There's an article in this month's Field and Stream that mentions that independent tests have shown that Leupold scopes are as clear as any European scopes. Although it doesn't say theses independent testers were.

It's easy to talk about tests if you don't have to show who did them or what criteria they used in performing them.I go on what I see for myself as after all I am the one that will be using the product.

Now DIYJ98 don't go that far ...Leupolds are great scopes for the money but the Swarovski..Schmidt are a couple of notches better.. The Zeiss conquest series I question .. new product and lots of rumours about returns on them and where there is smoke .... I had the 3x9 diavari and wasn't real impressed with it and it costs more than the current scopes in the Conquest line. My only gripe with them(german and austrian) is the dollar difference vs performance gained and the eye relief issue. Optically they are in a class by themselves. Stubble I am looking at 440 bucks for a 2.5x8x36 Varix III vs 739 for a 3x10x42 Swarovski.