Here's one more chunk of input. I admit I have been called an "optics snob", because I always have and always will recommend that if at all possible buy the high end scope. I hunt a bunch. And have for about 45 years now. Deer mostly. I came to this conslusion after having a "cheap" scope fail on me, including missing a chance at a truly monster of a white tail. The "guts" of my $75 scope broke sometime along the way (mounted on a 30.06 Spr.) and I did not know it until I missed that buck 3 times .... at about 125 yards. So I "upgraded" a tad, going to a different brand and dropping another $175 or so more. Now I had spent $250, and that fall found myself sitting there late one afternoon watching a great 10 pt. work the edge of a pasture about 200 yards away.... that scope was essentially a "black screen" in that low light. So I decided "no mas".

I have never regretted doing what I did ... I saved all that I could muster for 2 solid years and dropped what I deemdd an insane amount of cash on a Leupold Vari-X III ... about $500. So now I had invested $750 and had one scope. What I got in return? So far about 20 seasons of beng able to count on a scope that has performed extraordinarily well. I hit 50. My wife bought me a top end rifle and put the best Swarovski on it that was available in 1998. I was shocked at the gift for sure and stunned at the performance of the scope. I have never compromised on optics since.

Is it necessary to spend this kind of $$$$? Not truthfully ... not in my opinion. For I have come across scopes that are in the $350-$400 range that do just fine .... and consider these to be excellent values. In fact I have recommended these to others.

Will I ever put a "cheaply" made scope on any hunting rifle of mine? Not unless I absolutely must. And there are many, many of these "Chinese Junks" out there now. I say avoid them all like you would the plague.

For what it is worth, I consider that the Zeiss Conquest that you metioned to be an excellent value.