MTC Optics Viper X Series Connect 3-12x32

People tend to remember the bad things more than the good and this review is a classic case of bad gone good. There was a company called Hebredian Tech House (HTH) who seemed to be cornering the world in NV gear, they also came out with a scope called the Connect. The idea was a compact that offered a massive field of view. It caused quite a stir, mainly amongst the airgun community and also a furore when HTH went bust disappointing many customers. That is now water under the bridge and I think most of us have forgotten the Connect; well I had until I got a call from Sammie Cooper at MTC Optics.

So when she told me that they were now offering their take on the concept I immediately asked to look at one. It would appear she had one of the originals and liked it, though said it was a bit big and clumsy. So what we have here is a new scope that uses the same prismatic technology to offer a compact design with a massive field of view in a spec normally found on much larger optics.

Super Compact

The Connect is different and measures a compact 11.5” from the eye cup to the objective bell hood. However, the spec is 3-12 x 32 and straight away you think; OK so where’s the trade off? Your eye is then drawn to the saddle with its two, chunky turrets with a side focus on the left. Behind this and filling up the rest of the rear, 30mm body tube is the rheostat for the illuminated reticule. It’s then you realise that the only place to put the rings is forward of the saddle, which initially seems a bit odd, but we shall see.

Up front the objective shows a rather unusual, crenelated hood similar to a high mag camera lens, with a long extension at 12 o’clock and an integral, sprung, swing-out cover. At the rear is a standard, magnification ring with reticule focus behind it. Unusual is the length-adjustable eye cup as you would find on a set of binoculars. The Connect also comes with a bellows-type, slide-on enhancer to stop light getting in.

Controls

The rheostat shows a normal looking drum at 12 o’clock that allows you to select the light level (0-11) however, the press button ON/OFF switch is to the left, so allowing it to be operated quickly at a pre-set illumination level. Turrets are hunter-types under screw-off covers and offer ¼” clicks with 48 per turn (12”) and a generous 10 full rotations (120”) in both windage and elevation.

Dialling is easy with positive stops and audible clicks. On the left of the saddle is the side focus drum, which is marked from 10 to 1000-yards and 8. Though a little crowded at the rear the Connect appears to be a normal variable power rifle scope, but what sets it apart are the facts it offers a massive field of view, a 10-yard minimum range and very short eye relief.

Non Recoiling Guns

To cover themselves, MTC state that the Connect is: “For use on non-recoiling rifles only”. They say this as the eye relief is around an inch and if you choose to use the eyecup, which gives the correct stand-off position; your forehead is up against the ring. Testing showed that even with 22 LR there’s a slight feel as the gun fires; not unpleasant and hardly noticeable but it’s there. Moving up in power this does increase and though it’s still mild with 223 Rem it’s certainly more obvious and it could induce a flinch. 

Now the massive field of view. This is bought at a slight cost as you have to be spot on with the parallax adjuster to ensure a workable target focus, so there is not the latitude of a more conventional build. However, in general terms what you see is probably double of a standard optic. I used a Kahles Kx 3-9x42 and a Schmidt & Bender Zenith 1.5-6x42 for comparison and in the first case set at the same power quality and detail appeared similar, though you could see near twice as much with the Connect. Perhaps more telling was the S&B as its maximum FOV at x6 is bettered by the Connect at x10.

All very clever, but also impressive is the optical quality, which for a sub-£250 scope is very good. Though you do have to be always on the parallax drum to ensure the best picture at all ranges. Much past 100-yards you tend to get a tiny drop in sharpness, which just tells in the view; here going straight to 8 is the best bet. Proving as ever; ‘there is no such thing as a free lunch’, however the massive FOV does blow you away and is something that will be appreciated by many hunters and I feel airgunners are going to love the minimum focus range, which works even at x12.

Mounts and Solutions

Mounting is currently a bit of an issue, though there are solutions. With only the front section of the body tube available I used a pair of Warne rings that at maximum distance were just over an inch apart. This straight away precludes some rifle types, though airgunners are luckier as most PCPs seem to have an integral, one-piece rail as standard.

Sportsmatch have a prototype, one-piece mount that clamps around the forward body, with a slimmer ring that fits between the rheostat and the eyepiece. Currently this is only for ½”-type dovetails, but I assume they can make a 1” claw base? For me the huge FOV makes it an excellent bunny/hare scope for moving targets with either my 22LR or 17HMR rimfires. Given you can stand it on a 223 Rem; it could also make a Practical Rifle optic as it’s light, compact and allows you to reach out and still see a lot. Reticule choice goes to MTC’s AMD (Advanced Mil-Dot) and the SCB (Small Calibre Ballistic).
I found the Connect an interesting and potentially useful design and those I showed it to were blown away by its massive FOV. However, it is a little specialised and the mounting and eye relief, calibre/recoil limitations will not appeal to everyone. But it does represent another milestone in optical evolution and is doubtless the shape of things to come…

• MTC Viper X Series Connect 3-12x32
• Body tube 30mm
• Illumination Y
• Side focus Y
• Integral objective cover
• Click values ¼” @ 100-yards
• Clicks per turn 48
• Full rotations 10
• Price £249

FOR - Light, compact with massive FOV
AGAINST -  Critical and dictatorial eye relief
VERDICT - An innovative and well-priced design with some potential