Actually not really. We use same coatings at our company but for other purposes and wavelengths for filters of light.

Glass is still being ground down like the way it was 50 years ago. Yield is a big factor, and lots of new methods for determining quality of the shape cut. Lots of new test gear out there to map the shape.

But the trick is matching the index of refaction of the air to your eye under any circumstances, from dry air, to humid and over a huge temp range. Lots of new coatings also enhance parts of the visible spectrum at twilight like the conquest line. Those guys really have thier technique down. So does leupold with the VX3 line and Mark4 line is just plain awesome. Our one setup that coats is a 5mil investment. Once setup, your just recouping R&D cost. Back reflection is your enemy, and coatings help there and is directly coorelated to index matching.

I myself will not buy anything of lesser quality than a conquest, monarch, or VX3 or Vari-X III, or 4200. The 4200 is ok, but not as durable as a Leupold fixed 4. My 460Smith destroys 4200's.

My wants are Mark4's, but can't afford too many of those.