A prism sight or prismatic sight, sometimes also called prism scope or prismatic scope, is a type of telescopic sight which uses a reflective prism for its image-erecting system, instead of the series of relay lenses found in traditional telescopic sights. The use of prisms makes it possible to construct a shorter and lighter sight, or with an offset between the eyepiece and objective axes.
A Trijicon 3.5x35 ACOG prism sight with a Trijicon RMR reflex sight mounted on the top.
A British L129A1 sharpshooter rifle with a TA648-308 6×48 ACOG fitted
An Elcan SpecterOS 4x prism sight with a Shield Sights reflex sight mounted on top.
Diagrams showing an interior view of the No. 7 Mark I dial sight for the British QF 18 pounder field gun. Prisms are marked H and F. (cirka 1913)
A telescopic sight, commonly called a scope informally, is an optical sighting device based on a refracting telescope. It is equipped with some form of a referencing pattern – known as a reticle – mounted in a focally appropriate position in its optical system to provide an accurate point of aim. Telescopic sights are used with all types of systems that require magnification in addition to reliable visual aiming, as opposed to non-magnifying iron sights, reflector (reflex) sights, holographic sights or laser sights, and are most commonly found on long-barrel firearms, particularly rifles, usually via a scope mount. Similar devices are also found on other platforms such as artillery, tanks and even aircraft. The optical components may be combined with optoelectronics to add night vision or smart device features.
View through a 4× telescopic sight
Leupold and Stevens Mark 6 scope with variable magnification X3-X18, mounted on an M24 SWS
Telescopic sight (German made ZF Ajack 4×90 (4×38 in modern terminology) for the World War II pattern Swedish sniper rifle m/1941.
The Zielgerät ZG 1229 Vampir displayed by a British soldier (ca 1945)