Luna Optics has a good number of products in their inventory, but when it comes to night vision, they specialize in digital scopes.
The LN-G3-RS50 is part of their flagship series of day and night digital rifle scope systems.
With a large AMOLED-Q display, Blu-Ray quality recording, and electronic zeroing system, you can shoot accurately in the dark, see it in crystal-clear clarity, and share it in high-definition quality.
However, there are some essential things to know about it before you buy.
Get clued in to determine if it’s really the scope you need.
Quick Overview...
What We Like: Digital night vision scope
What We Don’t Like: Poor battery life
Best Uses: Night Shooting, Day Shooting, Tactical Use, Hunting, Scouting, Varmint Control, Digital NV, Close to Mid-Range Detection, Small Caliber Weapons
- Sensor: CMOS 1920x1080
- Magnification: 6-36x
- FOV: 9-degrees
- Display Resolution: 1280x720
- Eye Relief: 40 mm
- Color Modes: 3
- Battery: 3.5 hours
- Dimensions: 8.3 x 2.6 x 3.5”/2 lbs
Our Verdict: The G3 RS50 high magnification scope is a good, little, entry-level digital scope. It’s worthy as a starter scope that provides all the perks in one package. As long as you know you will need to upgrade in the future, you won’t be sorry on this Luna Optics buy.
Who is the Luna Optics 6-36X50 G3 RS50 Best Suited to?
If you’re out to test the market for a digital rifle scope, the G3 RS50 provides a little bit of everything. It’s a good model to try out every feature to determine what you like and what you don’t like so that you’re better prepared for an upgrade in the future.
However, if you’re planning on mounting it to a high-caliber rifle or slug gun, the G3 won’t cut it. It can only handle limited free recoil, so you’re essentially restricted to AR platforms and small calibers. For popular hunting rounds such as a 308, you’ll want to consider the Pulsar Digisight Ultra N455 or the ATN X-Sight LTV that are both in the under $1000 price range.
How Does the Luna Optics 6-36X50 G3 RS50 Perform?
The G3 digital scope by Luna Optics is a high magnification day and night rifle scope. It’s not high-end for digital, but it does give a shooter a plethora of digital features to play with. It’s considered an entry-level digital scope but with all the fixings.
One very convenient feature is the multiple display modes made possible with the daylight color enhancing filter and color sensor. This is a bonus if you’re after more than just the black/white display of most digital scopes. However, while it does provide excellent day resolution, you will need the IR come nightfall to get maximum detection range.
While other digital scopes are ditching video recording such as the Yukon Sightline N450S and IIT night vision scopes like the AGM Wolervine-4 NL3, the G3 RS50 maintains it as a staple feature, and you can also connect your smartphone or tablet to the scope.
This digital scope is smart, offers good performance, and gives a shooter a taste of multiple features that can help them determine what they will want and can go without on their next night vison scope upgrade.
Features & Benefits
Digital Night Vision Scope
The G3 RS50 scope is a digital model that offers a load of digital features. It’s probably why it sits at this price point since it has additional advantages.
While you do have 6x optical magnification, you can digitally zoom up to 36x. Obviously, it will perform better at high zoom during daylight hours than at night.
It also has photo and video recording features that you would expect of its type, and it’s nice to see that it’s displayed on the 0.38” AMOLED screen in 1280x720 resolution. Still imaging quality boasts higher resolution and there are four video resolutions to work with. If you purchase a large 128GB micro SD card, you’ll have plenty of space to record all your adventures.
The digital scope is also WiFi compatible with both iOS and Android devices, offers three display modes, and of course, multiple reticles and Quick Zeroing.
3 Night Vision Display Modes
Color sensors are not always used in night vision optics, but digital scopes are often turned to for this feature. It has Color, Black/White, and Green display modes.
This can be a big bonus for those who want the option to toggle between displays to best suit their vision for comfort and visibility and for the conditions.
Excellent Daytime Scope
While you are seeking out night vision for coyote hunting or other types of varmint control, the G3 RS50 is a strong performer for daylight hours. This is due to the color sensor that obviously provides the ability to have both a color and green display.
Resolution will be strongest and sharpest during the day and since it can be used during these hours, it offers a true dedicated scope platform that doesn’t require dismounting. As an appropriate side note, it does come with a Quick Detach mount for convenient dismounting.
However, due to the incorporation of the color sensor, it’s not as much of a strong performer at night without an IR. If you’re okay with some image degradation but are willing to sharpen it up with consistent use of the IR, this scope will be sufficient. This is the trade-off for having multiple color display modes.
Compact Build
The Luna Optics G3 RS50 is a very compact device with a length of 8.3”. It’s about as wide and tall and standard standalone digital scopes and has a 50 mm multi-coated objective lens. You could use this as a handheld night vision monocular as well since it has a minimum of 6x magnification and a close focus distance of 2.6 ft.
Unfortunately, it’s rather heavy for a 50 mm scope weighing in at 2 lbs when alternatives come in under this. It’s really not too bad but is worth comparing to the Yukon Sightline N450S or Pulsar Digisight Ultra N455.
Recoil-Resistance
The recoil-resistance of the G3 scope is not impressive but is worth understanding to see what weapon systems it can be mounted to.
It’s good for rimfire calibers and small centerfires up to a maximum of 8 ft. lbs of free recoil.
For example, it would be an excellent choice as an AR-15 night vision scope.
If you’re plinking and taking down rabbits in the dark with a 22LR, the G3 can make fun and tight work of it.
Limitations
Poor Battery Life
The G3 RS50 requires 2x CR123A batteries to operate. Unfortunately, it only gets you 3.5 hours of operation. This is mediocre operating time for the industry standard of at least 4-6 hours for night vision.
It is compatible for use with external power sources, but that means lugging it around with you too. If you don’t mind changing out batteries during use, just make sure you do it when you don’t have targets around or that it doesn’t fail you in the middle of a shot.
Popular Questions
The G3 RS50 is rated to handle free recoil weapon systems that dish out up to a maximum of 8 ft. lb recoil energy.
Some caliber-compatible examples are AR-15 223, 6mm, .250 Savage, 6.8mm Rem SPC, 300 Blackout, and other similar, mid-range free recoil calibers.
You can attach two accessories to the Luna Optics G3 RS50 scope. It has mini rail on the side of the scope and a mini rail on top for a laser or red dot.
The G3 has very good resolution for both day and night hunting. The quality resolution makes all the difference, but you will need to incorporate use of an IR to reach mid-range detection distances. It’s best for close-range distances at night for improved imaging quality.
Also note the recoil resistance of the RS50 as it may not be compatible with your hunting rifle. Slug guns and magnum calibers are out.
The digital scope comes with a carry case, lens cover with color enhancement filter, 8GB micro SD card, and Quick Detach Picatinny mount. It also comes with USB and HDMI cables and a USB-flash adapter.
Unfortunately, Luna Optics does not provide any substantial information on their warranty coverage. A statement of warranty in the user manual provided with their products is very brief and indicates coverage for a 1-year period.
Conclusion
Luna Optic’s flagship G3 RS50 has a lot of potential. For the excited newbie to night hunting, you’ll appreciate the still image and recording features that you can quickly upload or hook right up to a TV for viewing. It even comes with the necessary cables to get this done.
One of its favorite features is its three display modes that may hold advantages for those who are after this convenience since most digital scopes don’t offer this.
If you have a light recoil weapon system to mount it to, the G3 RS50 would make for a good night vision scope.
Further Reading
