OpticsPlanet.com Blog

Streamlight TLR-3: Small Package, Big Light

July 27, 2010
Streamlight, based in Eagleville, Pennsylvania is well known for making high-performance, rugged, reliable flashlights. Originally making a name for itself by manufacturing a 1 million candlepower flashlight for NASA in the 1960s, Streamlight has earned the respect of operators across a variety of professions: military, law enforcement, fire & rescue and security.

Streamlight Weapon Accessories combine the power and innovation of Streamlight LED Flash Lights with the convenience of being able to mount your light conveniently to your firearm. These weapon lights are not only useful as traditional flashlights, but are also extremely effective at disorienting your target so as to establish your control over a situation.

The Streamlight Compact Rail-Mounted TLR-3 Weapon Light is one of the smallest and most powerful weapon mounted flashlights ever made. Coming in at under THREE INCHES, the TLR3 packs 90 lumens/4,100 candela peak beam intensity. If you want a better idea of how large the Streamlight TLR-3 is, hold out your pinky finger. If you're an average adult, your pinky finger is about 2.5 inches long. The TLR-3 is slightly longer than that. As you can imagine, it is perfect for mounting as a compact weapon light for a variety of handguns and pistols. And it is extremely light- with a CR2 battery (free with your purchase for a limited time!) installed the TLR-3 weighs only 2.32 ounces. For comparison, that's about the same weight as a couple slices of sliced turkey. This Streamlight flashlight comes in a small package, but does not fail to deliver in the amount of light it provides.

Installation is easy! It comes with 5 interchangeable keys that are compatible with different makes/models of weapons. From a video on the product page, you can see the installation is basically as simple as it gets. This allows you to quickly mount it to any one of your firearms quickly and efficiently- you can always rely on your TLR3 to be at your side. And with a runtime of 1.5 hours at 10% output, the light will be shining on when you need it.

When it comes to Weapon Accessories there's no better place to make your purchase on the web than Optics Planet. With our free shipping option, price match program, 30 day satisfaction guarantee and the fact that we are an authorized dealer for every product we sell, we are your one stop shop for all your firearm needs!

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ATN Night Scout Night Vision Binoculars- Nowhere to Run or Hide

July 23, 2010
ATN Night Scout Night Vision Binoculars are fantastic Gen 1+ Night Vision Binoculars that offer top performance at a price right now under $500 (that is NOT a typo!) Offering 35,000 light amplification, you will be able to pick out details in a range of 75 yards without breaking a sweat.

Predator hunting? These are a perfect pair of hunting night vision binoculars. Paintballing? You don't want to be the guy running around without ATN Night Vision to know where your opponents (and allies) are at all times. Security? See them before they see you, with security night vision binoculars. There are some cases where you don't want to be giving away your position with a bright flash light... for that case, you are going to want a pair of binoculars from ATN.

These ATN Night Vision Binoculars come with a high resolution 1st generation intensifier tube. These technological innovations are why ATN has some of the best Gen 1 Night Vision Devices on the market! To save battery life, ATN has built in a proximity sensor- if you are not using it or holding it in a viewing position, it will shut off. Now that's brilliant! The heavily coated 90mm lenses bring in as much ambient light as possible. As we all know, night vision functions best with plenty of ambient light, such as during a full moon, and the ATN Night Scout was built to capitalize on that light. Well, what about a new moon, or a cloudy night? The Night Scout's built-in IR illuminator will provide the infrared light you need to use your night vision binoculars.

ATN has been leading the forefront in night vision devices for years, and has garnered the respect and admiration of both us at Optics Planet and all the customers who have purchased ATN Night Vision Devices over the years. Be sure to check out our Deals of the Week too, you never know what will pop up at a great price!

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Cuddeback BearSafe Protective Case for Cuddeback Capture & Capture IR- Protect Your Investment!

July 21, 2010
The Cuddeback BearSafe Trail Camera Protective Case deals with the sworn enemy of all trail cameras: bears. It is a well known fact that bears love certain things above all else: honey, stealing picnic baskets, and destroying trail cameras. The mechanical noise, along with the odd appearance (and for some models, flash) piques the curiosity of a bear and leads to tragedy- when you return to your Cuddeback Trail Camera expecting to see where the biggest deer are you instead see your trail camera ripped from the tree, and possibly smashed to bits. If you are lucky, you'll have some interesting pictures of a bear treating your trail camera like a chew toy. If you are unlucky... you'll be out thousands of snapshots and need another trail camera. What good is a trail camera that isn't pulling in snapshots of the wildlife? How can you let a bear determine your success?

So what exactly is a man to do? The answer is pretty simple: put a heavy-duty metal cage over your Cuddeback Capture trail camera. Nothing fancy or high-tech about it, just plain old rugged, durable, heavy-duty construction to protect your camera. That's exactly what the Cuddeback BearSafe Protective Case for Cuddeback Trail Cameras does. The metal case fits your Capture/Capture IR Trail Camera snuggly and securely, and once you lag bolt it to a tree you can padlock it to make sure no bear ruins your off-season preparation. That's it! The install is about as easy it gets, and there's no risk that your Protective Trail Camera Case will be too small, or too big. You can rest easy knowing your Trail Camera will be snapping pictures and doing its job, so that your hunts are successful!

If you are looking for the best prices on Cuddeback products, look no further. We've got Cuddeback Trail Camera accessories at low prices, with free shipping for most orders over $29.95. You can't beat it! Check out OpticsPlanet for more great trail cameras and hunting accessories, and let's keep those bears at bay!

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Steiner 10x44 Peregrine XP Binoculars

July 20, 2010
Steiner 10x44 Peregrine XP Binoculars made by one of the top manufacturers across all optics, Steiner Germany are designed for high-end use by hunters, birders, and scientific researchers across the world. Everytime I blog about Steiner Binoculars I would be remiss to not mention the incredible quality and innovation that Steiner Optik stands for. Coatings to block UV radiation, compasses integrated into binoculars- we have Steiner to thank for those features.

Lots of binoculars are made for "any purpose" but the Steiner 10x44 Peregrine Binoculars are made to be an excellent choice for any purpose. These binoculars are an Optics of the Year award winner in American Hunter Magazine. These roof-prism binoculars are housed in a high-pressure cast magnesium housing for maximum ruggedness. Steiner Peregrine Binoculars also feature a host of innovations: mirror coating to smooth out the light transmission throughout the optic, and nano hydrophobic lens coating which causes water on the lens to bead and roll right off. If you've ever used your binoculars in the rain, or on the water, you can immediately understand how useful that will be.

Typically binoculars of this magnification have 42mm objective lenses, but with 44m objective lens the performance of these premium binoculars in low-light situations is as good as it gets. High magnification also typically leads to a smaller field of view. Steiner German Optiks has managed to engineer these binoculars to provide as wide a field of view as possible- an angle of 6.25 degrees, or 328ft/1000 yards. Eye relief of 20mm and twist up eye cups, along with a teardrop design that allows the binoculars to fit snugly and comfortable and filter out sidelight makes these binoculars perfect for use with or without eyeglasses.

Once you've purchased your binoculars, you can rest easy knowing that Steiner provides a Limited 30 Year Warranty. These binoculars are an investment to further your enjoyment of the outdoors. There is so much beauty out there that you may not be seeing with budget binoculars- maybe today is the day to step up to a pair of Steiner Binoculars.

Be sure to check out Optics Planet for sales on binoculars, and be sure to keep checking back for news and info on exciting new binocular promotions over the coming months!

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5.11 Tactical: Soft Gun Cases Built for Ruggedness & Performance

July 9, 2010
The 5.11 Tactical 42" Black Double Rifle Case is one of the top soft gun cases for long guns on the market right now. 5.11 Tactical is widely known as a top brand and manufacturer of tactical clothing, designed for performance, reliability, ruggedness and comfort. All of these characteristics also describe 5.11 Tactical Gun Storage products. 511 Tactical makes high quality shotgun, pistol, MP4 and long gun cases that people have been talking about- and everyone is very pleased so far.

The 5.11 Tactical 42" Double Rifle Case provides a supreme soft case for carrying TWO firearms (rifle or long gun) up to 42", and also has room for relevant accessories (scopes, red dots, magnifiers, and so on) and magazines. Let's just hit some of the features on this fantastic soft rifle case:

  • MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load Carrying Equipment- used by our Armed Forces) load bearing design
  • Main compartments feature corner dividers
  • Hook and loop lashing points to secure your firearms
  • Durable, water resistant 1,050-denier nylon construction
  • Rugged top-quality YKK zippers
  • Center foam divider prevents your firearms from banging into each other, and protects from scratching and wear during travel
  • Smaller compartments on the front for magazines and accessories
  • Name tape holder
  • ID window
  • Flag Holders
  • Thorough Padding to Protect Your Gear
  • Top and bottom compression straps
  • Backpack straps

When you read through all those features, you can see why the 511 Tactical 42" Soft Double Gun Case 58754 is such a popular product. You can store two firearms and conveniently take them wherever you go- be it competitive shooting events, the shooting rage, hunting, or wherever you want to go. And you can rest assured that your rifles and long guns will be fully protected from the elements, scratches, or any other sort of damage. If you don't have a gun case, you certainly need to consider 5.11 Tactical Gun Storage and other Gun Storage products today.

For great deals on 5.11 Tactical Gear and many other products, be sure to check out Optics Planet every day!

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Further and Clearer: Swarovski 20-60x Zoom Eyepiece for Swarovski Spotting Scopes

July 6, 2010

The Swarovski 20-60x Zoom Eyepiece for Swarovski Spotting Scopes lets you see further and clearer than you had ever imagined. Swarovski makes some of the finest spotting scopes you can find- our customers have said that looking down a Swarovski spotting scope the first thing that hits you is a sense that you've been missing out. Crystal clear vision and precision optics are hallmarks of authentic Swarovski optics. As an authorized dealer for Swarovski Optiks there is a full manufacturer warranty on the Swarovski 49330 Eyepiece and all Swarovski products we sell- so you can rest assured that in the unlikely case that you have an issue, Swarovski will take care of it.

The Swarovski 20-60x Zoom Eyepiece has a stellar 5.0/5.0 rating from our customer reviews, including a PERFECT SCORE for the attribute "Value for Your Money." This just goes to show you- while Swarovski Optics tend to be more expensive than other brands, the value is amazing. Attach this eyepiece to your Swarovski scope and marvel at the clarity of the image of what you are looking at. Even at 1000 yards, this spotting scope eyepiece gives a field of vision of 108-80ft- remarkable for an eyepiece of this size. In addition to the optical beauty of this product, the eyepiece is fairly light weight- only adding 9.2oz to your spotting scope. Furthermore, with twistable and removable eyecups, they are easy to clean and more importantly comfortable to use with spectacles.

Whether you are watching birds, wildlife, or just enjoying nature, this Swarovski eyepiece will truly change the way you look at anything again. Some would say the experience is like viewing the world in standard definition and suddenly everything appears in brilliant HD. You'll notice details you had never been able to see before, and be capable of taking in the beauty of everything that surrounds you. For anyone who can afford it, I simply cannot recommend Swarovski enough.

At Optics Planet, we carry spotting scopes and spotting scope accessories to fit any budget. Be sure to check us out for your spotting scope needs!

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When the Name Says It All: Steiner 12x40 Predator Pro Compact Hunting Binoculars

June 29, 2010
This is one example of a product whose name tells you a lot about what you get when you purchase it. The Steiner 12x40 Predator Pro Compact Hunting Binoculars are top tier compact hunting binoculars at an extremely affordable price for many reasons. In a blog post last month, I wrote about Steiner military marine binoculars and of the legendary innovation and quality that people have expected from Steiner for over 60 years. Be it their innovations in lens coatings, or their precision German optics, binocular aficionados always consider Steiner Binoculars when making a purchase.

Let's talk a little about what makes the Steiner Predator Pro Compact Binoculars so great. First off, they feature a unique high contrast lens coating that makes game "pop" in green foliage. This allows the user to better discern subjects in heavily forested regions and pick out the minutest detail. Steiner utilizes a technology called the Color Adjusted Transmission (CAT) lens coating that makes red and brown colors stand out against green backdrops. It furthermore improves visibility during low-light conditions, meaning you won't be caught off guard during dusk and dawn.

Furthermore, these Steiner 12x40 Hunting Binoculars features new NBR rubber armoring that makes it durable and also as close to silent as possible during use. Furthermore, the armoring makes these binoculars easier to grip in wet weather. 18.5mm eye relief make it possible to use these binoculars while also wearing eyeglasses, and the soft, fold down eye cups are more comfortable that traditional cups for all operators.

If that isn't enough, these hunting binoculars come in at a comfortable 24 ounces and include a simple to use neck strap. Furthermore, our current promotion for Steiner binoculars is still going on: Buy any Steiner Binocular and get a FREE Steiner Logo Hat! This is in addition to our Free Shipping and Handling and 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, making Optics Planet the place to buy your next pair of Steiner Binoculars.

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Streamlight Stinger DS C4 LED Flashlight - Top Performance

June 28, 2010
The Streamlight Stinger DS C4 LED Flashlight is a top choice for law enforcement, police, paramedics, and other first responders. There are countless reasons why you will want this flashlight, but the first and foremost is that based on 46 reviews, the Streamlight Stinger DS has a PERFECT RATING of 5.0/5.0 from our customers.

A law enforcement flashlight demands reliability, performance, utility, and low operating costs. The Streamlight Stinger DS meets all these needs. Its aluminum body and shockproof design, complete with a rubberized non-slip grip make it so that you can count on this Streamlight Flashlight in any situation. Still, this flashlight is fairly lightweight weighing only 12.8 ounces. For police and first responder LED flashlight needs, the Streamlight Stinger offers 18,000 candela peak beam intensity and 160 lumens of measured system output. And what about utility? Sometimes you may need a bright light to assess a situation, but once you've assessed the situation you would prefer a dimmer light. This flash light has you covered with 3 brightness modes- low brightness output, medium brightness output, and high brightness output.

Finally, a flashlight designed as a professional use flashlight has to have a low operating cost- meaning no alkaline batteries. The Streamlight Stinger DS LED Flashlight features Nickel cadmium batteries that are rechargeable up to 1,000 times! The C4 LED design lasts up to 50,000 hours too- making this flashlight an investment that will save you significant money over the course of its life.

Streamlight is known for top performance flashlights and the Stinger DS C4 LED is no different. It should come as no surprise that the Stinger DS was the winner of the 2008 Optics Planet Brilliance Award for Best Flashlight and is one of our best selling flashlights for law enforcement, medics, first responders, pilots and all professionals who need a reliable, multi-functional economical flashlight in their line of work.

Be sure to visit Optics Planet for new products, specials, and deals every day!

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OPMOD - Custom Tactical Optics from OpticsPlanet

June 25, 2010
OpticsPlanet is excited to announce our OPMOD line of custom tactical optics. OpticsPlanet is teaming with top riflescope, red dot sight and military optics manufacturers to bring innovative improvements to some of the most popular rifle optics products on the market. The weapon accessory product specialists at OpticsPlanet are real users of tactical gear who talk to thousands of our customers every year. Our in depth product expertise and knowledge of user experience gives OpticsPlanet unique insight into potential tactical optics improvements that we are excited to bring to market with our OPMOD line of products. OPMOD products are available exclusively at OpticsPlanet and Tactical Store upon release. The first product launch of the OPMOD series is the L-3 EOTech OPMOD EXPS2 Holographic Sight This EOTech Holographic Sight has several unique upgrades over the popular EOTech XPS-2 red dot sights. To learn more about this and other future exciting additions to the OPMOD family, visit www.OPMOD.com.

Bushnell Trophy 1x32 Red Dot Sight - Top Value Red Dot Sight

At Optics Planet we see interest in Red Dot Sights growing almost daily. Seemingly every manufacturer offers a red dot sight, with a wide variety of features and construction, and prices ranging from $30 to $1600. If you are looking to buy your first red dot sight, how do you choose? We soon hope to have a red dot guide to go with our other fantastic product guides, but in the mean time we've picked out a red dot scope our customers simply love. Feel free to browse yourself- go to our red dot sight section and look through the products. Definitely check out the product reviews- our customers are very happy to share their thoughts for your benefit!

The Bushnell Trophy 1x32 Red Dot Scope was the 2008 Optics Planet Brilliance Award winner for Best Value Red Dot Sight. Red Dot Sights allow for nearly lightning fast target acquisition and highly accurate aiming at shorter distances with minimal or no magnification. Bushnell's line of red dot sights offer amazing value combined with great features, such as the T-Dot Reticle, shown to the right. The Bushnell 730132 Red Dot Sight features a Red/Green dot for use in almost any lighting condition- happy product owners have said that they were able to use this sight on a sunny day in the woods with no squinting or eye strain! This performance across all amounts of light is not only due to the laser technology involved, but the multiple lens coatings that Bushnell applies to every sight which dramatically increases performance in low-light situations and minimizes glare.

If you are looking for a value red-dot sight for your firearm (including rifles and shotguns) definitely consider the Bushnell Trophy 1x32 Red Dot Scope for your needs. Bushnell has a long history of providing top value products, and this sight is no different. Be sure to visit Optics Planet for more great red dot sights, rifle scopes, binoculars, and more with free shipping & handling over $29.95!

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