Does the VX6 have better optics than the VX3 or swaro Z3?
I just had a friend here at the campfire do a coparison between my VX6, Z3, Conquest, Kahles, and a Diavari. I asked him earlier if it was Ok to copy and paste his personal analysis, so I'll give you the highlights......
in his words "Just a quick report/observation.
None of the scopes were attached to a rifle. Stacked two at a time on a tripod. Viewed my electric meter on pole at 80 yards.
Zeiss Victory Diavari
Easily apparent that the Diavari is optically superior to the VX6. Whether it's worth twice the price of the VX6.... no way! I got my two 2.5-10x42mm Diavari's for under 1200, so for a 200-300 difference I'd choose the Diavari as I prefer the clarity, brightness, resolution, and reticle.
Swarovski Z3 3-10x42mm
My oldest boy and I went back and forth with this scope and VX6 for a good 30 minutes. The Swaro is brighter and resolves a tad better.
Zeiss Conquest 3-9x42mm
VX6 edges the Conquest out. VX6 is brighter and resolution and clarity is just a tad better.
VX6 does however have the best FOV over all the scopes viewed. Eye relief and eye box (even non-rifle mounted on tripod) was noticeably better."
He then decided to keep it a little longer, mount it, and do some low light testing........he had this to say after that:"I'm going to hang a wt deer mount out in the woods on a tree, and use it as my control/baseline for the testing. The area I hunt is thick with Oak, Hickory, and Blackjack trees. The 30 minutes after legal sunset should prove to be practical test.
The scopes I'm going to test against the VX6:
Zeiss Victory Diavari 2.5-10x42mm
Schmidt and Bender Klassic 3-12x42mm
Swarovski Z3 3-10x42mm
Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40mm
My Kahles CSX has a 50mm objective, so I'm not going to run it against the VX6.
OK, did a field test this late afternoon through sunset.
As previously mentioned, the Zeiss Victory Diavari is clearly optically superior. No contest, and readily apparent.
The Zeiss Conquest is clearly a step below the VX6.
So the battle was between the VX6 and the Swarovski Z3 3-10x42mm
During normal daylight, both scopes appear to be almost a draw. The Swaro did edge it out (barely), but I feel this could be subject. Really too close to call.
However, once the sun goes down, it's a different story. Testing the scopes side by side 10 minutes after legal sunset showed that the Swarovski does indeed edge out the VX6. The Swaro appears brighter, and the resolution is better.
Both my oldest son (age 16.5) and myself concur. I did not tell him my opinion and observations until after he gave me his findings to ensure he wasn't influenced by my observation.
As stated previously, the VX-6 has the most generous eye relief, eye box, and FOV. It's quite easy to get behind, and the FOV is simply wonderful.
Even though the Swarovski Z3 is optically better, one would still have no difficulty with killing game 30 minutes past sunset with the VX6."
Hopefully he will read this thread and offer his insight as well. I didn't have it in my possession very long before I sent it to him. I did compare it, although not real long and hard like I plan to, to my 44mm Conquest, my neighbors 42mm Swaro A, and my VX3 3.5-10x40. I found the optics better in the VX6 than the Conquest and VX3 (but both get me past legal light), and very, very close to the Swaro A. This is through my 51 yr old eyes, and obviously your eyes may see it differently. One thing in which there is no doubt, however, is what he touched on......the eyebox, FOV and just overall user friendliness of the VX6 is fantastic. The eye relief at higher ranges is not nearly as critical as the others. The euro focuser is great as well, and everything that is supposed to spin and twist does so very smoothly. Another thing, if you're into yardage or MOA dials, the MOA dial that comes with it pops up and down to reset the zero. The two free CDS dials you can order do not pop up and down, but are a lower profile than the VX3 version. I revolution of the dial is 20 MOA. As he also said, i find it very easy to "get behind". I'll post some more in a week or two when I get it mounted and dialed in in case someone cares. I paid $799 for my VX6, so you can decide for yourself if it's a good value or not. I personally don't buy into any manufacturers marketing hype, not swaro, leupold, zeiss, etc. I always look through them and make up my own mind and decide whether it's a keeper or not.
