OpticsTalk by SWFA, Inc. Homepage SWFA     SampleList.com
Forum Home Forum Home > Optic Reviews and Tests > Member's Tests and Reviews
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Elcan Digital Hunter
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Visit the SWFA.com site to check out our current specials.

Elcan Digital Hunter

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <12
Author
Message
billyburl2 View Drop Down
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Avatar

Joined: January/08/2009
Location: Cottonwood, AZ
Status: Offline
Points: 4015
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote billyburl2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/28/2012 at 21:41
On the custom reticles, can they be up-loaded to be in the first-focal plane, or just the second?
If it is tourist season, why can't we shoot them?
Back to Top
Kickboxer View Drop Down
MODERATOR
MODERATOR
Avatar
Moderator

Joined: February/13/2008
Status: Offline
Points: 23679
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/29/2012 at 20:34
It is neither... 
The reticle is a digital image.


Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.

There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living
Back to Top
billyburl2 View Drop Down
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Avatar

Joined: January/08/2009
Location: Cottonwood, AZ
Status: Offline
Points: 4015
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote billyburl2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/30/2012 at 06:33
I guess what I am asking is, can you program the BDC reticles to be correct regardless of what zoom the scope is on?
If it is tourist season, why can't we shoot them?
Back to Top
Urimaginaryfrnd View Drop Down
MODERATOR
MODERATOR
Avatar
Resident Redneck

Joined: June/20/2005
Location: Iowa
Status: Offline
Points: 14964
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/30/2012 at 11:13
Originally posted by Kickboxer Kickboxer wrote:

I should never have posted that tree picture.  I should just shoot trees in silence...
If a tree is shot in silence in the middle of a forest ---- will it fall?   Cool

"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do".
Bobby Paul Doherty
Texas Ranger
Back to Top
Urimaginaryfrnd View Drop Down
MODERATOR
MODERATOR
Avatar
Resident Redneck

Joined: June/20/2005
Location: Iowa
Status: Offline
Points: 14964
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/30/2012 at 11:14
If you have to change batteries that run out every 4 hrs does it remember its zero from the last set of battereies?

"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do".
Bobby Paul Doherty
Texas Ranger
Back to Top
Kickboxer View Drop Down
MODERATOR
MODERATOR
Avatar
Moderator

Joined: February/13/2008
Status: Offline
Points: 23679
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/30/2012 at 15:18
Originally posted by billyburl2 billyburl2 wrote:

I guess what I am asking is, can you program the BDC reticles to be correct regardless of what zoom the scope is on?
Short answer... Yes...

Remember it is an image from a CCD camera displayed on a LCD screen.  Since the zoom is digital, when an image is magnified, the reticle does not change or shift as with optical scopes. Resolution stays the same when the field of view is reduced. Eye relief is perfectly constant..
Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.

There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living
Back to Top
Kickboxer View Drop Down
MODERATOR
MODERATOR
Avatar
Moderator

Joined: February/13/2008
Status: Offline
Points: 23679
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/30/2012 at 15:19
Originally posted by Urimaginaryfrnd Urimaginaryfrnd wrote:

If you have to change batteries that run out every 4 hrs does it remember its zero from the last set of battereies?
Memory is retained even in the absence of power.  I've tested that extensively and all information is retained.  
Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.

There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living
Back to Top
Kickboxer View Drop Down
MODERATOR
MODERATOR
Avatar
Moderator

Joined: February/13/2008
Status: Offline
Points: 23679
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/30/2012 at 15:21
Originally posted by Urimaginaryfrnd Urimaginaryfrnd wrote:

Originally posted by Kickboxer Kickboxer wrote:

I should never have posted that tree picture.  I should just shoot trees in silence...
If a tree is shot in silence in the middle of a forest ---- will it fall?   Cool

Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.

There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living
Back to Top
Kickboxer View Drop Down
MODERATOR
MODERATOR
Avatar
Moderator

Joined: February/13/2008
Status: Offline
Points: 23679
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/30/2012 at 21:23
The technology presented in the Elcan Digital Hunter (day time) is a symptom of things to come.  It is a bold step toward a complete rethinking of the way riflescopes are made.  Is it the "do all/end all"? No, it is not.  There are a number of shortcomings.  The shortcomings can all be eliminated by using available technology.  And that is one of my biggest complaints with the Digital Hunter... the technology is NOT cutting edge.  Another of my biggest complaints is the lack of human factors engineering.  It is more a lab piece than a field piece.  But the transition is not far off.

If one is looking for a unique, daytime optical instrument for hunting, the Elcan Digital Hunter can serve the purpose quite well.  It is a little out of the price range of a 'plaything', but as a demonstration of technology, it is "reasonable" in price.  Its advantages are 1) programmable, customizable reticles... one can have any reticle or combination of reticles (4 at a time) one is willing to write the code for (or have written).  It is relatively simple script, so not beyond a high school student... each reticle can be zeroed for a different rifle or ammo 2) one can build a ballistic table customized for the rifle and ammo and download it to the scope's memory and have as good ballistic drop compensation for the reticle of choice as can be had, 3) there is no parallax, 4) mirage is almost nonexistent (I say "almost" because just the fact that I did not ever observe any, even though I tried mightily to find it, does not mean it cannot ever be present... I don't think so, but it COULD, maybe)... that is a blessing and a curse because some of us use mirage to read wind, 5) it is a teaching tool for the future, 6) made for a Picatinny rail and easy to mount, easy to zero, maintains zero well even through complete power down and battery removal.  It's shortcomings are 1) battery compartment is perhaps the worst construction I have ever seen for a battery driven product, It is very difficult to get old, dead batteries out and new batteries in, it is in a bad location, it is terrible 2) battery life is POOR... with lithium batteries it is much better, but 4 hours or less continuous and a couple of days intermittent is not good... I went through about $20.00 worth of batteries just playing around, 3) the Digital Hunter is only REALLY good out to about 300 yards... can be used out to 500 at need, but not recommended... image quality is poor, image is blurred at longer range, 4) low light usage is a non-starter... unlikely to get "30 minutes after sundown" out of this scope, 5) if light is too bright, the camera is washed out... the scope comes with an eyepiece and the eyepiece is critical... light entering from the rear precludes usability, 6) it's heavy, 7) controls and control locations are clumsy and not geared toward field use... that is a real problem, because riflescopes are not very functional as laboratory instruments, 8) focus requires several adjustments, once again, clumsy.
As an engineer, I can truthfully say that I believe every shortcoming listed can be relatively easily overcome in an "updated" version.  Human factors engineering and a more modern camera will take care of most of the significant issues.  
Elcan has a good start on a winning solution for a "digital scope".  It is not "there", yet, but it is a reasonable demonstration of technology.  
I wanted to love this scope, tried... there are just too many things that add up to a "NO", for me.  I am not recommending against it, and certainly not for it... I'm saying if you are thinking of getting one, I am going to STRONGLY recommend you find a way to spend some time with one prior to making a final decision.  Utility for hunting is "moderate"... for a benchrest scope, it is excellent.  IF I were going to shoot benchrest as a steady diet, I would want one of these (or maybe the day/night version).  
I am glad for the opportunity to be able to evaluate this scope, I am looking forward to the next generation.  My thanks to everyone at SWFA for making it possible for me to do some hands on work with a very interesting piece of technology.  
The day/night version may be just the "extra step" required to make this a truly valuable piece of hunting gear.  I hope to be able to test one out in the near future.  There are, for me, "issues" with the daytime only version, though there are some very good features, as well.   There is a lot more I could say, but when considered, it would be of little value.  I compared the Elcan Digital Hunter to various low end and high end scopes... it's just different.  I want another generation of these to come into existence.  There are wonderful things that can be done.  "We have the technology, we can make it better..."
Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.

There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living
Back to Top
djp0623 View Drop Down
Optics Apprentice
Optics Apprentice


Joined: August/08/2011
Location: Pinehurst, NC
Status: Offline
Points: 83
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote djp0623 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/30/2012 at 22:19
Wow, it really does sound like they didn't use the latest digital imaging technology.  Most video cameras do very well in low light.  However, I've never tried to spot something in low light 5oo yds away with a digital camera or video recorder.

I still believe it is the future, we just need someone with deep pockets, big name, and the motivation to do it.

Just wait until you're in Best Buy picking up your new Sony Hunting scope.
Back to Top
RONIN001 View Drop Down
Optics GrassHopper
Optics GrassHopper
Avatar

Joined: February/07/2014
Location: KY
Status: Offline
Points: 3
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RONIN001 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/07/2014 at 14:46
Are you still using this scope?  I got one at a somewhat good price and trying it out.  
Back to Top
Kickboxer View Drop Down
MODERATOR
MODERATOR
Avatar
Moderator

Joined: February/13/2008
Status: Offline
Points: 23679
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/07/2014 at 16:07
I only had the scope for a review.  For me, it has great potential, but they need to upgrade some things.  The technology is pretty old as far as such things go.  
Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.

There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living
Back to Top
Tacbro View Drop Down
Optics GrassHopper
Optics GrassHopper
Avatar

Joined: May/05/2021
Location: Michigan
Status: Offline
Points: 1
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tacbro Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/05/2021 at 03:51
I am just getting this scope now, the start of screen reads 2006 so this device is 15 old. Not the night/day version. I will eventually be doing a deeper comparison to a newer cheaper Sightmark Wraith to see how far this technology has advanced. So far I can say the rear lens on elcan is more pleasing to look though despite what may seem today as lower resolution. This was a very advanced piece for its type, adjusted 1300USD price tag then comes to ≈2000USD with inflation today. This feels very might like a high end product.

I am attempting to correct the limited battery with the proper ac adapter and an external battery. Awaiting cable in the mail to test video output. So far this seems like a promising tool to work with. Unfortunately I have not been able to download the Ballistic chart software to run use the center of scope adjustment to compensate at various ranges. The website has been shut down so the software is no longer available for download, any help would be greatly appreciated.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <12
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.01
Copyright ©2001-2018 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.195 seconds.