Leica Introduces New ER Riflescopes
Leica is famous for its rangefinders, spotting scopes, and binoculars (and of course cameras). Now Leica is moving into the riflescope market. Leica has announced two new “ER” scopes for hunters. Initially, Leica will offer 2.5-10×42 and the 3.5-14×42 models. Both have 30mm maintubes, quarter-MOA clicks, and AquaDura lens coatings. Notably, both scopes have a long (10 cm/3.9″) eye relief. This extended eye relief allows the scopes to be mounted well forward so a shooter need not worry about recoil, even when shooting large magnum calibers.
SWFA has followed the development of the new Leica ER scopes. SWFA believes the Leica ERs will be some of the finest hunting scopes on the market, good enough to rival the Swarovski Z6, and Zeiss Victory series. Leica will offer five reticles, shown below. In addition, you can order the ER scopes with a neutral fast reticle adjustment (ASV), that adjusts the the impact point to different distances. Leica plans to start shipping its new ER scopes in October 2009. SWFA is listing the 2.5-10×42 at $1899.00 and the 3.5-14×42 at $1999.00, but those prices are subject to change.
Very interesting. However, if it is targeting the Swarovski Z6, then it is competing against the Z6 2.5-15×44 which has a small advantage in objective diameter and magnification range, but fundamentally HD glass. I saw no reference to HD glass on the Leica page, even though Leica beat Swarovski to the market with its Ultravid HD binoculrs (as did Nikon with the EDG), forcing Swarovski to postpone the launch of their forthcoming upgraded EL binocular.