model70guy ponits out one flaw with these older but nice scopes. the optics are nice and even better is the fact the adjustments generaly are very reliable and tracks well. however the one thing newer scopes generaly have over these fine made classics is the advanced lens coating for better low light performance. with these older scopes if you realy need to see in low light conditions, keep the power setting as low as that particular scope will go. the combination of lack of better lens coatings along with a smaller objective lens that most scopes of that era seem to have limits their low light gathering ability.but once you get enough light, boy are they clear.
I currently have a Scopechief VI 3-9 and an Elite 3200 3-9 (amongst others), and I'd have to agree with you on this. In anywhere like decent light the Scopechief certainly stands comparison with the Elite for clarity, and compares well in all other respects. As the light fades though the Elite shows the value of 20 years development in lens coatings, being usable when the naked eye and the Scopechief agree that it is past the last of the shooting light.
That shouldn't be unexpected, and is no criticism of the Scopechief. It is still a good scope, and I personally rate the optics in front of a number of its contemporaries and ahead of some of the less expensive modern scopes.
