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eyebox testing, big game, conqest/vx-iii/nikon

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dougwx12 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dougwx12 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: eyebox testing, big game, conqest/vx-iii/nikon
    Posted: March/20/2009 at 21:59
First post.  I've been stressing over which scope to put on a .300 weatherby.  Idaho, shots from 25 yards on out to way way far.  Seven pound rifle without scope, hard kicker, lots of hiking up and down, and often needing to get on target quickly.  I currently have a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 sitting in the safe to try on it, but the new VX-3 was intriguing.  I'm pretty much an optics cheapie/novice.

Posts on this board and others seem don't seem to clear up the confusion much.  Instead, they egg me to ever higher price points in the pursuit of perfection that I likely do not need.

So, I decided to try and get some numbers to put behind this "leupold has an insanely better eyebox and ok optics" dilemma.  So I tried a quick viewing test at dusk, which I'd never tried before, and then used a sheet of paper and the edge of a workbench to measure the exact eyebox of the four scopes I had handy.  In terms of viewing a distant hill at dusk, the results were shocking to me, but no doubt unexpected to y'all.  Done at 4x for all, and ranked in order of best to worst:

1) Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40, great (best this novice has ever seen.)
2) Nikon Team Primos 3-9x40, really good (surprising)
3) Leupold VX-III 2.5-8x36, surprisingly BAD.  Much dimmer, and I could not get it to anything but a soft focus, thereby making it even worse.
4) Bushnell Banner 3-9x40, even worse than the leupold, but not by a big margin.

Alright, so that was pretty telling . Onwards to the eyebox test.  These are given as ranges from my eye, nearest point with full resolution to farthest, and then the difference in parens.  Also all at 4x, and ranked from best to worse:

1) Leupold VX-III, 2 - 4 1/4" (2.25")
2) Nikon Team Primos, 1 7/8" - 3 5/8" (1.75")
3) Zeiss Conquest, 2 1/4" - 3 7/8" (1.63")
4) Bushnell Banner, 1 3/8" - 2 1/2" (1.13")

Leupold does win by quite a bit in that race.  But after looking through them all at dusk, I'm thinking maybe I'll just live with the heavy and ungainly and maybe less than ideal eyebox of the Zeiss.  Though I do still have to wonder if the leupold can get on target faster from less than ideal shooting positions.  I guess it's time to take 'em walking.

Any other tests you guys think I should be doing?  Or feedback on what's most ideal for my conditions?
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medic52 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote medic52 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/20/2009 at 22:22
Just go with the ZEISS...................
"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him." G.K. Chesterton
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3_tens View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 3_tens Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/21/2009 at 11:18
Like the saying goes if you can't see it, you can't shoot it. Go withe the Zeiss you have. No extra spent and the best view.
Folks ain't got a sense of humor no more. They don't laugh they just get sore.

Need to follow the rules. Just hard to determine which set of rules to follow
Now the rules have changed again.
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huff143 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote huff143 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/21/2009 at 12:53
So, were you looking through a VX-III or a VX-3, because there is a pretty significant difference.  Either way, if you already own the Zeiss just stick in on your rifle and head to the range.  If it doesn't smack you between the eyes then you're set!
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RONK View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RONK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/21/2009 at 13:06
Great first Post!
 Welcome to a great site!
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dougwx12 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dougwx12 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/21/2009 at 14:17
vx-iii, not vx-3 (got it on clearance for another rifle.)  I had been considering returning the Zeiss on a new vx-3, but given the dusk performance of the vx-iii, is the vx-3 that much of a difference?

The only reason I'd consider switching would be weight and the more forgiving eyebox.  I'm clearly sold on the clarity/brightness of the Zeiss, and will likely just stick with it.  But I may not buy any more Leupolds in the future, given the $$/performance.
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hunter12345 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hunter12345 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/21/2009 at 15:33
I have a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 mounted on a 300 Wby Mag.It works fine and surprisingly I found the Nikon Buckmaster brighter than my Leupold VX-III.
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huff143 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote huff143 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/21/2009 at 18:03
The VX-3 is indeed brighter than it's predecessor.  It's a very durable scope as well. 
 
But, it seems that your leaning toward the Zeiss anyway, so going with any other brand might make you extra-critical of the purchase.  Stay with what makes ya happy.
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