Magnifiers are the Rodney Dangerfields in the optical world — they “don’t get no respect.” They’re used, abused and taken for granted and, despite it all, they continue to perform with cutting-edge versatility through challenging conditions.

Riflescopes dominate headlines, but a magnifier’s mission rarely gets the same attention. They must also be tough enough to handle recoil, minimize light rejection on glass surfaces and battle the elements with a...