For the purpose you stated I would buy the VX-3i. The Zeiss is a nice scope but to my eyes it is not brighter than the VX-3i, and the 15X top magnification is simply not needed. A friend has the Conquest HD5 and it is pretty good for a 1" tube scope but most probably overpriced even with the sale price. I have used the VX-3i scopes since they were introduced and think they are quite good quality for the price.
To do much better than the two scopes you listed I believe you would have to go up to a 30 mm tube such as the VX-6 line of Leupold.
Look through the scopes with your own eyes. Whatever pleases my eye may not please yours.