Primary Arms SLx 5x MicroPrism - Another Good One?
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How good can a tiny, lightweight 5x Microprism really be? As it turns out it can be pretty decent. Its amazing how good this thing performs given its genuine small size and near weightlessness. I wish it came with a mount setup for a offset reddot out of the box however for the $400 some people are going to spend on this thing. If you can hold out however, I reckon these will settle down in the mid $300's in a few months. Which certainly makes them much more desirable.
#primaryarms #prism #firstpersonshooter
00:00 - Unboxing/Physical Overview
06:55 - Reticle Overview
08:07 - Tracking Test
10:12 - Rooftop Overcast
11:47 - Eyebox
13:28 - Light Transmission
14:26 - Comparison - PA GLx 2x
17:18 - Comparison - Vortex Spitfire HD II 5x
19:23 - Comparison - Steiner S432
20:51 - Comparison - Trijicon TA33
22:30 - Conclusion
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Finally thank you sir. You're the hero we deserve and need. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
FYI: the windage/elevation turrets aren’t labeled backwards. The describe the direction to rotate to move THE POINT OF IMPACT, not the reticle.
He knows. We all know. He was clarifying what he was doing whilst narrating for the benefit of the audience.
The same as all optics. Always move the impact to the dot, never the dot to the impact
That's what he meant...on camera he was explaining when he said up, that it would be moving backwards do to how scope are labeled that way to zero correctly I think
I must say, the vortex image does look better than the pa...
Man I’ve been waiting on this review to purchase this optic. That says a lot for how much we appreciate your reviews!
Same here! But I never saw a PA 3x micro review by him! Had to buy blind...
I waited on his to buy the Nova....and like it a lot, just NO wind hold..not 1 would've been good.... And I run my battery down because it's really bright
I really wish PA would come out with glx and/or plx versions of all these prism scopes
Same. But as they explained to me, the cost would increase and they don't think anyone would buy them
Of course the price would increase. There are people that will pay a premium for a ACOG type quality product. I’m one of them.
@@KB_86 by that point I think most people would just buy an acog
@@CDOES I paid full price for my GLx 2X at around $370. $500-$600 for a GLx in 4X would still be appealing.
@@CDOES I think PA misunderstands their customer base or optics buyers in general. Because, as someone else mentioned, people are paying those prices for ACOGS.
Once again thank you for the stellar review
As always the most effective visual optic tester on the web. Thanks for the work, if i want to know what an optic looks like to look through i come here. Usually after watching someone else beat said optic to death for durability testing.
The TA33 IMO trades too much compared to the TA31 I hope you get your hands on one one day
Hop has about convinced me that the TA11 is the just-right ACOG for most users. As long as you’re cool with the receiver-mounted lightsaber/beam saber look (as I am).
@@FMDad-dm5qothe TA 11 is great
At this point...I would rather have a durable acog or something and RDS than an love I can't drop on its head...not that I plane too, and could get replaced no problem, but just in case
Hotly anticipated content. Thanks C_Does!
Received mine yesterday. I appreciate your review. Subbed.
Best Scope channel ever! Thanks!
So smol, much magnify, very value. Wow
amazing review as always
Great in depth review
@C_DOES back again with another banger
Well done video with polished advice and great editing. Yup im a subscriber
Wow that Vortex spitfire 2 lmfao. That thing looks amazing and way better than the PA lmfao
I got their 1x and 3x and they are really good.
I wish there would be an OFF position on the knob then 1-6 brightness positions then another OFF position then brightness positions 7-12. That way the user could stage their dial in the OFF position closest to what they most often use. This set up is even more practical with a prism since the reticle is always there even with the dial in the OFF position. Vortex does this with the Spitfire prisms.
This has auto on auto off so it's not too big a deal. I think that feature you mention is more valuable with LPVOs with their short battery life
you can just leave it in between the settings, though not 100% ideal it works well
@@Brimwaldthe auto on and off is a nice addition
The spitfire prisms dont have a shake to wake feature and their auto off only occurs after several hours. PLUS there is a passive parasitic battery drain even while the optic is off since the buttons are electronic. My batteries only last about a month and i dont live in a cold enviornment.
What mtnbound said. It has this feature, just leave it between settings, if your dials are like my MP's they wont bump on accidently.
Yeah, PA needs to bring that price down some.
WHOA. That's really great.
"Whats in the box??" nice Se7en homage. Great review!
If it's anything like the 3x I'm getting it. This+micro dot offset is my favorite setup by far
Great review, thank you. I would love an update where you try out the top mount red dot backet plus the side mount red dot cantilevers for mini red dors and regular rifle red dots.
I love my PA 5x. Works great on my SCAR
You are THE GO TO optic review channel. Thank you for another awesome review. I was itching to buy one of these but wanted to wait for reviews so I'm ecstatic that you were able to put out one of the first reviews on it. Personally I think I'll pass, although the light transmision was impressive the image and FOV for the price wasn't as much. I may take your advice on the spitfire gen 2 which I seen PSA selling for $199 last week. Essentially I want an ACOG RMR combo for not ACOG money. If I could make a review request, I've been really curious of the "Sig Bravo 4 Battle pack" but haven't seen a solid review on it. I've heard it has really good FOV and glass clarity but have yet to see anyone demonstrate it. It's a bit chonky but I'd be ok with giving up weight for better optical performance.
Something to remember is that the new version of the bravo 4 doesn't have as wide of an FOV as the old one. The old one had 10° versus 7.5° on the new one. The new one doesn't seem as compelling for that reason, given an ACOG has a 7° FOV. The microprism definitely has a restrictive FOV though, even G45 magnifier has a higher FOV.
I’ve got the vortex and when it went on sale I bought a second one. Totally worth it
Great video and comparison, as always. Sidenote: the PA kiss reticle has been discontinued, I called PA and customer service person was not optimistic concerning a gen 4. I love my kiss and it may be the only one I get😮.
Came in for the SLx 5x, left with the Spitfire II 5x😎Awesome video for being honest
I cant tell if its the video but the side by side between it and the spitfire 2 the image clarity at the edge of the lense seems seems way better on the vortex, the slx seems a little blurry to me
To anyone wondering between 5x Vortex Spitfire HD 2, and this optic: Either way you won't lose. Both are extremely close to each other and each one has a benefit, both have a decent eye box, and both focus pretty darn good at long ranges, compared to some long range scopes that defocus at far ranges. Look at both and pick which one you want in that 5x flavor.
definately want to test x3 now
That's my dream optic.
I think one thing that should be mentioned about the Spitfire 5x that the built in RDS mount only accepts the Vortex red dot footprint which limits your options , especially since Vortex doesn’t make a NVG compatible red dot for that foot print. This is why I will get the PA 5x since it uses the MOS adapters giving you a wide range of rds you can add to the optic.
Doctor Noblex footprint
@@thekeithlaneStupid expensive, rather bad, and hard to get.
Just off set it. Use what you want.
@@blacktoastmcbiscut8650 offset is incompatible with NV.
@@lucastonoli3256 I actually meant iorns. It is 100% unwise to always depend on batteries and glass. NV or not.
Been looking forward to this. I love my spitfire 5x and wanna see if it competes
Looks to be just a tad nice image quality from the vortex. Only thing I wasn't too crazy about is the 1moa click adjustments. Seemed a bit to cores for a 5X optic which is what kept me away but having seen them for sale for $199 on PSA the past week makes it much more appealing.
@@biggboysouthsale is still going on. I picked one up today… the temptation! The 160$ price difference between the Vortex and PA 5x is what got me. The PA is arguably better but not almost twice the price better.
If it competes? It is infinitely better.
@@alanmeyers3957hmmm lots of sass in that comment.
Have the Gen2 its a cool little optic for sure.
I have the 3x, and considering the tiny size and fairly tight eye box I definitely wouldn't want to bump that up to 5X.
$360 at Primary Arms if you are able to take advantage of their military/first responder discounts. If not, then pick up the optic when PA holds one of their SAVE12 or SAVE13 sales. The ~$350 sale price makes the optic much more competitive to the Vortex Spitfire 5x. Thanks for the video.
They can't touch that 199 price right now tho.
@@earthsurfer13 where at?
Palmetto state for the vortex
@@earthsurfer13 Thanks.
Get both.
Man, that Spitfire comparison is rough. The amount of distortion in the PA 5x is really distracting.
At first I though the no pistol red dot mount was a deal breacker, but then I relized that I could just adjust the scope height to be level with a 30mm scope ring and have a rmr adapter on the scope ring either infront or behind the scope. I get theres 45 degree mounts but Id rather not sacrifice red dot accuracy
5X looks great! But I think im going with the 3X PA micro with the raptor retical. Any thoughts on my near future potential purchase???
Would love to see one of these with a built in top Mount red dot. No messing with trying to mount one and only one battery to change.
The spitfire hd 5x might be for you then
Dude! You skipped the 3X microprism! Or did I miss it?
This looked good when I saw they were going to drop it but the rainbow effect on the edges looks not so good. Great review but a skip for me.
I really like how the SLx 5x seems to have panned out, but I'm just looking for a temporary 5x prism to hold out to see what L&S can do with their Elcan competitor, and 200$ for the Spitfire Gen II does sound very tempting
L&S?
@@j.burden Lead & Steel. They are getting into magnified optics after their LP-1 and their soon to the market PB-3 (ACRO competitor). They have an ELCAN and ACOG competitor in the making, they showed off a render of the ACOG competitor on their subreddit.
Thanks! @@DrWolfensteinz
@DrWolfensteinz could you show me where to find more information on this?
@@DrWolfensteinzcould you show me where to find more information on this?
great content awesome review: being that I am a poor! I do not thing any optic is worth that much money, for that they are besides the fact and lack of being 100% USA made! However I would like to see Primary Arms try their luck at a 1 to 4x, 5x, or 6x, Elcan prism style optic with a flip switch to goto 1x to whatever magnification like the Elcan Spectorcomp
It wasn’t til I watched this on a desktop that I really appreciated how big the contrast at 17:20 is. C-Does keeps it understated in his narration, but for real, the Vortex 5x image is *drastically* better. The PA 5x looks disqualifyingly bad here. Gross orange ring around the image and tons of distortion.
Interestingly I got to handle the Vortex Spitfire 5x. I found the eyebox brutal; very hard to use well. Concluded I would never buy one. But nice glass. I think 3x is gonna be the upper limit on microprism magnification for me.
@@FMDad-dm5qo Hmm I was going to pull the trigger on that one, but seems like image quality is the only con for PA 5x on this one.
Nice watch tan.
Should have a red dot mount on top or come with an option out of the box considering the 9 options they already give you to mount it.
I have been looking at Prism scopes for some time, and the Primary Arms 5X MicroPrism is on the short list. We also got to see a comparison of it against the Vortex Spitfire HD Gen II 5x Prism Scope (too bad it has 1 MOA adjustments). The other that I have considered are the Lucid Prismatic P8, Element Immersive Series 5×30 (has a parallax adjustment), and the Steiner T536 5x36 5.56 Prism Sight. It would be worthwhile to see a C_Does Prism showcase. I believe that they all have advantages against each other, but only C_Does can separate the Wheat from the Tares.
We gotta get you a TA02, TA31, or TA01, and then a TA110 or TA11! Might know a guy who can hook you up with that… 😂
This is a good optic. Try it with PA's new offset Red Dot 45 degree attachment. Personally I hate the piggyback red dot. The 45 degree is the way to go.....in my opinon.
Doesn't the SLR have a shake wake setup, and if I'm not mistaken the Vortex 5x does not.
Glass looks really bad next to that Vortex.
Yes. I think that comparo will sell a lot of Spitfire 5x’s especially at the bananas clearance sale price at Palmetto state armory. The glass on the PA GLX 2x prism also looks much better than the SLX 5x.
Brassfacts said in one of his videos that all these microprisms have a ‘small’ image in that they don’t take up much of your vision. Even if the FOV is wider than an ACOG, if you can’t see it’s not worth it. Like trying to watch a show on a huge flatscreen vs watching on an Apple watch
Good point. The TA33 is terrible in that regard. Looking behind a 4x32 acog feels like I’m looking at a big screen.
I'm not saying he's wrong but I've listened to a lot of KZhead gun people say stuff that turned out not to be the case or was extremely over exaggerated when I used the item myself. I find that many GunTubers over emphasize attributes of products simply to have something to talk about but really makes no difference to the practical use of the item.
@@timrobinson6573 Thats a good point. Although for me using the TA33 felt like looking though a soda straw. My friend who has it quickly had gotten rid of it. I just prefer the FOV of the 4x32 models. And have a TA02 as my go to. Much faster acquiring targets with that vs the Ta33 in my own personal experience. YMMV. 4x32 looks vey close to the Steiners performance in the video to my eyes.
@@timrobinson6573 this is someone that has a lot of time behind the ACOG though, and he’s pretty straightforward Roasted the hell out of the ScopeSwitch too
@timrobinson6573 I dont have experience with any micro magnified prisms (I do have a PA 1X though) and this complaint seems to me like its baseless. FOV is FOV, and if you're lined up behind the glass you're going to see the full FOV regardless of size. Also if I remember correctly Brass Facts was also one of the guys pushing the LPVOs are dead narrative for awhile due to the minor drawbacks they have over MPVOs so take that as you will.
how is the eye relief of the vortex compared to the PA?
Any chance you’re going to test PA’s GLX 6X magnifier? There’s hardly any info out there about it.
I still dont understad why there's no true acog replacement. Like this thing with integrated RMR mount on top and better glass (Glx or Plx series) could be that one thing eveyone wants.
Sig’s Bravo prisms are amazing for the price. Their 4x is no-shit ACOG-level good with more eye relief and somehow more FOV as well.
If they could make a fiber optic one or AA battery powered one, I think it could topple the ACOG
This should have a mount for an rmr.
I've got the 3x, the other day I was out shooting and wondering if it was really enough magnification. I tend to shoot with some really heavily magnified optics as I'm usually shooting longer range. The 5x was announced and I have been tempted, just not sure if I want to throw $400 at the problem yet, or if I want to actually spend some real time shooting the 3x. I have good eyes, just not that much patience.
I just got the 3x in so I'll be easily and to compare one to the other to give you a beget understanding of what you need
@@CDOESI’m looking forward to the comparison! The 3X has great glass and so far it looks like the 5X has meme tier glass. Was hoping you had a fluke with you camera work but the 5X is looking pretty bad elsewhere too.
WHATS IN THE BOX!
thanks for the info. do you have any thoughts on the vector optics paragon 4xmicro prism ? i have one on the way with a vector optics frenzy red dot to mount on top of 4x micro prism or at 45 degrees w mount.
Would like to see if you have a 5.5x and 6x Acog vs the 4/3.5x. They actually have a Steiner T 432 on OpticsPlanet. The SLx seems to have a lot of distortion but good value and field of view. Maybe the GLx version will be better.
I really like my T432. It's got super glass and the reticle is quite good and actually daylight bright. Right now Eurooptic has them for a great price.
The only major issue I see is there’s no direct mount for a micro dot
Would you suggest a steiner t432? It looks to be awesome on paper. Do you have a choice?
C_Does...I'm a little hearing impaired. Anything you can do on your end to increase the volume?
The price on the 5x Spitfire is extremely compelling, but I have no use for an integrated Docter footprint, and I really don't like the reticle. The Griffin reticle 5x micro is extremely tempting though.
Conversion plates exists so you can use Trijicon and Holosun micro red dots
@@milserpentine oh boy, more height over bore and stacking tolerances. My favorite!
If I'm on Hoplopfheil's subscribestar and he's on your subscribestar that means I'm paying him to be on your subscribestar. I thought it was for his beer money.
I think you mixed up the TA31 and TA33, because the 33 isn't the one service members will swear by. Far as I'm concerned with ACOG the TA31 is the only one truly worth its cost.
I wish PA would go to a push button style brightness adjustment ( ala holosun) vs the rheostat dial. it would make it lighter and help trim down the scope body when looking through it.
Dial is better
@@rmyc why tho?
@@mtnbound2764 parasitic battery drain, for one possible answer.
More reliable. doubles as visual indicator for what mode you are on. It doesn't get accidental mode changes
Dial is functionally better. Push button would only have aesthetics as a benefit over a dial
How does the 1-moa adjustment on the Vortex 5x work out compared to thr Primary Arms 5x?
I just wish the BDC lit up like the older ones.
I paid $229.00 for the Vortex. PSA had a sale and I bought 2.
Good move. How are they treating you?
What if I only have a nonstandard quarter? Will that still work to open the battery compartment?
Hey, didn't know where I could share this, I'll try to be as concise as possible. I have the opportunity to get either the new Primary Arms 1-6 with nova reticle or the athlon 1-10 that you reviewed. Given the opportunity, what would you choose and why? If you need more info please let me know!
Can you please review the SLX Aurora?
Just out of curiosity where do you run your diopter? For some reason I can’t get both my left and right ranging stadia lines crystal clear. As I adjust the diopter left and right only one side of ranging stadia lines/number become crystal clear. Btw I have good eye sight. Not sure if I received a lemon. I love this optic! I wouldn’t get rid of it as is lol
Mine wasn't the sharpest I the corner on the left side. I got it more then servicable. But they are asking a lot of that small tiny package at 5x
I kinda wish i could have got the 5x reticle in the 3x prism. its cleaner
Agree, but ideally with better illumination. Make that little chevron pop like the reticle on the PA GLX 2x - that thing gets impressively bright.
Curious to see if you can get your hands on a TA31 Acog. Much better than the Ta33.
I’d say get the LED version TA02
Great option as well.
Can you make a review on Steiner T536 5x36 5.56 Prism Sight ?
You see a lot of these for sale they seem very cool until you realize you have to have your face 2in from the optic same reason everyone sold their trijicon acog, there are much better options out there
Like what, the 1to3 does not have enough eye relief for my 44 mag, bummer!
Would love to see a 3x behind this.
I don't like the flat edge on the left side of the lens of these PA slx at 3x and 5x. A little off axis and you get blue discoloration and fade to black.
When did they start sending Vibra Tite? I have never received this.
When I saw the Spitfire featured here hit $200, I jumped on that so quickly. The SLx 5x was in my shopping cart at the time, but the sale price and my experience with my other Vortex optics made me swap over to the Spitfire. Also: the glass is more, I dunno... "natural(?)" on the competitors than the SLx. The SLx does some weird yet subtle color shifting.
The spitfire for $200 was insanely cheap. Definitely a wise move. The slx has good glass, but a color shift is noticable. Yet not that bad considering the rest of it's performance
How does SLx 5x stack up to SLx 3x?
Can I add a 3x magnifier. Behind it?
What’s going on with a yellow ring around the parameter?
Grrr...it seems like I just pounced on the SLx 3X (got one for my AR and for my AK), then they roll this one out...😜
but the vortex only accepts vortex mounting pattern red dots. Ive been hunting for a vortex to rmr adapter plate with no luck.
@C_DOES when you are referring to the light transmission at 7 o'clock, is that 0700 or 1900? Thank you.
You got to be kidding. Do you know what a clock with a face looks like? There's only one position for 7 oclock.
@@timrobinson6573 correct and the hour hand lands on it twice a day. I'm asking which time of day that hour hand is landing on it. I guess I should have stated it in simple terms so you could understand what I meant even though I wasn't asking you unless you are the guy in the video that said it.
tbh if i could get THIS on a flip to center or flip to side with a red dot in front it would be an AWESOME GPR setup
What is the eye relief?
You can’t shoot for the king and not give a real ACOG a chance. The TA33 is not THE ACOG. The TA31, or even better, the LED version the TA02 is the true prism benchmark.
I agree. Using the Ta33 as the basis for the ACOG doesn’t work. Gotta use a 4x32 or at least the 3.5x version for that.
I hope PA comes out with an updated 2x prism with the new body design. Similar to the newer 3x.
That would be cool especially since they are basically the same price.
If PA could find a way to keep most of the generous, usable eye relief of the current 2x (its #1 strength) while giving it just a *bit* more field of view, plus true daylight bright illumination, they’d have a world beater for 7.62x39/.300 BLK/ even 9mm or .22LR applications. IMO the current 2x does *not* need to shrink. The long tube has a purpose. It’s not too heavy. I don’t want the super micro form factor if it screws up the usability and nice chill eye relief. Some prisms really tick me off with their tiny eyebox, eg. I found the Vortex Spitfire 3x borderline unusable.
MicroPrism playlist please?
I picked up Vortex Spitfire 5x for $200 recently. I was worried the PA would make me have buyers remorse; however, after watching this video, I feel I made the smarter purchase. Thanks for the great review!
Would love to hear what you think about precision, zeroing and those 1 MOA adjustments if you get to shoot it.
@@earthsurfer13 Shouldn't be an issue. I've put the optic on a 16" ar15 intended for 300-500yds. With Strelok, a good 50yd zero, I'm only looking at a 5" hold (holding the BDC at the edge of the target) at 500yds, to get hits. As far as precision goes, I would go with a 2.5-10 scope or higher if I needed to be precise. The role of this optic, for me, is get hits on steel out to 500yards. I'll report back once I get it out to distance!
@@c.t.2573 thanks man!
@@c.t.2573 any updates ? :D
A standard quarter as opposed to a non standard quarter?
as someone who owns both the 1x and 3x PA mp's, Im not going to be getting the 5x. not that i dont think ti will be worth the money, but i just dont think its what i need/ want. the 3x is plenty of magnification for what this is a small compact set up. if i need 5x.. im probably better off with a 1-6 or 1-8 or even 2-10. also consider the platform. if you want long range accuracy, you probably already have a heavier build, so just get a heavier scope... said another way, i feel like the micro prisms excel on a compact/ lightweight build, which by default isnt a long range set up that benefits from more magnification. as always, stellar review.