Third Focal Plane Scope?

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Was following a Facebook thread on FFP vs. SFP scopes, and commented (a bit tongue in cheek) that they just need to invent a third focal plane scope that combines an easy to see, non-scaling reticle with accurate hashmarks at any power.

Seems like it would make most people happy, but now my smooth brain is wondering if something like that is even possible and/or if you think we will see it in the future?

Jim…new Backfire product for your engineer next year?

*This may be a very dumb post. I know almost nothing about building scopes or how it all works, but I like asking the simple questions just in case it leads down a fun rabbit hole.

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Why stop at third focal plane? I’m already thinking we go to the sixth! :grinning:

It’s a cool idea, but I’m not sure how that would work. Seems like the reticle either magnifies with the optic to stay correct, or it doesn’t and is only correct at one spot. How might this be accomplished? I guess maybe with a digital reticle you could adapt the interval of the hash marks.

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At least to the sixth :laughing: I’m no scope expert, but I think the question is whether the reticle is in front of (1st focal plane) or behind (2nd focal plane) the zoom mechanism. To go along with the spirit of the post, I think you might be on to something with a digital reticle. Would it even be possible to go all digital. I mean for the zoom as well? You’d be battery dependent, so that’s a potential downside. It might also be heavy. Ounces add up. It might be expensive. Dollars add up too. However, that could open up the zoom range and allow you to use the reticle hashmarks at any distance? Think a 1-30x zoom with a reticle that adjusts as you go. Just trying to stay out of the box with @mwoolsey

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I’ve seen a dual reticle scope. I think it has a reticle that is second focal plane as well as one that is first. Maybe that qualifies as a third focal plane.

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Interesting, it looks like in the Shepherd system there are two superimposed reticles. On the Shepherd site it talked about a FFP range finding circle and a SFP crosshair. I am not exactly clear on how the system works in practice.

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Interesting indeed. Never even heard of that scope company before