I shot a match in northern CO last weekend and a guy that works for Steiner happened to be there using this scope in the match. I didn't see it till the match was over (he was in diff squad) but I got a couple minutes to play with it.
First impressions were good. I couldn't really tell the weight as it was on a rifle, but it was about the same size as the old steiner 4-16 scopes. The rear focus ring and zoom zoom knob are exact same as my steiner 3-15 T5xi. Scope was longer and the knobs are obviously different.
Having just shot the match with my trusty XTR2 4-20 on my backup rifle, I noticed the glass was brighter than my XTR. Exact same rect. I wish I could have compared the FOV and some more on CA and brightness, but the short time I had looking through it, I was happy happy - tough to tell glass quality as during mid day most scopes look good. It was eerie how similar to my 3-15 I felt it was. I love my 3-15 for my hunting scope. Its a good zoom range, compact, illum, and glass good.
The knobs were very similar to the old stiners, and the steiner guy shooting it said they arnt happy with the knobs yet and are going to make em better...whatever that means. They were very clicky, but they was some mushiness between clicks. I didn't mind as I really like the old steiner knobs that many complained were not clicky enough, but I preferred it over excessive tactile like the premiers as slightly mushy are easier to turn precisely for me. Each their own, but people put WAAAY too much stock in the "feel" of a scopes clicks. As long as it tracks...
Over all, for the price they look sweet. I would much prefer my 3-15 due to compact size and smaller knobs, but for what $500-800 ish less it is a very nice scope. I would be interested in one maybe for an AR10 type rifle or a rimfire as Im a zoom whore for my match rifles. I wish I checked how low the parallax goes. dang it. also cant remember how high the knobs go, I imagine 10 mil knobs...?
Cant wait to see one production run tho. I also forgot to ask when they were going to have em for sale as I literally noticed it as I was leaving the match. I imagine they are close to release if they have people shooting them tho. In this price range tho...
Regards,
DT