I purchased a new VX-III from a local retail store a few months ago and did not realize at the time that the VX-3 was a newer/different scope. Can someone please tell me what improvements were supposedly made to the VX-3 that makes it different/better?

There are changes such as different coatings and a different erector system. I would not fret over it, you would probably have to look very hard to see the difference in the field.

While the differences between the VXII and the VXIII were pretty small, the only signifcant one being the finger tip adjustment dials on the VXIII, the differences between the VXIII and the VX3 are significant.
The VX3 uses Leupold's super tough Diamond Coat Coatings which are many times harder than conventional coatings. They have also made some improvements in controlling stray light inside the scope. If you use your scopes alot and have to clean them often, this is well worth having.
The scope is purged with a different gas mixture which is suppose to improve it's waterproof quality. The adjustment dials use dual springs and improved internal parts which make them more accurate, and longer lasting for those that do alot of dialing.
As far as I know, there are no improvements in ruggedness.
The VX3, 3.5-10X40 model has been reported to have both shorter and closer together eye relief qualities, basically a fixed eye relief design with a difference of about .4 between 3.5X and 10X. Don't know if the other VX3 models have also been changed.
Is there a difference in what you can see ? I've got a FX3 and some older M8, 6X42's. Nothing I can see in daylight. Haven't run them side by side at night.
I understand the above mentioned VX3 now resolves as well as a Zeiss Conquest 3-8X40. A small improvement, but one you can see if carefully tested. E

This may not be complete, but my take on the differences between the two is, the VX-3 has had some internal improvements done to handle stray light, and added improved adjustments. IIRC, the glass remains unchanged between the VX-III and the VX-3. The fast focus eye piece may be an improvement too. I don't have a VX-3 handy to check.
Others, more knowledgeable may have some additions.
I think the difference in price between the two indicates that there really isn't that much difference w/r improvements in the VX-3.

Or could it be Leupold got the message that the 4200 and Conquest were eating into their market share at this performance level and they better offer up more at a relatively familiar price?

I have both and hunted the new VX3 2.5-8 this year in Wyoming and NH.The scope also saw a bunch of range time.

I am told the VX3 has dual erector springs(or whatever you call them),instead of just one spring as in the VX III;they also supposedly did something to the windage and elevation assemblies or some such to make them more repeatable and reliable.I can only tell you mine sighted easily,handled the travel and hunting well,and helped put the bullets where they should go at about 340 yards out west.

To my eyes, the VX3 optics seem more contrasty than the VX III's,ie., I could see better with the glass on the VX3,including right until "dark thirty" during some gloomy New England afternoons out to 300-350 yards or so.My two cents...

Lol... how many times will this be brought up?

Actually, the different gas mixture has very little to do with waterproofing. It has a different molecular structure that makes it less prone to leakage vs. straight nitrogen gas. The newer gas mixture also is said to help internal fogging when going quickly to and from large temperature changes or what Leupold refers to it as "thermal shock".

While the use of dual erector springs does make the adjustments more accurate it also should make the scope more durable as well as it holds the erector assembly more firmly in place and at two points instead of one. That is a good thing.

I think what we need here is a detailed statement from Leupold on the improvements of the VX-3 as compared to the VX-III.
I looked thru my files and can find nothing detailing the differences, like I have that lists improvements of the VX-III over the Vari-X III.
Bob brings up a good point about the springs. I wasn't aware of that.
I'm trying to compile a list of the differences now.
Guys above have other good points too.
One thing I do know, and that is, the VX-3 I recently bought in 1.5-5x had adjustment knobs that were virtually impossible to turn... :(I sent it back to Leupold on 23Dec for them to "fix".
Same song as with the power adjustment ring on a VX-II in 3-9x I have. It needs to go back for that issue too. But, the power adjust ring on my VX-3 is marginally adequate, so I didn't lean on Leupold to have that "fixed".
My thrust in all of my recent rants about Leupold's quality is to get them to correct these deficiences during the production process, rather than sending the problems to the customer, forcing him return the new scope for "fixing". I consider that BS.

The hard to turn power selector ring is kind of a Leupold trademark. Someone should ask them why that is before they patent it as an innovation.

In the past 3 VX-3's I have bought, I feel as though I'm the Research and Development Department for Leupold. I really like the VX-3's but have to purchase them to test them is getting ridiculous. These were purchased over a 3 month period. I like Leupold but am becoming less fond of them.....All 3 were returned for repair and 2 are going back again! It's getting to be an inconvenience to purchase new.

Venting complete!

The VX-3 is a step up on the VX-III in resolution, clarity and overall easier on the eyes.

I don't worry one iota about Leupold and the difference between VX-3 verses VX-2 verses VX-111 etc. I purcashed several Leupold scope a couple years ago in VX-2 and VX-3 models. Now after being in the field, I could see NO difference between either of them, well perhaps just a tad in a very low light situation but come on hunters, how many shoot deer in the dark? I just don't need that extra 2 to 5 minutes of being able to see in the field. Next time I wanted a Leupold scope it was the VX-2 that came to my home. I saved a lot of money and never needed those so called extra great scope coatings.

The simple fact is that many deer and elk are killed during the first and last few minutes of legal light.And legal light is from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset in some locations.

Sorry if I'm beating a dead horse but when you try and search for anything with Leupold in it on the optics forum, a gazillion results pop up.

For years I was not what I would call a "low light" hunter,because I climbed,and walked pretty constantly,shot much of my game in full daylight,or otherwise pretty favorable light conditions,etc.So a scope's low light performance was not very important to me,and te emphasis for me was on light carry weight and enough power to get the job done....

But.....the last few years finds me spending more time in Alberta each season;some of this hunting still involves the same kind of hunting I always did;however,much of the hunting(the really important times of the day)are generally done under declining light conditions;and mature Canadian bucks of either species tend to be VERY nocturnal,sneak out into those fields at the very last moment available,and it seems the bigger they are,the later they show.....

...to the point where inability to see has cost a buddy a chance at a couplke of real muy grandes that he could not see well enough to shoot......

My best Alberta buck was taken at last light,but running across a field against snow....I could have killed him through a coke bottle....but next time, I might not have snow,and I might not get so lucky.....

I am paying more attention to low light performance now,than I did in years past....so I agree with Stubblejumper on this issue....he lives where I go to hunt.....

If you see no difference between the VX-II and VX-3, I don't know as I would want to hunt around you!! I could give Iota as to what you can see but, obviously not much...

Call Leupold or possibly go on line and ask for a free current product catalog. It will pretty much answer your questions on VX-3 upgrades on two pages.

Or call and ask a technical rep. and get it straight from Leupold. Will not be the first time they have been asked.

Not that difficult with a little effort.

I have Leupys from each of the last four decades, and all my Vari-X II's/VX-II's in 2x7 since the 80's were hard to turn. My Vari-X II 3-9's, dating from the late 70's through the late 90's are not hard to turn. My Vari-X III 2.5-8's from the 90's are easy to turn, and the "knob" on the magnification ring sure is nice--Luepy should put those on the VX-II's.

As an aside, my 1978 vintage 3-9 Luepy has plenty of lowlight capability--I can't really see where there is an appreciable advantage over my latest Leupys.........

Casey

I, for one, have not found this so called "dying" at the last of the light by rifle scopes. That includes going well into full darkness after sun down or long before legal shooting hours at sunrise.
If the scope is properly focused, and the magnification is properly selected, they work. All of them. Even the older scopes with the so called single coatings.
The differences are very much magnifcation related. The more magnifcation you can use, the further you can see under a given set of light conditions. Light conditions vary alot, BTW.
The other thing is whatever limitation your eyes have. As it gets darker, you turn down the magnmification to increase the exit pupil. But, if your eyes have lost some of your night vision ability, presumably you can't use anything with a large exit pupil. I say presumably because mine work all the way down to 6X with a 40mm scope. That's on nights too dark to use 7X on the same scope.
Another thing some don't understand is the role of the reticle. It seems that some of them fade out before you loose too much of the image to make a shot.
Still another is the quant idea that if you can see certain fine details in your expensive binoculars, your scope should also show you the same details. Not always.
Just a few things to keep in mind when reasearching your needs in this area. E

That's because you are a "Night Seeing Marvel"

All scopes will quit at a certain point, I can demonstrate this on every hunt. I'm usually in the woods a full hour and a half before shooting light, I can assure you my scopes won't work then.

The key is the good scopes will outlast the average ones in fading light and quite frankly these are the most precious minutes when it comes to animal movement. For those that dismiss that a scope doesn't quit . . . well that's just hogwash.

Hey bro, what's with the attitude? I already apologized for stirring up a crapstorm. If I wanted to ask Leupold I would have called them. I visit this forum for the wealth of knowledge here and contribute when I can. I thought that's what forums like these were all about. Anyway, thanks for the info and if I am taking your comments the wrong way I apologize up front.

Funny you mention that. I recently acquired three new VX-IIs in 3-9x40. I was pleasantly surprised to find that one of them had an adjustment ring that turned easily enough. Other two were typical Leupold monkey tight. I do wish they'd fix that issue.

Very true. A good quality bino will always show you more than a riflescope, assuming they have sufficient exit pupil.

I haven't seen any model Leupold scope that had an easy to turn power ring. I'm surprised they haven't come up with a solution to that especially when you consider all that have been sent in for the repair that come back better in that regard.

Yes, you took them the wrong way, but an apology not necessary.
Just trying to have you get the answers you want without the extra bs.

A Leupold catalog is also a nice reference to have around to answer your own and others questions.

Thanks battue.