by Guy J. Sagi – Sunday, November 22, 2020
Riflescopes capable of zooming from zero magnification to high power are extremely popular, and for good reason. They allow shooters to engage targets up close with speed and accuracy, yet when it’s time to stretch distances they can be dialed up instantly. EOTech’s 1-6X Vudu, which American Rifleman covered in 2017, was a big success, but the company has turned things up a notch—really two—with the EOTech Vudu 1-8×24 mm SFP (second focal plane).
The EOTech Vudu 1-8×24 mm scope.
Scopes capable of going from zero magnification to high power, without sight-picture distortion or wild and unpredictable swings in point-of-aim/impact, are no longer groundbreaking. Not many years ago, though, cramming the physics-bending technology into a portable and affordable system was impossible. The performance of this Vudu is a sterling example of the versatility and convenience available today.
Light Transmission
First and foremost a riflescope must collect light like a magnet, then transmit it with minimal distortion to the shooter’s eye. We may refer to riflescopes as glass, but every photon entering must first pass through surface coatings, and budget mixes can sacrifice light, shift color and reduce contrast. For that reason, quality manufacturers are meticulous in selecting that mix and guard their “secret sauce” formula like Coca Cola keeps its original recipe in a safe.
Whatever EOTech put into the XC HD full multi-coating on the Vudu glass, it works. At 8X, after sunset and 200 yds. away, it was easy to identify individual leaves moving in an otherwise dark section of forest. Contrast was sharp and the entire field of view was crystal clear in the fading light.
There’s no tint to the lenses. Some companies often add a hint of color in the coatings to enhance performance in specific lighting conditions, although the laws of physics dictate that approach reflects some light before it enters the scope. The Vudu is about versatility regardless of the time of day, so lack of pigment is smart.
A view of the uncapped elevation turret.
Don’t let the high-speed looks of the 24 mm objective lens and 30 mm main body on this scope fool you. Its glass collects light as efficiently as bunnies do dust under beds. Color is true and contrast in the scope is ideal for fast target acquisition.
Reticle and Red Dot
EOTech’s REV2 reticle is has a single small red dot at the crosshair that occupies 0.5 m.o.a.—roughly 0.5”—at 8X. Bear in mind, however, it and the stadia lines are located in the second focal plane. They stay the same size when looking through the scope even when magnification decreases, which means a slightly wider swath of real estate is covered at the lower settings.
The reticle of the EOTech Vudu scope used in the review.
The lines and dot are fine enough that at 1X targets are not obscured. The red dot, which can be turned off, doesn’t exhibit that annoying habit of bleeding a crimson tint across three or four m.o.a., either. It’s laser sharp, visible even in the broad daylight and brightness adjustable.
Three rubberized pressure switches on the left side of the scope body—surrounding the CR 2032 battery compartment—activate, turn off or change the red dot’s intensity. If inadvertently left on the unit shuts down after two hours. At full power battery life is estimated at 500 hours.
Acid Test
For a riflescope to perform, it must be rock steady during firing and maintain point-of-impact and point-of-aim coincidence. The Vudu 1-8×24 mm SFP did so reliably when mounted on a 6.5 mm Creedmoor and survived a rather lengthy .22 LR family session.
Each click of the turrets—which stand only 0.7” from the main body and are protected by caps—was palpable, positive and resulted in a 0.25 m.o.a. shift downrange. The scope walked the target perfectly and came back to zero with no fuss.
The battery compartment opened on the side of the EOTech Vudu.
The reticle’s stadia lines and crosshair remain visible when the red dot is off. That means your range session isn’t cut short if the battery surrenders unexpectedly. The firing line sessions made it obvious in most light conditions activating the dot was an added luxury, not a necessity.
Main Body
The riflescope’s main body is built from T6 aircraft-grade aluminum. Any problems with electronic components are covered by company service for two years, but the rest of the scope is backed by the EOTech Advantage Warrantee, which plainly states, “Should your Vudu rifle scope ever experience any defects in materials or workmanship, we will repair or replace it, as determined by EOTech, with a comparable product, free of charge (except for electronic components of an illuminated rifle scope…).”
The standard adjustment tab on the magnification adjustment ring.
The magnification dial has a generous speed bump for gloved use, but the optic also ships with a throw lever that can be screwed in to make changes faster and easier at the range. Whether it’s used or not is up to the owner, although there’s no doubt it will be an advantage during action sports stages or when weather forces enthusiasts to don gloves.
Weight comes in at 21.2 oz. and overall length is 10.75″. The scope is also dust and water resistant.
Overall Impressions
I do have one complaint, although it’s a minor and technical one that plagues most camera lenses—even those with price tags much higher than the Vudu’s MSRP of $1,449. A barely perceptible purple line bordered the right side of white targets when viewed at high magnification.
Chromatic aberration is the term and the odds are good your optics experience it to some degree. It can be painfully distracting in cheap scopes. In this case it only showed up at 8X, and even then required viewing a bright white object. It was barely perceptible, took some study to detect and I’m confident no one else would notice. Well, photographers might, but I take a lot of images—the only reason I looked.
The extended throw lever on the magnification adjustment ring.
The features packed into the EOTech Vudu 1-8×24 mm SFP make it a solid choice for anyone in the market for a riflescope versatile from CQB, close- to medium-long range. Image transmission is crystal clear and field-of-view isn’t unnecessarily compromised by clunky dots or cumbersome reticles. The Vudu has all the features you need, and wisely shuns a lot of the gaudy and performance-compromising gimmicks no one could ever use.
Specs
Manufacturer: EOTech
Model: Vudu 1-8×24 mm SFP
Main Tube: 30 mm
Objective Lens: 24 mm
Reticle: Fiber Optic Reticle REV2
Field of View at 100 yds.: 13.2 ft. at 8x, 105.8 ft. at 1x
Eye Relief: 2.95” to 4.02” at 1x, 3.19” to 3.86” at 8x
Overall Length: 10.75”
Weight: 21.2 oz. (with battery and throw lever)
Power Source: One CR 2032 Battery
Accessories: Scope and Reticle Manuals, Lens Covers, Battery, Removable Throw Lever, Lens Cloth
MSRP: $1,449