The Minox ZA series is really the one to beat for the price. It uses German Schott glass as does Zeiss. Nikon and Leupold use Japanese glass which doesn't transmit as much light. Nikon is assembled in the Phillipines. Leupold, Conquest and ZA are assembleld in America. Minox is actually assembled in the same plant as the conquest.

The Minox ZA is clearer and has more vivid colors than the Zeiss Conquest. They are the same glass but the Zeiss has an emphasis on light transmission and the Minox optical quality so the coatings are the difference. The VX-3 is behind both on light transmition, clarity and colors.

At dusk the Leupold goes dark about 15 minutes before the Conquest but the reticle is unuseable about 12 minutes before that, just an informal sit on the porch. The Minox gives up a couple of minutes ahead of the conquest but the reticle is still good until the picture goes out. It displays color a lot longer than the other two. They were running $200 at camera land, not sure if he has them currently or not. If they were the same price as a Conquest I would buy the ZA myself for the brilliant colors. It's a lot easier to see contrast through it so it's easier to pick game out of a similar colored back drop. They also have the no fault warranty just as the others. If you catch them in stock get two for the price of the Conquest or VX-3. If not they are still pretty close to half.