1-10 LPVO - SIGHTMARK vs. FIREFIELD

An LPVO on the weapon seems to be a very popular option right now. In recent years, this type of optics has rapidly evolved. Initially, they were available in a magnification of 1-6x, but thanks to improved manufacturing techniques for lenses, we are now at a 1-10x magnification. Today, we have two brand new optics for you in direct comparison. In the red corner, the very affordable FIREFIELD Rapid Strike 1-10x24 SFP and in the blue corner, the slightly more expensive, but still affordable in comparison, also brand new SIGHTMARK Presidio 1-10x26 CRED.

The Similarities

What do both have in common? They both offer the same magnification range of 1-10x. That's the obvious part.

Both feature a rotating ring for zoom levels, to which a small lever can optionally be screwed in.

The adjustment turrets work the same for both and can be "zeroed out".

The scope contents are also very similar for both. You get the optics including a mount, protective caps, battery, and other useful accessories.

Both LPVOs are also approximately the same size. 

The Differences

So far, so good, but where are the differences? The main tube diameter of the Presidio 1-10x26 CRED is 34 mm, while the Rapid Strike 1-10x24 SFP is only 30 mm. This is already a hint at the optical performance.

The clicks of the adjustment turrets on the Presidio are designed in MIL or MRAD, to be precise, 1/10 MIL per click, while the Rapid Strike adjusts by 1/2 MOA per click. 1/10 MIL corresponds to 0.3438 MOA, meaning the Presidio has the finer adjustment.

The Presidio 1-10x26 features parallax adjustment. Very practical to always have a sharp image.

The mounts are different in detail. The Rapid Strike is secured with four short M4 screws, while the Presidio uses two long M5 screws. Roughly speaking, a thicker screw can withstand more load. In our tests, however, both held up flawlessly.

In terms of weight, the two differ by 260 g, with the Presidio weighing 900 g, making it the heavier of the two. This difference can be attributed to the larger glass lenses.

Both have a reticle in the second focal plane, but the crosshairs are completely different, as can be seen in the picture.

Strengths and Weaknesses

With the Rapid Strike 1-10x24 SFP, the price is definitely the winning argument. It costs "only" a little over 200 euros, which is really cheap for a 1-10x optic including a mount. However, this price also has its disadvantages.

In this case, it is the optical quality. This starts with the eyebox, which is the area through which you can look through the optics without shadow. In the Rapid Strike 1-10x24 SFP, this at 10x magnification is very small and allows hardly any deviation left or right. In the Presidio, the eyebox is slightly larger, thus forgiving more. We also had great difficulty taking a usable photo through the Rapid Strike.

Here is a comparison at 5x magnification. The Presidio has a slightly larger field of view due to the larger front lens and overall a clearer image. The sign is a good 500 m away.

At 1x magnification, both perform very well again. Both have a similar fisheye effect, which is not particularly strong.

One point that we noticed is the eye relief. The FIREFIELD Rapid Strike 1-10x24 SFP has a completely acceptable eye relief of about 8 cm. With the SIGHTMARK Presidio 1-10x26 CRED, you can stay a bit further away at nearly 10 cm.

Conclusion

Both optics are unbeatable in their price range. We personally believe that the SIGHTMARK Presidio 1-10x26 CRED is the better optic of the two. However, it also costs twice as much. The only drawback we see with the Presidio is the reticle in the second focal plane. Personally, we prefer the reticle in the first focal plane, but that obviously costs significantly more, as it is more difficult to manufacture something precise like that.

The FIREFIELD Rapid Strike 1-10x24 SFP offers excellent value for the price. A few years ago, such an optic would have cost significantly more. Overall, we liked it despite its small weaknesses that we pointed out. A good optic for anyone who wants magnification but doesn't want to spend too much.

Available at TACSTORE, for example, starting at 249.95 Euro, the SIGHTMARK Presidio 1-10x26 CRED also at TACSTORE starting at 599.95 Euro.