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Are these really worth the $400-$500 they cost?

Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40

I have usually bought scopes in the $100- $125 range.. so this would be a big step up price wise..

For the $399 that the 3-9x40 Conquest runs new, it is probably the best bang for your buck at this price point. To my eyes, it is significantly better optically than the VXIII Leupolds in the same price range, however I haven't had a chance look through the newest Leupold VX3s.

It will be a major step up in performance compared to your prior scopes.

Are they worth it? Yes.

Is it the nicest scope you will ever own? Yes.

And I've been using Leupolds for 33 years...

I think they are easily worth the price increase.

Buy it from Cameraland and get the $369 demo model. It will be a huge step up.

A big step up in optical performance as well

Yes it is worth $400. Spent some time behind a VX3 and Conquest recently and, to my eyes, the Conquest is still better. Not by a whole lot, but was noticable to me. Then again, it is bigger and heavier which can be downsides depending on what you're looking for.

Yes, they are worth it....you will really see the difference the older you get. I use to buy less expensive scopes but those days are long gone as well as my 20/15 vision

It's worth it. IMHO, there is a bigger difference between any $100 scope and a conquest than there is between a conquest and most of the premium euro scopes.

I have 5 Leupolds and bought a Zeiss Conquest 3-9 with the Z600 reticle this year...Why did I wait so lonng...I love that scope!! I'm not getting rid of my Loopies but I tend to 'go to' the Zeiss, sharpe, clear and it has a 'range finding' recticle with hold hash marks.

Your gonna think you've done died and gone to heaven.

It's a very user-friendly scope. Long, constant eye relief. Really grabs your eye at low power settings (big eye box). And the clarity, resolution, and contrast are typical Conquest- really, really good.

I've bought 3-4 demo Conquests from Doug at Cameraland. Buy with confidence.

In the same way you have to try on a specific pair of shoes to see how well they fit you, you must also go look through different scopes to see which ones match your eyes. Though you can see a definite trend from the replies above, you must still let your eyes be the judge.

When I got back into hunting/shooting in adulthood, I decided to "go all out", and I bought a $299 Leupold VXII 3-9x40. I was surprised that the view didn't seem all that much better than the Tasco I'd had when I was 12. I went on a couple o' hunts with it, then decided to upgrade. I compared a VXIII, Bushnell 4200, and a Conquest, all in 3-9x40. My eyes found the Conquest to be clearly ahead of the other 2, and WORLDS ahead of the VXII.

I believe a hunter can find an entirely satisfactory scope for $150 - $200. I also believe the vast majority of hunters will see an amazing difference when they step up to the $400 level. I can't guarantee you'll kill any more critters than you would have, or that they'll be any more dead. But you just may discover a newfound confidence in your rifle/scope combination, and that confidence is worth a lot. To me, anyway.

Get thee to a store, check 'em out, then report back on YOUR findings!

Good Luck,

FC

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Thanks for the catch, Mathman. What are (were) those VX-III's, anyway: 3- 10, or some such? Let's just say, "I compared all three, in roughly equivalent magnification ranges...".

No need to edit the results that I saw.

FC

3.5-10x40 is the one.

The Conquests are a really good value if their size suits the application.

You're right-on about the size. If they could slim-down that eyepiece, and make 'em a bit shorter & lighter, they'd have the world in their pocket.

I haven't personally had a problem with the size/weight of my Conquests, but there's no getting around how sexy a Leupold VX3 2-8, or VXII 6x36 looks atop a rifle. Grrrrr, baby!

FC

Amen!
They are worth every penny of the price.
4" eye relief, big eye box, meaning fast one target.
Excellent glass.
I have one and love it.

That is my favorite scope! So, they are like a bonus @ $400.

I certainly can't argue with all the other excellent comments about the Zeiss Conquest 3-9, since I've never used one for hunting. Awhile back, I almost bought one, even though I have for the most part used fixed power scopes for hunting. The one thing I noticed about the 2-3 Zeiss 3-9's that I looked through in sporting good stores was that these scopes blacked out, if I didn't have my eye in an exact (and small) area behind the scope. In other words, they seemed to me to be unforgiving about eye placement. I must add that it's been a few years since I've looked through the Zeiss. So, maybe this is no longer the case. Not to get into a Leupold vs the World discussion but the Leupold 6 x 42 FX III I have is extremely forgiving about eye placement. Has anyone else noticed this with the Zeiss 3-9 or is this not the case with recent production of these scopes? Thanks.