Was looking over at MidwayUSA and the older Leupolds are pretty much cleared out, with new blurbs and coming soon on the VX I and VX II's. Here's a copy and paste of the new stuff. No new photos yet, hope they don't ugly them up.

1. VX II
The next generation Leupold VX-2 redefines high performance, durability and value. Featuring the Index Matched Lens system with lead free glass and edge blackened lenses, the VX-2 offers the brightest, most vivid and unsurpassed clarity of any rifle scope. Finger adjustable 1/4 MOA click windage and elevation adjustments allow quick and precise zeroing. A custom Dial System is available on 8 VX-2 models and provides increased long range accuracy. With Leupolds industry leading waterproofing with Argon/Krypton filling, you can be sure your scope can withstand anything mother nature throws its way. The sleek, classic lines and stylish gold medallion create a durable scope that is as functional as it is aesthetically pleasing. The ergonomic eye piece is now a true fast focus without the hassle of adjusting a lock ring. These scopes are covered by the unsurpassed Leupold lifetime warranty.

2. VX I
The redesigned Leupold VX-1 series is better than ever. Leupold has fine tuned the VX-1 by adding all the details that make a Leupold top in class. The new industrial body includes a streamlined eye piece that tapers down smoothly to the lock ring, all without sacrificing the classic Leupold style. Using the power selection ring is easier than ever with the added grip of the raised finger tab. Turrets are all finger adjustable and come with turret caps. Leupold has combined premium optical performance with environmental friendliness by using 100% lead free glass in all the VX-1 scopes. The lead free MultiCoat 4 lens system provides a premium sight picture and optimal light gathering ability. The classic Leupold rifle scope has been enhanced with a gold plated medallion that carries the Leupold symbol on the turret. The bottom of the turret also displays the product identification, and proudly displaying that your scope was American designed, machined and assembled. The VX-1 line comes with lens covers and is covered by Leupolds lifetime warranty.

Appears the VX-2 is what the VX III was and the VX-1 is what the VX II was or darn close. A little shuffing as they did last time. How does the new VX-2 compare to the contiued(?) VX III? All perhaps to get pricing more competive with those taking market share away?

I thought I read somewhere that leaded glass was better than the tree hugger non lead, but optics companies seem to be trying to sell that as a good thing.

at the rate the vx 6 comes out, we might see these models 2 years from now.

Thanks for the heads up. I'll watch for retailers to dump the current VX-2's and maybe snatch a 2x7 cheap enough to have a reticle change for less $$$ overall.

I just went to Leupold's custom shop site and very few options for scopes are listed. Looks like several lines are up for a change.

Boo! No thanks. I'm perfectly happy with the "hassle" of the current lock rings. The fast focus means that it just may unfocus itself while hunting.

+1, that is about the only thing I really liked about Leupold is the locking eyepiece. Wonder if the VX1 will now have click adjust?

I hate the locking eyepiece!!!!!! its adjustment is so fine that your eyes start to strain before you can realize is it better 2 turns back or 1 more turn ahead.

Nothing more useless on a hunting scope than the fast focus eyepiece. Yet rely on industry to sell it as an improvement

Well it makes sense.

They had to do SOMETHING to the VX-1 series to make them at equal to the Redfields scopes in features.

If the new VX 1 scopes have the locking ring and the finger adjustable click turrets, I would rather have one of them than the new VX-2s..

I like the sound of the new VXI; looks like finger adjustable clicks, Multicoat 4 and still has a lock ring ocular. Much like the current model VX II's for a lower price. I could buy one of these.

Same here!

Think they could come out with some sort of new name?

Leupold for sale..

"What model V, VX, VX1, VX-1, etc."

Just got a sale catalog from Cabelas. VX-1 and VX-2's being sold at discount prices there as well. About $30 off regular price.

Sounds like a winner to me. Let's hope it is sold at a lower price than the current VX II's.

If you hunt where you can shoot a buck at 75 yards or 350 yards the fast focus is very nice especially if you have to shoot thru a hole in the brush on the edge of timber 350 yards away. Or if you are checking out a rack at 350 yards. IMHO
Buckfever1

If I'm checking out a rack at 350 yards, I'm using binoculars.

buckfever1,

How do you gain anything by fast focusing in the field? I have tried several times and don't seem to get things any sharper once I get the crosshair sharp and use the sidefocus or A.O.

By the way I'm with you on checking horns with the scope. A few weeks ago I found a buck with my binos. I could not tell what it was without looking though the scope. which I turned up to 16X. It was a three by four at 192 yards.

The next day I found a couple spikes. I could not make sure one had no fork without putting the scope on them. It had to be a spike.

Binocs are good but limited.

2 eyes are better than one.......or at least mine always worked that way.

If one has a bino on the same power as a riflescope (monocular) than I believe the bino view will give more detail, assuming equal glass quality.

Years ago, I had a 'doe' turn into a button buck one morning after checking him out a long time while standing broadside 100 yds away, using a 4-14x Leupold - on 14x. Same thing on a 200 yd deer using a 6BR that I had mounted a 6-24x 4200, on 24x.

Optics in general have limitations - and cannot be 100% fool proof in identifying all details in the field on game, IME.

I was thinking the same thing. Fast-focus eyepieces save me 10-15 seconds on initial set-up, but then, I never fiddle with the eyepiece after that for years. Unless I'm handing the rifle to someone else to shoot, what's the real benefit of this "feature"???

The VX2 didn't really need anything (other than a $50 price reduction). I can't believe Leupold's been making the VX1 for so long without click adjustments.

Let me add that if the deer in question is in the brush and I'm not sure whether it is a big buck, a doe, or a human, the binos are coming out. If I see a lot of rack (the deer kind) and it's about to head over the ridge, the rifle is coming up.

I hope they get it right this time. Apparently, they are experiencing a failure rate that could almost be called epic! They are running 3 weeks behind just to look at stuff because there are so many warranty items coming in. My buddy sent a scope in a week or two ago and they wouldn't even sign for the delivery! Kinda like an emergency room refusing to let the ambulance unload because they are too busy.

When they finally accepted his scope, three days later, they told him that they had a real problem and that they were overwhelmed with repairs. I don't think I would buy one right now until I started hearing good things again.

You might try focusing the reticle and then focusing the image with the ocular, not the AO or the side focus/parallax knob. You'll probably find that the scopes you use will show a good bit more.
Fast focus scopes come in handy at night when the ranges are short as in dark nights. They also help folks with less than great vison and/or scopes with alot of magnification and the short depths of focus that go with that extra magnification.
I don't care for them. Probably because I use 4-6X scopes. E.

That's very interesting, because I sent two in this past Monday. A 4.5-14 for repair (A.O. focus issue), and a 3-9 for an M1 up turret. A nice lady from Leupold called me last night (Friday) saying I should expect them back early next week.

It's hunting season. That is why they are behind.

No "epic" failure rate..

More internet silliness/conjecture at work. Use your brain.

this is just why leupold marketing is BS

The current sales catalog has the VX-I and VX-II reduced but the sale is even better online. I picked up two this week and used their latest coupon of 15.00 off a purchase of 150.00 or more. Shipping is of course free.

Hard to beat those prices.... Unless you're not a fan.

You are using the word "if" and earlier you mentioned two eyes are better than one. Therefore this falls into hypothetical. Binos can not compete with a good scope with more magnification. Give it a rest.

"E"
I have tried what you are suggesting just like the Swarovski custormer service suggested. After minutes and minutes and minutes of trial, it does not work. Getting the crosshair as sharp as I can and then fiddling with the A.O. or S.D. does work.

Leupold's story, not mine. Conversation went something like this :"We have so many scopes in for repair that we are 18 weeks behind", "Lot's of failed scopes?", "Yes." "That's not good.","No it isn't, we have to sort some things out, we have been getting way to many scopes back."

This was with the 4.5-14 VX3 that the turret came out of when taking the cap off.

I have always liked Leupold scopes but there have been a lot more failures recently than I can remember hearing about in the past.

Just saying...

Fast focus ring is what I like. And my older eyes too. Very easy to use. And loosing focus, not anything to bother about. Never had any problems with them on my Zeiss and Swarovski scopes. Well done Leupold.

I sent a very old 3-9 in for repair Oct 2 and got it back Oct 11 and they warned me it was hunting season so things would be slow?

Was making a sales call on a large hunting outfitter supply house and happened to ask about how many Leupy's they were getting back.

He had well over a dozen that had come in just in the last 3 weeks.
I asked if most looked to be damaged from negligence and he said, "canted reticles and tracking problems" and rolled his eyes.

He said they had a rash of misaligned reticles, so much so, that they started opening boxes and checking them before making them available for sale.

Just one place, but I found that pretty informative. If I need a scope that will be left alone after being sighted in, a Leupold Hunting scope is fine.

If I'm twisting turrets, I'll buy something else.

JM

"Nothing more useless on a hunting scope than the fast focus eyepiece. Yet rely on industry to sell it as an improvement"

If it's like the Zeiss it is a great feature for folks who wear no line byfocals and can't shoot with them on. I use Zeiss so I can adjust the eyepiece for my vision and hunt without my glasses being it's a real pain to wear them and look through my binos and scope with them on.

I just bought a VX-1 not knowing of the new model. I got it for $170 and i'm happy with it.

I'm not a fan of quick focus, so i'm glad I got one of the old ones.

Is the vx-ii equal to the VX-II? Is the VX-I equal to the new VX-1 which is now equal to the Redfield? Is the VX-2 superior to the VX-III or the vx-iii. How about the Mark 4's and VX-7s? I don't think there is a VX-VII to compare it to or a vx-iiiiiii.

Inquiring minds want to know.