Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Absolute best hunting scope for pure contrast, resolution, sharpness...

I tried the Zeiss V6 and found it underwhelming. The Swarovski Z6 was very similar to my Z3, which apparently is VERY good for it's price. I'm currently using a S&B Zenith which is ok, but want better.
Do I need to buy a ZCO or TT to get the optical performance I want?
Zeiss V8?
Obviously this scope would need to be durable was well. Used primarily for hunting in the dark timber and large fields in the evenings and mornings.
Being into photography, I love a great image with detail and contrast. Large field of view would be great also. Does this scope exist?

I am too poor to be able to help you with this, but I will go ahead and predict that someone will tell you that you don't want what you are looking for.

There is no best of anything! What one guy likes another finds fault with!

If the Zenith doesn't satisfy you then I don't think anything will.

Seems I recall a story about March scopes;

They set out to build the best scope that could be built with the materials & components available at the time. Then, after it was built, they put a price on it, not the usual of just building to a price point.

Did they succeed or at least make a very good attempt?

In terms of image rendition when it comes to a combination of color, contrast, resolution, etc., the very best I have tried has been the 2.3-13x56 Stratos (Schmidt Bender). The high-end Leicas are very, very similar in terms of a beautifully-rendered and vivid image.

But there's more to consider when selecting a hunting scope than what appeals to the eye.

In my opinion and for my money, the older Zeiss victory diavari scopes are about as good as it gets optically. The eyebox is fantastic and the view is immersive. Otherwise the newer Leicas on discount are quite good too.

In my experience once you get into the alphas you are splitting hairs with the optics and it becomes a personal preference for lens coatings and color perception, how they handle chromatic aberration, distortion, flare, etc.

If you are not happy with the zenith then I would not expect much better. I speak from experience of owning several alpha level scopes and binoculars. I am currently selling a SB PMii 5-25x56 that is phenomenal but I wouldn't want it in a dedicated hunting rifle. It's too big as are a lot of the newer top tier scopes with 34mm tubes.

The answer depends on the range of what you are engaging ….

If it’s more an 300 yards - Nightforce Competition is way up the scale

My Swarovski Z3 has slightly better contrast than my Zenith.

lol

If you don’t mind spending the money I would look at the ZCO 420.


Although I haven’t had it long enough to give it a fair review I have the 527. Hopefully I’ll get some time behind it soon.

Purpose for a rifle scope is to clearly see a target and enable the user to hit it, and not used for glassing. I would be more concerned with a quality Binocular suited to your situation.

If S&B won’t do it you might try TT but you’re talking piles of money there. The stratos is about the pinnacle...

Hint.

It took longer than I thought it would, but it was a certainty.

Key word, "Clearly". I prefer to more clearly see my target. Thank you for the lesson.

Nothing on this?

I don't know, thought this might fit the subject. No? A couple of their models have tempted me, even considering their cost.

Check out the March FX High Master. The glass and FOV are definitely there. The reticle options may or may not trip your trigger.

For me, the Tangent Theta LRH is it visually.

No contest. The Veronico Simplex scopes are the absolute very best at anything. Clarity, reliability, hit ability, optics, durability, weight, price. No need to look any further, these scopes are the epitome of everything we are all looking for