What is a "good" Japanese optics company?

[atblis]

The company I am most familiar with is Light Optic Works. They make scopes for a good many companies, and all of their stuff is pretty decent.

Bushnell Elite series (formerly B&L)
Japanese made Weavers
Sightron
Night Force
etc.

Weaver should not be lumped in with the Chinese junk Simmons, Tasco, Barska, NCStar,Leapers etc. The Weavers are good scopes.

 

[Gator]

Gator, every scope I know of is made with foreign glass.

That was my point, thanks.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

For quality I would choose a Japanese product over USA made product just about every time.

That's why my carry gun is a Nambu. I do have to admit that my BUG is a Liberator, however

I prefer Leupold for a price/performance standpoint but am always on the lookout for inexpensive scopes that perform well for plinking guns. Not going to put $1000 glass on a .22 that punches paper at 50 yards.

 

[atblis]

Well

If you compare to Leupold solely on a price versus performance metric, there's just about always something that beats them.

Chad from Rapid Reticle informed me that they are made by Asia Optics/Kenko of Japan.

Not familiar with them. What else do they make?

EDIT: After some searching it looks like they make the Super Snipers for SWFA.

 

[Just_a_dude_with_a_gun]

One other aspect to the low/lower-mid range of optics....

Firm X will design and contract with a great value based firm like Light Optic Works in Japan. After a year, they'll take the design and specs, and move production to China, but keep the price, model, name etc all the same.

Hakko did this too. That's why some of the Hakko M16 carry handle scopes are great (Japan made) and others are crap (Chinese made).

 

[cuervo]

Do you want an American made scope made in the USA, good as Leupold (some say better) and certainly less expensive than Leupold and with a lifetime forever warranty? > BURRIS <

Fullfield II scopes are made (or maybe just assembled) in the Phillipines
Landmark II binoculars are made in China

No company is above outsourcing if it cannot make the product itself but still wants to compete in that market. In this case, as with some Leupolds, it is the lower end of their product spectrum with the high end still made in the U.S.