Welcome to OpticsThoughts!
The website you are looking at is sort of a “OpticsThoughts 2.0”, although as far as look at feel goes, it should not be a major difference from the original site. We did change the backend for the site and, hopefully, it will be a bit easier to maintain.
Most of the material here is on the subject of sporting optics: riflescopes, binoculars and spotters. I will occasionally add some general musing on the firearms, knives and whatever else occupies my mind at that particular time. Since my day job is in electro-optics and digital imaging, I will also add some camera gear recommendation here and there.
I started this site primarily to have a venue for my thoughts on sporting optics, but it has expanded some. Aside from writing about things that interest me, I also serve as an editor for others whose work occasionally appears here.
If you want to know more about how this site came to be and who are the people behind it, look into “About OpticsThoughts” on your right.
If all you are looking for is a quick product recommendation here is a shortcut to some of my favourites, by price: Riflescopes, Binoculars, Spotters.
Also, as I go along, I record my impressions on video and upload them to YouTube here. Alternatively, you can simply search for Dark Lord of Optics which will take you to my Facebook, Instagram and Youtube channels.
If you would like to comment on any of the articles you need to create an account here. Contact me if you need help with that.
Lastly, I keep advertising very light and only insert a few Google or Amazon Ads here and there. I do not have any control of what is actually in the ad, as it reflects whoever is browsing. If you click on the ads every once in a while, maintaining this site will be easier for me. If you will be buying something from Amazon anyway, click on the Amazon banner on this website. It makes no practical difference to you, but every little bit adds up for me.
Where appropriate, I’ll add product links to retailers here and there. Where the links go will vary a fair bit. I have an affiliate contract with a few places (Amazon, Brownells, Adorama, etc).
If you would like to help me keep this site up, use the links, click on the ads or donate via Paypal at paypal.me/DarkLordOfOptics
With all that out of the way, I hope you find something useful here and if there is something you think I should add to the site, do not hesitate to let me know.
Thanks for visiting!
ILya Koshkin
Copyright Notice:
Unless otherwise noted, copyright on all information on this website is owned by ILya Koshkin.
Please do not copy it anywhere without my permission.
I field a good number of questions here and there and I like the idea of making some of them as a blog post especially when they touch on something I get asked with reasonable regularity. Here is a question I received today: If I can bother you a moment, I do have a quick […]
The text below was not written by me. It was, a blog post by a gentleman I have know for quite a few years now and I always pay attention to what he says. Admittedly, I do not always agree with him, but I always find his opinion well reasoned and driven by his personal […]
I have mentioned elsewhere that I am not a huge fan of large frame ARs. They are a little harder to shoot and there is a fair amount of mass cycling back and forth, so you kinda have to “manhandle” more so that I am sued to with small frame ARs. Still, I have built […]
Written in February 2019 As I was ready to publish this, I noticed that Doug from CameralandNY just put this scope on sale for $849. If you call him and mention Dark Lord Of Optics, you will get an additional $50 gift certificate for anything else from Cameraland (rings, caps, etc). That brings the price […]
Les (Jim) Fischer BigJimFish Written: Jan 11, 2019 Athlon Midas TAC 6-24x50mm on Kelbly Atlas Tactical Table of Contents: – Background – Unboxing and Physical Description – Reticle – Comparative Optical Evaluation – Mechanical Testing and Turret Discussion: – Summary and Conclusion – Testing Methodology: Adjustments, Reticle Size, Reticle Cant – Testing Methodology: Comparative Optical […]
Les (Jim) Fischer BigJimFish Written: Nov 14, 2018 Athlon Ares BTR 4.5-27x50mm on Mesa Precison Arms Crux Table of Contents: -Background – Unboxing and Physical Description – Reticle – Comparative Optical Evaluation – Mechanical Testing and Turret Discussion: – Summary and Conclusion – Testing Methodology: Adjustments, Reticle Size, Reticle Cant – Testing Methodology: Comparative Optical […]
Les (Jim) FischerBigJimFish Written: Sept 9, 2018 Sightron SIIISS624x50LRFFP/MH on a Mesa Precision arms Crux with Bobro LabX rings Table of Contents: – Background– Unboxing and Physical Description– Reticle– Comparative Optical Evaluation– Mechanical Testing and Turret Discussion: – Summary and Conclusion -Upcoming Models and Changes – Testing Methodology: Adjustments, Reticle Size, Reticle Cant -Testing Methodology: […]
Harakiri, also known as seppuku, is a ritual suicide that used to be practiced by the samurai. Benchmade knife company, for whatever reason, decided to exercise the corporate version of it. Apparently, they assisted Oregon PD in destroying some confiscated guns. I am sure that gun destruction was mandated by law and Oregon PD had […]
I am in the process of testing Steienr P4Xi 4-16×56 and I am finding myself really liking this scope. I’ll post more details later on, but here are some initial thoughts on this scope and how it stacks up.
Every year I tell myself that I will look at spotting scopes more since they are interesting and since it is easy for me to look at them: set up a few tripods on the deck and go for it. This year, I am actually going to do something about it. One thing that is […]