Thread: ED glass in Scopes & Binos

I've just bought a new scope that was heavily discounted.
It is the Vanguard Endeavor RS IV 5-20X50 that apparently comes with "Premium HOYA ED Glass which provides True Color and Edge to Edge Clarity" (so the marketing hype goes).

So as far as I know in scopes and binoculars, there are 'standard glass' lenses, 'HD' lenses, and 'ED' lenses. Also if all lenses are Fully Multi-coated, then ED is better for image quality than HD which is better again than a standard lens (although some manufacturers seem to use 'HD/ED' interchangeably??).

A 'better quality of image' from ED glass, seems to mean that light dispersion or 'spread' is reduced in the scope or bino, so that fringes of color around the image (known as color fringing) are reduced/minimized.

ED glass is said to control and minimize this dispersion by concentrating and directing the wavelength of light (more effectively than HD or standard lens), towards your eyes. Generally speaking, the better these colour aberrations are controlled, the cleaner and sharper the image will appear.

But you know what?
I can't see/tell any difference with this ED glass Vanguard vs my Sightron & Bushnell Elite HD glass scopes (I know different manufacturers/models but that's what I have to compare - Micky Duck will say I'm comparing 'apples and oranges').

And another thing....this ED glass in the Vanguard scope definitely does not enhance brightness… it just doesn’t have any significant low light advantage.
There is also a natural lack of chromatic aberration seen in low light environments so ED glass in low light doesn’t have any benefit over HD glass. One just cannot see chromatic aberration in low light/the dark… so no need for ED glass.

So to sum up....one of the things that has long bothered me is the VALUE - to the average shooter - of “ED” glass. From where I stand, ED glass, particularly as you move towards lower powered scopes & binoculars (say 16x and under), is more hype than substance.

I really can’t see a purpose strong enough to justify the cost difference (which is significant), between scopes and binos with ED vs HD glass.

I want to say it is so much smoke, mirrors, and marketing.
But, some on this forum speak so highly of THEIR ED glass scope or binoculars, that I don’t want to - unduly - rain on anyone’s parade...