paulux
Well-Known Member
Well on Monday I went and bought from my gunsmith's what should've been an upgrade for my kit : a second hand in mint condition Zeiss Diavari Z 3-12x56 T (non illuminated), considered top of the range some years back.
That evening, I compared it with my Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x50mm (non illuminated), and to my surprise, even with it's 56 mm objective, I did not find the Zeiss any better for last light conditions. Both scopes set at 10 magnification, looking at distant sign posts and wood edges in the fading light, to my eye the Leupold glass was just as bright, and had the same resolution and coloration as the Zeiss. I actually found the Leupold better in many ways : more comfortable to my eye, with a better eye relief and more tolerance to sideway eye placement, and the Heavy Duplex reticle was more visible than the variable German 4 reticle.
Now that confirmed somehow what I have experienced with my two Leupolds VX-3 3.5-10x50 since 2014 : they do really well in poor light conditions.
It still was a surprise, because I keep reading how the top of the range Zeiss, Scmidt and Bender, Swarovski, Kahles are so much better for low light than other brands. Maybe that is not as true any more, when brands like Leupold, Meopta, Nikon, Vortex to name a few, and many others, have greatly improved their glass.
So this is my recommendation if you're needing a first light/ last light scope : before you go and spend thousands on a German or Austrian scope, consider better value for money options.
I personally have chosen Leupolds, both because they are lightweight and I prefer their non illuminated reticles over the reticles of other brands.
In my experience, the VX3i 3-10x50 (non illuminated) is a paradise of a poor light scope : it's glass is outstanding, it weighs only 400 grams, it's compact (31 cm long), and the Leupold Duplex and specially the Heavy Duplex reticles are visible until dark. It's to me a great value for money low light scope, sold around 410 - 470 US dollars in the US at the moment.
If you prefer a fixed power scope, maybe consider the Leupold FX-3 6x42mm ?
And if you prefer an illuminated reticle and a 56 mm objective, maybe consider the VX-3i 3.5-10x56mm IR ? That must be some bright scope !
Have any of you tried those ?
Ps The gunsmith kindly took back the Zeiss.
Pps The 2016 Leupold VX-3i glass showed to my eyes no improvement over the 2014 Leupold VX-3 one. I also have two VX-3(i) 4.5-14x50mm, and though they are crisp clear, they do not do as well in the last minutes of light even on lower mag, and they are not as comfortable to use.
That evening, I compared it with my Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x50mm (non illuminated), and to my surprise, even with it's 56 mm objective, I did not find the Zeiss any better for last light conditions. Both scopes set at 10 magnification, looking at distant sign posts and wood edges in the fading light, to my eye the Leupold glass was just as bright, and had the same resolution and coloration as the Zeiss. I actually found the Leupold better in many ways : more comfortable to my eye, with a better eye relief and more tolerance to sideway eye placement, and the Heavy Duplex reticle was more visible than the variable German 4 reticle.
Now that confirmed somehow what I have experienced with my two Leupolds VX-3 3.5-10x50 since 2014 : they do really well in poor light conditions.
It still was a surprise, because I keep reading how the top of the range Zeiss, Scmidt and Bender, Swarovski, Kahles are so much better for low light than other brands. Maybe that is not as true any more, when brands like Leupold, Meopta, Nikon, Vortex to name a few, and many others, have greatly improved their glass.
So this is my recommendation if you're needing a first light/ last light scope : before you go and spend thousands on a German or Austrian scope, consider better value for money options.
I personally have chosen Leupolds, both because they are lightweight and I prefer their non illuminated reticles over the reticles of other brands.
In my experience, the VX3i 3-10x50 (non illuminated) is a paradise of a poor light scope : it's glass is outstanding, it weighs only 400 grams, it's compact (31 cm long), and the Leupold Duplex and specially the Heavy Duplex reticles are visible until dark. It's to me a great value for money low light scope, sold around 410 - 470 US dollars in the US at the moment.
If you prefer a fixed power scope, maybe consider the Leupold FX-3 6x42mm ?
And if you prefer an illuminated reticle and a 56 mm objective, maybe consider the VX-3i 3.5-10x56mm IR ? That must be some bright scope !
Have any of you tried those ?
Ps The gunsmith kindly took back the Zeiss.
Pps The 2016 Leupold VX-3i glass showed to my eyes no improvement over the 2014 Leupold VX-3 one. I also have two VX-3(i) 4.5-14x50mm, and though they are crisp clear, they do not do as well in the last minutes of light even on lower mag, and they are not as comfortable to use.