Here's my point of view. I have been looking for a new scope for about 2 to 3 months. I dont have near as much money as you have, so I ended up buying a Nikon Buckmaster 4-12x50. However, I did look into saving about $400 extra to get the "PREMIER SCOPE BRANDS". I have looked at every scope, their details, and anything you would want to know about them. I found a brand called Doctor Optics. It was once part of the Zeiss corporation, but now is its own dealer. I almost bought one of there scopes. I first saw them at Cabelas.com, and became interested. They sell the ideal scope that (as far as I know is not carried by the Zeiss Conquest) is 3-12x56. Plus, it is not selling for over $1,000. If I read correctly you are using Canadian Currency. I do not know how 1,000 Canadian dollars converts to U.S. Dollars. But the Docter Optics scope I mentioned above cost about $680. It is probably the best deal for a high quality European/German Scope. Also, if you have enough money, you may want to check out the new Leupold's that have come out. It is called the Leupold LPS Series. It states that it gathers 99.5% of the light. THAT IS THE BEST I HAVE SEEN ON THE MARKET! The only problem is that you have to pay alot more. You can probably find it cheaper than Cableas, but I did not waste my time searching. It costs around $990 at Cableas.

GOOD HUNTING

Doctor Optic scope (30 mm tube)