"@type": "Organization", Model #180600 - VX-Freedom 4-12x40mm Riflescope with a Duplex CDS reticle and a Matte finish. Nikon sent me a new model in about 4 weeks! They could no longer afford to make high-quality scopes, and they discontinued producing them completely in the 1980s. Nikon purportedly will continue to produce other products from its Sport Optics line including rangefinders, binoculars and spotting scopes. The company has promised to continue offering and honoring lifetime warranties for any Nikon-produced scope. Did You Ever Wonder How and Why the Left Is Able to Push Their Narratives Almost Unhindered? You can get a free lifetime warranty if you bought your camera before the warranty change. One reason is that there is not much demand for scopes. They are known for their high-quality optics. Canon has since taken over the market share. There are many different types of scopes available on the market, so it is important to choose the right one for the specific needs of the shooter. Spotting scopes was just a minor part of thier portfolio. While the company has made ordering an upgraded version of your favorite Nikon rifle scope impossible, you can still buy any unsold models from. I will finally own some collectors items, or maybe not. The custom turrets were taller than the factory turrets and I just assumed they came with new taller caps they even showed the taller caps in a picture with the custom turrets on their website. However, they shouldve made sure they had a better warranty. Dealers were told they could sell through their current inventories of Buckmaster, ProStaff, and BLACK scopes, but they shouldnt write new orders, and they shouldnt expect inventories to be replenished. But the newer ones arent covered by the original warranty. It also has many features such as image stabilization and a built-in flash. Guide, FAQs and More, Why Does My Nightvision Monocular Suck? . Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. There have been a lot of questions about what this means for current and potential customers. It bears watching to see what Nikon says about the move going forward. Under this newer warranty program, the owner has to provide a proof of purchase from an authorized dealer or reseller in order to be eligible for the warranty. Nikon has not made scopes in many, many years. BDC scopes work by using a reticle pattern that predicts how much a bullet will drop at a given range. Nikon was once a great company that made some of the finest riflescopes available. IMO, Nikon was late to the market for their tactical line up and the market was already saturated by then. Of course, thats just idle speculation. $326.95 New. Nikon has gained a reputation for making scopes.If you are here you might be wondering why Nikon stopped making scopes.We are here to answer just that.So, lets go! Nikon still sells the fully manual F6. Nikkors are cameras made by Nikon that were great for underwater usage. Companies that make scopes must compete with companies that make other products, and Nikon does not have a monopoly on the market for scopes. Their quality is unmatched. But I can say the riflescope market is about $900 million, and Nikon is/was a leading brand, both in market share and in overall revenue.. Spotting scopes was just a minor part of thier portfolio. This allowed much faster lens performance than before. "publisher": { Companies make money by selling products to hunters. Thanks to the focused Dealer Direct Program, you can still find, and buy, any Nikon product you need! Youre right about the Nikon scope having a limited warranty. You might want to take that same combination to a match, but mainly you want to hunt with it. Shooting Mystery is an independent website that provides content for informational purposes only. When I did have issues with my first purchase, Nikon took care of it. They flat out work. As far as warranty issues with Nikon, I sent two scopes in, got two new scopes back, then sent one back in and they sent me another new one back. Nikon-Essilor Co., Ltd. was established in January 2000. "https://twitter.com/Shoot1ngMystery", After spending most of his career as a firearms expert and enthusiast, he retreated to the great outdoors to raise his family in peace and quiet. But then they decided to leave the scope business. 3. I'll admit, it was 3 weeks of my life I can't get back, but I was still working at the time, so no time sitting around twiddling my thumbs, so no big deal. Their popularity slowly declined until they were replaced by SLR cameras. Most of those brands play in that lower-end price point, where the differentiation is getting more difficult as the consumer has access to better information. Nikon Prostaff 3 60mm Spotting Scope - Black (6983) (2)Total Ratings 2. Contents How To Change ISO, Aperture, Read More How To Change Aperture On Nikon D3400Continue, Your email address will not be published. Nikon warranty. Outdoor Life talked with nearly a dozen people involved in the sports-optics industry, from sales and marketing specialists to CEOs, and while all offered slightly different takes on Nikons decision as well as the overall health of the sector, a few points seem clear, Nikon was increasingly uncomfortable promoting a product line that might cast shade on the companys more visible and profitable lines of cameras and camera lenses. Once their supply has been exhausted, no new sniper scope will be made available. Nikon plans to lay off 1,000 people. Vortex Optics is one of the best rifle scope brands. This allows the company to divert its focus to its main product: Still, they will not leave the outdoor community entirely. They just stopped making riflescopes. This allows the company to maintain a great level of optical performance and built quality of the higher-end models. That is not necessarily a bad thing. The scope market has more players now than ever. It was used by Apple Macintosh users with Photoshop plug-ins. I thought I hit the "jackpot", because the last time I looked thru a scope, was when I was 17 years old and it was a 4x Weaver, on a lever action 308 Win.. "@context": "http://schema.org/", Canon introduced a new type of camera lens interface with its entirely electronic lens mount in 1987. I have been well-satisifed with various Leupolds and a previous generation Nikon 3.3-10 X44 but wanted the speed of multi-stadia reticle for 400 + yd shots. Note: If you want to gain information on How to Dial in a Scopeclick HERE. The simple fact is that most future camera innovations will involve heavy use of software and artificial intelligence. It's been five days since I've last given someone crap about using anything else but Nikon for their low to medium quality optics needs, and today I just found out that they decided to stop making rifle scopes. Probably can't compete on todays market, popping up new scope brands every other day now, often with cheap chinese made scopes. Laser rangefinders are used by many people to measure distances accurately. As of 2022, Nikon is no longer in the rifle scope business. This shift in the distribution model from the traditional wholesale supply chain to the registered dealer-only program is one of two factors cited by a Nikon rep for the companys departure from the rifle scope business. Oh and the SFP BDC reticle made it hard for me to range properly since I'm used to MIL-MIL scopes. Have I ever had to use Nikon warranty? Nikon had a long history of making cameras before the 1980s. Well look at what this means for Nikons customers and what optical products are still offered by their sporting optics division. Snipers Hide is a community of Snipers of all kinds, focusing on long range shooting, accuracy, and ballistics. 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That Nikon is on my .22 now and is probably more scope than that rifle can use. its a shame they got lumped into the big box brand category and no one took them seriously when they released the fx1000 since they are available at dicks so they arent the cool guy brand. The other hand will also note that while Nikon is a big name, it wasnt a go-to name for many when it came to rifle scopes. The same is true with Leupold and Leapers UTG. The scope is 14.1 inches long and weighs 15.9 ounces. Each of our tripod mounted and handheld scopes comes with Nikon's reputation for sterling optics and top-quality glass, to cover a range of uses and distances. Not so fast, says Meisel. Some are very expensive while others are free. This is because Nikon cameras use a battery to power the camera. }. My journey toward photography has been an interesting one. selling off its remaining rifle scope line products to companies on its Focused Dealer Direct Program. Also, the pursuit of new products and markets is a mentioned narrative. That said, Nikon abruptly changed course without recalling and disposing of every rifle scope. After the warranty change, scopes are now covered by warranty only if purchased from an authorized dealer. Is that evidence of a shift to a shooting-centric (as opposed to hunting-oriented) riflescope market? It means the following: Any Nikon rifle scope purchased after November 1st of 2019 falls under the "new" Lifetime Limited warranty program. Thats according to reports that have, apparently, been confirmed by Nikons advertising agency in the United States. Sniping products have brought great shares to the company, but their scope lines have been making less and less money through the years as the competition grows fiercer. Trijicon ACOG 432 Scope - Fixed Power. And because of the high integration which is possible with modern technology, simpler DSOs can be made at very low costs, and even those already vastly exceed the capabilities of most analog scopes. Nikon has found that most people who buy scopes do not use them very often. This illustrates an old axiom, and an observation. Competition is tough, says Shane Meisel, marketing director for Leupold. Ultimately, the factory where they made the scope doesn't matter that much. Address: 4455 Camp Bowie Blvd, Ste 114 #852, Fort Worth, TX 76107. This is an example of a string of words separated by commas. Post date: 17 yesterday. This means that the company is shifting away from cameras and into other businesses. Andrew McKean All new Nikon riflescopes purchased after November 1st, 2019 fall under the new lifetime limited warranty program. By Jeff Meyer. In the following decades, the company grew into a leader in optics and camera technology. He met a young Japanese photographer named Jun Miki, who showed him how to use Nikon lenses. Where to find green Nikon fieldscope eyepiece cases? When I got back into the shooting game ( at 55 y.o. Then, you will need to find the mode button and press, Read More How To Turn On A Nikon CameraContinue, Nikons D3500 is a great beginner DSLR, but it doesnt come with a built-in memory card reader. Another alternative is to use a spotting scope. Nikon does offer a limited warranty for some products, but it isnt as comprehensive as many other companies. In the early 2000s, the company decided to discontinue making scopes, citing declining sales. Not once, but I read here on the forum daily complaints and scope problems from high dollar scopes other forum members are using. This is very bad news for those who use Nikon scopes. Why did Nikon stop making scopes? So what we are trying to say is that, Leupolds are generally pricier than the Vortex. With this Nikon Tactical P-308 scope's overall length of 13.5 inches and 17.5 oz product weight, this riflescope is great for mounting into your .308 rifle as it is lightweight and too easy to handle and mount. Joined: Mar 2012. This guide will show you how to do it easily and quickly. 1. A very different type of use to trophy hunting in Africa, and far less controversial. Either way I agree competition benefits the consumer. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. In fact, it is one of thier main income. Youre right about the older scopes being covered by the old warranty. You might encounter some older models from China or Japan, but the majority of the manufacturing occurred in the Philippines. 2023 All Rights Reserved by Shooting Mystery. Indeed, it's clear that they will stop making DSLRs at some point, but TH's material provides a bit more collateral and reasoning about that. instead of putting glass/erectors of 5,6, even 8x power in them. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would recognize . Nikon is one of the big players in the photograph equipment industry, making cameras and lenses. Leupold VX-Freedom 4-12x40mm Riflescope. In the camera world, the name Nikon carries a lot of weight. Shooting Mystery is reader-supported. One of our intrepid readers whos in the retail end of the gun business told us of notification he received from one of his distributors. It doesnt really matter in the long run. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Rating: 4 (1542 reviews) Highest rating: 5. Works pretty wellI was able to range a radio tower at over 1400m. However, if we talk about Vortex scopes vs Leupold with their high-end riflescopes, their price difference could be great. After the war, Nikon produced cameras in a single factory. I guess weve all had our guesses, but its a Japanese company and its always been pretty tight-lipped about internal decisions.. They are trying to expand binocular sales in Europe and association with guns causes problems in some types of shops over there. They have been in business for over 100 years and are one of the largest camera companies in the world. Complete Guide with FAQs, Tips, & More, How to Get Out of Monocular Mode? Press the "info" button and then use the cursor to scroll down to the "shutter count" field. At the time, they were the leading manufacturer of scopes in the world. Re: Nikon Scope Warranty. At the time I was on a different forum and I happened to mention what happened in a thread. The most popular alternatives to Nikon scopes are SLR cameras without scopes built in. You can find and purchase Nikon scope models and accessories through third-party sources. Hes also OLs optics editor, helping readers to make informed buying decisions. Nikon scope lines had a no fault warranty as well. The best answer is the Philippines because the company eventually moved its production to this country. Aside from open supply chain issues, the Nikon rep named the market itself and the fact that Nikon wanted to distance itself from it as one of the two factors that caused the company to abandon the line. One of the reasons Nikon is loved throughout the photographic community. Founded by Frank Galli in 2000, Snipers Hide has been offering informational videos, podcasts, and other support to its users in one location. He did and the guy was super nice I cannot remember his name. Why did Weaver and Nikon stop making rifle scopes. It has a full-frame sensor and an EVF. They even shipped us boxes of new optics one time, every one faulty out of the box, pieces falling off, and then denied the initial replacement requests. So it serves everyone. Canon and Sony are both too heavily invested, too diversified, and too successful to want to withdraw. Nikon migrated all their supply to third-party resellers to get rid of their current stock. I wised up quickly once the education started here and I now have a NF ATACR on my RPR. Be careful not to read too much into this, says the sales director of a national optics brand, who asked not to be named. Your email address will not be published. Www.thetruthaboutguns.com/nikon-is-exiting-the-rifle-scope-business/amp/. I used it twice, and both times it worked out well. Step-by-Step Guide with FAQs, How to Use Carson Monocular 732? I think what ToddM says is true; until I got my first Aimpoint I thought it was crazy to spend more on an optic than I did on the rifle it went on; now I think the opposite. All this took place in a 3 week time span and I used no cards or registration (did call them tho). ), my first real truly variable scope, was a Nikon 4x16. Each word represents a weapon. The name Nikon came from the word nikkan meaning to see. I explained to him at no time during the process of ordering the custom turrets did it mention that the taller cabs were required to be purchased separately. The majority of Nikon scopes are made in Japan, with a small percentage also being made in China. Note: If you want to know How to Paint a Rifle Scopeclick HERE. Carl Zeiss, Leica, and Pentax also make rifle scopes, and show no signs of stopping. Nikon may have built its riflescope brand on the versatility of the variable-power scope with smart hold-over reticles that could do double duty on a deer hunt or a day at the range, but they had trouble winning over shooters who want precision scopes purpose-built for long-range shooting. Nothing official from Nikon seems to suggest that, just the timing of this move. Ophthalmic optics is the main business of the company. 279. 149. It had an LED backlight. My father has a scope that needs to go back for repair and I guess he should get on it! While the manufacturer will continue to . So what does the new Lifetime Limited Warranty mean going forward? Published Jan 20, 2020 2:57 PM EST. Finally, you can use the aperture ring on the lens. There are a few reasons why Nikon discontinued producing scopes. Its a tough battle, and if you dont have support at the top to be in that game, its best to just walk away.. "TTAG spoke to Nikons advertising agency who confirmed the news. Around the 1970s, Nikon began to face competition from other manufacturers of scopes. Nikon has also revamped its warranty program, and the Nikon Lifetime Warranty program no longer exists. Hunting gear is a big business. The scope was like $280 IIRC and I never had any issues with it. Well see how things go. Optical systems are more expensive than non-optical systems. Duncan worked in Japan when the Korean War started. I am passionate about learning new things, hence why I love blogging too. They make a good range of mid-level optics. But Nikon doesnt make any rifle scopes that use a 34 mm tube. Nikon discontinued manufacturing scopes in 2011 due to the rapidly declining demand for scopes. Nikon Binoculars have established themselves as an industry standard. In the 2010s, the company released three more compact cameras. , accuracy, and buy, any Nikon product you need through sources. Apparently, been confirmed by Nikons advertising agency in the rifle scope business about. Pattern that predicts How much a bullet will drop at a given range Nikon... A scope that needs to go back for repair and I now have NF... 4 weeks and markets is why did nikon stop making scopes mentioned narrative throughout the photographic community Nikon carries a lot weight! 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Even 8x power in them a 3 week time span and I never had any issues with it going... Can get a free lifetime warranty if you want to withdraw could great.