When hunters discuss optics, there are two general categories. The first includes the various European premium scopes and the second is basically a catchall for others. As little as a few decades ago, this was arguably accurate as many aspiring manufacturers produced what were essentially clones of the offerings by the market leaders.
However, prior to the advent of the internet, there were always manufacturers of premium optics that, even though known in certain circles, never received the acclaim they arguably deserved. Having used various Kahles optics over the years and looking into the company history, I would argue that Kahles has been underestimated by many hunters. Or perhaps they were simply not aware of Kahles as an alternative to some of the other premium brands.
I have put the Kahles Helia 2-10x50i (Helia 2-10) through its paces extensively in the field under various conditions, ranging from hot and dry weather to nocturnal outings in the pouring rain. I use the scope on a bolt-action driven hunt rifle as well as on two single-shot stalking rigs. As such, my findings are based on real world use for hunting purposes.
