Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics zeiss diavari 3-9x42 T

I know this is an older model, just looking from input from those folks that do/did use this scope.

Great scope. Glass is first class.

IIRC, they’re slightly heavier than the 3-9x40 Conquest. Some claim better glass than Conquest. To me, about the same.

DF

Not a 3-9x42 T Diavari, but a 30 mm 1.5-6x42 T that was a superb woods hunting scope. I sold that one to a buddy and bought the 1.5-6x42 V 30 mm Diavari because they took the lead out of the glass and made it lighter. Actually the T had a little smoother power adjustment ring and both scopes are first plane reticle scopes that take a little getting use to in the higher power settings. I would prefer 1/4" click adjustments, but those Diavari scopes have one centimetre adjustments at 100 meters. I'm a set it and forget it sighting in guy, so the adjustments were a moot point once I got it sighted in.

I have this exact scope on my primary deer hunting rifle in 280 Rem. It's been on that rifle for 13 years now since I bought it used. I've used it hard in about all types of deer hunting weather. Probably the absolute best all around scope I have ever used. I recheck zero every year. Never moved.

I have 3 of them. They were/are fantastic little scopes! One of my favorite hunting scopes of all time. I think the Diavari version was a bit better optically than the 3-9X Conquest that came after it, or at least I think the T* coated German-made version is. Not sure about the "MC" coated version made in the US. I especially like the fact it's much shorter than the Conquest. I always thought the Conquest was way too long for a 3-9X. They both weigh the same - 15oz. I'm constantly on the lookout for specimens for sale on eBay, Gunbroker, etc. BTW, the 3-9X Diavari-C isn't a 3-9X42; it's 3-9X36. The Zeiss Conquest 3-9 has a 40mm objective.

I had a 4X and a 3-9. They are shorter. I never weighed them, but I guess the more compact 3-9 seemed heavier than the longer Conquest. The way I mount scopes, I prefer the longer Conquests.

Traded those, kept the Conquests.

Different strokes. All good scopes.

DF

I bought a used Diavari V 1.5-6x42 T* and it’s the best hunting scope I’ve come across. I liked it so much I bought the Victory HT 1.5-6x42 for another rifle, which at that time was the current Zeiss line. Both with the #8 reticle. The Victory HT didn’t compare to the Diavari V...it maybe in my head, but the image seems much sharper and clear with the Diavari V.

I ended up selling the Victory HT and replacing it with an S&B Zenith 1.5-6x42. The Diavari V is still a better image. I’d love to get my hands on a 3-9x42.

3-9 on my Ed Brown Damara. It is a great scope.

Have the 1.5-6 on my .375 H&H.

DF

I bought a used Diavari V 1.5-6x42 T* and it’s the best hunting scope I’ve come across. I liked it so much I bought the Victory HT 1.5-6x42 for another rifle, which at that time was the current Zeiss line. Both with the #8 reticle. The Victory HT didn’t compare to the Diavari V...it maybe in my head, but the image seems much sharper and clear with the Diavari V.

I ended up selling the Victory HT and replacing it with an S&B Zenith 1.5-6x42. The Diavari V is still a better image. I’d love to get my hands on a 3-9x42. [/quote]

Yup, that's the one. My Zeiss box says Diavari V 1.5-6x42 T* with the #8 reticule. The only way I can describe it is it is like someone is standing behind you with a spotlight on your target in dim light. The resolving power is first rate even though it is only 6x max. Some years back I was watching a creek bed and a buck came out at last legal light on the far hillside. That day I was carrying my .308 with the Leupold Vari-X lll 2.5-8x36 on it and I took the shot only to have the deer take off unscathed from brush bullet deflection. The next day I was on that same hillside with my 7mm-08 with that Diavari Zeiss and one look at that same hillside showed lots of brush that I hadn't even seen through the Leupold.

Have you compared the latest Leupold to the Zeiss? Curious.

The VX-6 is very good, just not quite Zeiss Victory good.

I think the VX-6 is a bit better than the Conquest, which is pretty good.

That's just my eyeball assessment, no fancy testing.

DF

Mine actually has target knobs on it also. I was told by zeiss years ago they could convert them back. They said that configuration was popular in Northern European markets. I contacted them a few weeks ago to do that, but they were closed every time I called (virus stuff?).

Zeiss makes a good scope. I’ve got many of the older conquests, this will be the first time trying the Diavari’s.

To my eyes that sure doesn’t look like a 3-9x42. Looks like a 50mm objective to me. Likely a 2.5-10x50. 30mm tube. Pretty sure the scope the OP is asking about is a 1” tube

I think you're right. That is a 30mm scope.

I should have checked better before I posted.

Still a great scope.

DF.