Nah, not so much any more John I don’t think. The best of the rest have made massive advances in glass quality over the last 10 years, the last 5 in particular. Back in the day I’d have agreed with you 100%, there were many times in southern Africa as a poor young fella that I envied the binos and scopes of the top brass, I’d see very clearly at sunset and dawn the difference between what I could afford and what they could afford.
But these days? Every now and then I’ll get a chance to have a look through some posh binos in the twilight, binos or scopes maybe costing double or even 3-4 times what I’d be happy to pay for hard use hunting glass, these days I don’t see anything like the gulf in quality any more. That’s why some of the recent new brands of the scene have suddenly become so successful globally, pervasive in every market, they’ve spotted the gap and done a damn good job of filling it.
I’ll not claim that the likes of top end Vortex models etc are the same as the top end brands like Leica, Zeiss etc, just a damn sight closer than a lot of blokes will care to admit once they’ve shelled out thousands on posh stuff. Its the relative difference in cost vs optical performance that’s changed so much recently, in favour of the more budget minded tight arse buggers like me. Doubtless all the top end glass aficionados will come out and bury me in withering condescension but you know that won’t worry me in the slightest!