200. You're not too far off a custom rifle build at that point.

Second hand market for Optics here in ROI isn't like the UK. Unless its attached to a rifle you'll find virtually no RFD taking optics as a trade in.

Also NV/Thermal is licenced as firearm here, don't get me started, so digital hasn't really sunk the market.

Sorry Lee, I've accidentally deleted the text from this quote and I can't fix it