Leupold and Zeiss Rifle Scopes

[Guyon]

I'm looking at the following scope options: Leupold VX-II and VX-III, Zeiss Conquest. The VX-III and Conquest scopes are comparable in price. The VX-II is a little cheaper, of course.

My questions are:

1) How do the VX-III and Zeiss Conquest stack up in your opinion?

2) I hear great things about Leupold customer service. What about Zeiss?

3) Are there significant differences in the clarity between the VX-II and VX-III?

I'm sort of partial to the Zeiss Conquest 3.5-10X44, but I'm still thinking about it.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Pretty partial to Zeiss here---and no longer even own a single Leupold scope----my "cheaper" scopes all are now Burris.

 

[Mulliga]

Leupold VX-III and Zeiss Conquest aren't even in the same price range. Obviously, the Zeiss scopes are better, but they are more expensive. Leupold customer service tends to be pretty good, though.

 

[Soap]

The Conquest is in the same price range with the VX-III. That series is Zeiss' lowest end that they offer. Practically there is little or no difference in the two scopes. They are both very durable and offer excellent light transmission. I'm not sure about Zeiss customer service since I don't know of anyone personally whose Zeiss has broken. Concerning the difference between the VX-II and III clairty-wise, I would give the edge to the VX-III. I'm pretty sure that they use a better coating for the VX-III. This difference is mostly apparent at dusk and dawn.

 

[dakotasin]

leupolds are lighter and have more eye relief.
the conquest is arguably better than the old varix-3's.
leupold's new vx-3's are better than the conquest.

for a hunting rifle, no question, i would go leupold every time. the non-critical, long eye relief and light weight go well w/ the very good optics. for a target or plinker kind of application, there are many other factors to consider.

 

[ClarkEMyers]

Are you going to hunt with it?

I've had no reason to argue with Bob Hagle when he wrote the VX-II in 2-7 was a good size and power range for hunting and fairly affordable although optically inferior - the optically superior were often not a good size or power range. So I put a VX-II in 2-7 on a 7mm Rem Mag and called it good.

For my money Leupold is plenty good enough for shots at game, and I'll go all the way to Swarovski's best if I'm going up from Leupold for a particular reason.

 

[Lone Star]

About Zeiss customer service, they're sort of like the Maytag repair man...not much of their stuff breaks!

The few cases I know about involved customer carelessness or mishaps in the field, not original quality problems.

I sent back a used 8X30 monocular to be cleaned and have the objective ring replaced, because the prior owner had dented it and had fogged the optics by leaving the glass in a hot car during summer. They did all they could, although not all of the haze could be removed.

In another case, I dropped my beloved 6X20B monocular (my "always" glass) on a brick driveway, and the dent that resulted was fixed and the instrument returned looking new.

I know of one case in which a BADLY misused 10X40B/GA binocular (not mine!) was returned to Zeiss. My source asked me to not mention details, which would embarrass the customer who owned it. But they were able to repair even that example, which amazed me, given the details.

Zeiss also took pains to look up when my old 8X30B monocular was made (going by serial number.) Tuned out it dated from 1960.

I have several Zeiss products, including a 10X56B binocular that is primarily used in astronomy. I have been very pleased.

I greatly respect Leupold quality, which is excellent. I've used a Vari-X III 2.5-8X scope, and think it's a fine choice. I've also been extremely pleased with Swarovski products. But Zeiss is certainly a splendid brand, and they back it with great service. Wunderbar!

Lone Star

 

[ClarkEMyers]

I'll grant that the best binoculars I have ever held in my hands were top of the line Zeiss - but for a hunting rifle I still go with Leupold all the way for a rifle sight.