Leupold or Zeiss ?
#11
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location:
Posts: 815
RE: Leupold or Zeiss ?
I think the real choice is this..does the small gain in clarity justify the price jump. For some it will, some it wont.I KNOW first hand leupold customer serv. is unbeatable, but have also heard Zeiss is great also. Leupold is american made if that matters to you.
#12
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: fort mcmurray alberta canada
Posts: 5,667
RE: Leupold or Zeiss ?
ORIGINAL: NVMIKE
I think the real choice is this..does the small gain in clarity justify the price jump. For some it will, some it wont.I KNOW first hand leupold customer serv. is unbeatable, but have also heard Zeiss is great also. Leupold is american made if that matters to you.
I think the real choice is this..does the small gain in clarity justify the price jump. For some it will, some it wont.I KNOW first hand leupold customer serv. is unbeatable, but have also heard Zeiss is great also. Leupold is american made if that matters to you.
#13
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The Wild Turkey Capitol of the World......Missouri
Posts: 1,027
RE: Leupold or Zeiss ?
ORIGINAL: NVMIKE
I KNOW first hand leupold customer serv. is unbeatable, but have also heard Zeiss is great also.
I KNOW first hand leupold customer serv. is unbeatable, but have also heard Zeiss is great also.
#14
RE: Leupold or Zeiss ?
If clarity doesn't make any difference, use open sights. Can't get any clearer than that. Any scope can magnify an image. Most scopes manufactured today are fog free, water proof and nitrogen filled even Burris. A quality scope has flawless lenses, superior lens coatings for light transmission and interior tube coatings. Shop before you buy.
#16
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: fort mcmurray alberta canada
Posts: 5,667
RE: Leupold or Zeiss ?
ORIGINAL: uncle matt
Neither - waste of money. The high dollars Leupold or Zeiss want aren't justfied. Plain and simple.
Neither - waste of money. The high dollars Leupold or Zeiss want aren't justfied. Plain and simple.
#17
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: MB.
Posts: 2,984
RE: Leupold or Zeiss ?
I have to agree with S.J. I also will pay extra for a good quality scope if it means between getting chance to shoot or not seeing anything at all, especially at critical time as dusk or dawn. With good quality optics it also make a difference when shooting in the direction of the sun at sunset or sunrise. You have a chance to see your game compared to not seeing anything at all. I know it happened to me.
#18
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Olive Branch MS USA
Posts: 1,032
RE: Leupold or Zeiss ?
I've owned and used several examples of both and there's no question the Conquest has slightly superior optics, especially in terms of it's ability to resolve detail.Personally, I'd go with the 3-9 or 3.5-10. You just don't need a higher power for deer hunting. The Z-Plex reticle is similar to the Leupold Duplex, but in my experience it's better because it's a little thicker, making it somewhat easier to see when it gets dark.Also, the Z-Plex is etched in glass instead of being made out of wire. As a result, it appears more crisp and defined.
As far as warranty is concerned, Zeiss's warranty is every bit as good as Leupold's. I returned a Conquest to Zeiss for repair a while back because Idropped my rifle onto pavement and the scope took the brunt of it. So the damage was all my fault, which I explained in my letter that accompanied the scope and I'm sure it was very obvious to them when they inspected it. I sent it on a Monday and the following Monday UPS delivered a brand new replacement at no cost to me. Now how isLeupold going to do any better than that?
I like both brands, don't get me wrong, but if it were my money I'd have to buy another Conquest.
As far as warranty is concerned, Zeiss's warranty is every bit as good as Leupold's. I returned a Conquest to Zeiss for repair a while back because Idropped my rifle onto pavement and the scope took the brunt of it. So the damage was all my fault, which I explained in my letter that accompanied the scope and I'm sure it was very obvious to them when they inspected it. I sent it on a Monday and the following Monday UPS delivered a brand new replacement at no cost to me. Now how isLeupold going to do any better than that?
I like both brands, don't get me wrong, but if it were my money I'd have to buy another Conquest.
#19
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location:
Posts: 15
RE: Leupold or Zeiss ?
Solitary, you nailed it. I went through all this same analysis over the last week since my World's Greatest Wife gave me a new T3 for our anniversary.
I loved the Z-Plex reticle for all the reasons you mentioned and the clarity was wonderful. I also liked the 44mm option for a little more FOV without the bulk of a 50mm bell. I went into this with the intention of getting a great big ol' honkin Black Diamond, but after allowing myself some time to make a good decision, I went with the Zeiss. I concur on the selection of the 3.5 to 10. I hunted the last two years with a borrowed Swarovski that had the higher power... I tried a long shot on an elk at high power, but without a bi-pod or sticks, I could not keep it still enough and it definitely hurt my confidence in my shot. So, I think the max of 10 makes more sense for open country elk hunting as well as the timber stuff.
Glad to hear you had a good warranty experience--that was one lingering doubt I had versus the Leupold stuff.
A big thanks to all who posted here for the good info. I will be looking at elk through my new Zeiss this fall if all goes right!
I loved the Z-Plex reticle for all the reasons you mentioned and the clarity was wonderful. I also liked the 44mm option for a little more FOV without the bulk of a 50mm bell. I went into this with the intention of getting a great big ol' honkin Black Diamond, but after allowing myself some time to make a good decision, I went with the Zeiss. I concur on the selection of the 3.5 to 10. I hunted the last two years with a borrowed Swarovski that had the higher power... I tried a long shot on an elk at high power, but without a bi-pod or sticks, I could not keep it still enough and it definitely hurt my confidence in my shot. So, I think the max of 10 makes more sense for open country elk hunting as well as the timber stuff.
Glad to hear you had a good warranty experience--that was one lingering doubt I had versus the Leupold stuff.
A big thanks to all who posted here for the good info. I will be looking at elk through my new Zeiss this fall if all goes right!
#20
Spike
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Bloomington mn usa
Posts: 43
RE: Leupold or Zeiss ?
I considered bothand ended up choosing the 6.5x20 VXIII LR Leupold over the Zeiss and here's why: A 30mm tube is brighter than the Zeiss 1" tube; side parallax adjustments over the Zeiss objective adjustment; and $150 cheaper.