KAHLES K624i - EYEBOX COMPARED TO PRESENT SCOPES

[Edsel]

I’ve been using this scope for over a decade.

I originally selected it based on “ease of use” as described by users - the eyebox was described as being rather generous then.

I’m thinking of getting a newer model, but can’t really justify doing so beyond having this itch for a new toy.

How does it stack up compared to the newer models?

 

[CSTactical]

I have not been behind one in so long that I couldn’t compare the “eye box” to modern scopes without being side by side. But overall the K624i would compare to a modern sub $2,000 scope. There’s so many better choices overall that it would need to be discussed over the phone. - Richard

 

[Edsel]

But overall the K624i would compare to a modern sub $2,000 scope.

Ouch

 

[CSTactical]

Ouch

Optics have advanced so much since the K624i was launched about 12-15 years ago IIRC.

 

[GIXXER2000]

I own 2 K624i and have been very happy with them. One thing you need to remember is that not all scopes look good to all people. You need to factor in how well you see and if you wear glasses. To me the K624i looks better then Nightforce, Vortex, EOTECH, Trijicon, USOPTICS, Leupold, Burris and Bushnell. I also own S&B, Zcomp and Zeiss. Just my thoughts.

 

[kthomas]

I own 2 K624i and have been very happy with them. One thing you need to remember is that not all scopes look good to all people. You need to factor in how well you see and if you wear glasses. To me the K624i looks better then Nightforce, Vortex, EOTECH, Trijicon, USOPTICS, Leupold, Burris and Bushnell. I also own S&B, Zcomp and Zeiss. Just my thoughts.

I'm still using K624's and I'm pretty happy with them.

A "nicer" scope wouldn't make me a better shooter.

 

[CSTactical]

I'm still using K624's and I'm pretty happy with them.

A "nicer" scope wouldn't make me a better shooter.

Many people think that until they experience it, @koshkin explains how CA causes more issues in IQ than even I thought. And the K624i has a ton of CA compared to current offerings.

Richard

 

[Ikeman83]

Kahles was selling the Gen IIIs at $2500 before they discontinued them. Are they good scopes? Sure. Are they obsolete? I don't think so. They track well, and are pretty clean optically between 12-15x.

Should you replace them? Depends on what matters to you. You can get a better image with a better FOV but if you sell a 624 it'll cost you most of an additional 3k to have a clearly better experience.

 

[FuhQ]

Optics have advanced so much since the K624i was launched about 12-15 years ago IIRC.

Yeah, and they're not the same scopes as they were 12-15 years ago. They upped the game on the newer K624i's after launching the K525i, which has an upgraded optical system in it. They put the same system in the K624i's and gave them a much overdue upgrade.

 

[CSTactical]

Yeah, and they're not the same scopes as they were 12-15 years ago. They upped the game on the newer K624i's after launching the K525i, which has an upgraded optical system in it. They put the same system in the K624i's and gave them a much overdue upgrade.

That could be the case, but as one of the largest Kahles dealers at that time. Nobody cared about the K624i.

 

[Glassaholic]

I’ve been using this scope for over a decade.

I originally selected it based on “ease of use” as described by users then - the eyebox was described as being rather generous then.

I’m thinking of getting a newer model, but can’t really justify doing so beyond having this itch for a new toy.

How does it stack up compared to the newer models?

One thing to keep in mind as a "general" rule, the shorter the erector (smaller magnification range) and the longer the focal length typically means more forgiving eyebox, DOF and parallax. I say this as a general rule because there are things you can do with an optical formula that can correct for this, but those "things" tend to increase the price rather quickly. Take for example the Hensoldt 3.5-26x56 - this is one of the most forgiving high erector designs I've seen in a short focal length (ultra short style) body, but you are going to pay dearly for this in both cost and weight. You can find something more forgiving in the more traditional longer focal lengths like the TT 5-25x56 and even the somewhat shorter ZCO 5-27x56.

Leaving the CA arguments aside, the K624i has earned a reputation for being "easy to get behind" this typically refers to the the eyebox experience. That said, shooters are also claiming the K540i which has double the erector (8x vs 4x) but also claiming it is very forgiving I won't really know until I get one for myself but I have a hard time believing it is "as forgiving" as the K624i but who knows what pixie dust Swarovski may have sprinkled onto the K540i...

OP - the best thing to do is try to get to a range or comp where some guys may have some of the newer/better scopes to see for yourself, just be sure to adjust the diopter to your eye first as a bad/wrong diopter setting can throw off your experience pretty far. If anything, maybe a Cabela's/Bass Pro is nearby and they might have a Vortex Razor Gen III 6-36x56 which would be a good optic that might be available locally to see side by side with your K624i...

 

[918v]

If Kahles fixed the bugs in the 624i then how are other newer designs better for playing games with the scope set on 20x?

 

[FuhQ]

If Kahles fixed the bugs in the 624i then how are other newer designs better for playing games with the scope set on 20x?

All of my K series are clear all the way to max mag with no discernible CA, and, if any, absolute minimal image degradation. I can spot CA VERY easily in scopes for some reason... I can even see it in my Zeiss S3 and some in Vortex Razor Gen3...But those are both still extremely clear and useable, with excellent IQ, so no reason to mess with them or send them in.

Are the Kahles perfect? No... But they are still damn fine scopes that can hold their own in their price range. My K624i's have better (Austrian SCHOTT) glass than my new Zeiss S3 (Japanese LOW), and by a noticeable margin. Maybe I just stumbled into getting 3 good K-series, and an awesome Helia KX that I got over 15 years ago, that is still an excellent hunting scope, and the brightest 1" scope I've ever looked through.

 

[Edsel]

I remember the Chromatic Aberration issue.

It was present in the earliest batch of scopes that came out, and was one of the reasons I hesitated in buying one.

The issue was corrected even before the turrets were revised (older model on top).

 

[918v]

I had a gen3. My problem was the parallax ring. I just don’t like it there. The image had a little ca but only when I had an incorrect cheekweld. The eyebox was fine. Generally euro scopes have nice easy to get behind eyeboxes.

 

[FuhQ]

View attachment 8663418

View attachment 8663419

I remember the Chromatic Aberration issue.

It was present in the earliest batch of scopes that came out, and was one of the reasons I hesitated in buying one.

The issue was corrected even before the turrets were revised (older model on top).

Yeah, all my K's are the newer Gen2's with the better (more aggressive) turrets.

 

[FuhQ]

I had a gen3. My problem was the parallax ring. I just don’t like it there. The image had a little ca but only when I had an incorrect cheekweld. The eyebox was fine. Generally euro scopes have nice easy to get behind eyeboxes.

The K624i is very easy to get behind. The K318i is even easier, which is why that's what is sitting on my main hunting rifle.

 

[DeathBeforeDismount]

IMO Kahles consistently had the worst glass quality of any of the "premium" optics. They always had nice turrets and were pretty reliable but glass IQ and CA wise they were behind some sub $1k optics. When they came out with the 525 everyone thought it would be an upgrade. It wasn't, in fact many of them had worse glass and CA than some examples of 624i. It was so bad they scrambled to get the DLR model out which did have better glass and controlled CA better but price was also what you could get a ZCO or 735 ATACR for , and both are much better optics as most people would agree. So it was too little too late.

I would say if your using an old 624 pretty much anything over like $1500 will be a big upgrade. The new Kahles are really interesting. I think the 328 was a bit of a dud but the 540 looks like it might control DOF better and have a much less sensitive parallax which is important for matches. The FOV is an added benefit but not really that big a deal outside of mil/leo world.

The vortex razor g3 at $22-2400 is a very good optic and if you can spend a little more you can find a used ZCO for about $3k. There are also a ton of newer optics coming out as OEM from Japan that hit above their price point. Really comes down to how much you want to spend, what features are important to you, what reticles you like and how important the warranty/customer service is to you.

 

[CSTactical]

Just an FYI, by the time I started part time with CST around 2014-2015 we only sold what was considered the unofficial “Gen 3” K624i’s. I thought someone claimed there was an another revision after the K318i and K525i which would make it a Gen 4 unofficially. Once CA was pointed out I can’t unsee it anymore.

CA is not just dependent on the scope and its design, but each individual eye.

- Richard

 

[Edsel]

There are also a ton of newer optics coming out as OEM from Japan that hit above their price point.

Who are these guys, what are they marketed as?

 

[DeathBeforeDismount]

Who are these guys, what are they marketed as?

https://www.snipershide.com/shootin...-lrp-s3-6-36x56-review.7247776/#post-12083471. Here are a few. There are a ton out there and its honestly hard to keep up. Trac toric UHD is another one people seem to really like.

 

[DeathBeforeDismount]

Just an FYI, by the time I started part time with CST around 2014-2015 we only sold what was considered the unofficial “Gen 3” K624i’s. I thought someone claimed there was an another revision after the K318i and K525i which would make it a Gen 4 unofficially. Once CA was pointed out I can’t unsee it anymore.

CA is not just dependent on the scope and its design, but each individual eye.

- Richard

I can induce CA Into my Swaro NL Pures in the right conditions on the outter fringes of the FOV. You are 100% spot on about that. I don't think any optic is really completely immune to it. Some just control it much much better in most situations.

 

[Edsel]

https://www.snipershide.com/shootin...-lrp-s3-6-36x56-review.7247776/#post-12083471. Here are a few. There are a ton out there and its honestly hard to keep up. Trac toric UHD is another one people seem to really like.

Even Zeiss?

Didn’t expect them to follow the Japanese OEM route.

It’ll probably be Chinese within 5 years or so…

 

[Edsel]

…in each and every gun owner’s mind, he or she is the enlightened individual standing tall and proud above all others, while everyone else is mindless sheep

Since my perspective is from a scope and tech that’s more than a decade old, perhaps I’ll play the “Weekend Warrior” and mess around with a $600 DNT and get myself all amazed

 

[Guthwine]

The gen3 K624i surely are no longer among the top scopes but I would say that they will not hinder you in your shooting. I sold my K624i back in the day only because I liked the MR4 reticle more than the SKMR types.
And the Kahles scopes do have a perfect record on the SH tracking test, so that's something.

 

[Shoots 700's]

I still have (2) k624i scopes. I have never had any issues with them. The center fire comp guns have gone to ZCO while the 308 gasser and .223 bolt gun now wear the Kahles.

 

[CSTactical]

Since my perspective is from a scope and tech that’s more than a decade old, perhaps I’ll play the “Weekend Warrior” and mess around with a $600 DNT and get myself all amazed

If you play the first, you also need the follow up.
I crashed the party on the second half and had the flu kicking in while live on the air… - Richard

 

[Qpski]

I have a Leupold VX-2 3-9X40 mounted on mine. I think I used medium height, absolutely not high.

 

[JayOpticspecialist]

I've used Swarovski and Kahles optics a long time. While that Kahles 6-24 is a great optic, it's a 10 year old optic and a 4x erector system. The newer technology and optics, particular from these guys is going to continually improve, or at least that's been my experience for the last 15 years.

 

[wind gypsy]

Man, I like my 624 from 2015 or ‘16. If anyone has a mint gen 3 that they’d take less than $1500 for because of all the new stuff, I’ll pay that for another!