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Zeiss - Old Conquest v New v Terra |
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DonDavis
Optics Apprentice Joined: July/15/2010 Status: Offline Points: 53 |
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Posted: March/18/2015 at 01:25 |
I have an old Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40. Probably about 5yrs old and cost $400 back then. I don't recall there being a Terra model back then. My Conquest has M coating rather than Zeiss T coating. Anyway, very happy with the Zeiss. Been looking to get another, but the model line up has changed. They now have a Terra which has M coating and appears to be the old Conquest with a new name (though the eye relief is shorter on the Terra). The new Conquest seems to be a different beast. Now have T coatings and cost more. Is the new Terra just an old Conquest, or is it not as good as the old Conquest ? thanks for your input |
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3_tens
Optics Jedi Master Joined: January/08/2007 Location: Oklahoma Status: Offline Points: 7853 |
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For me, the Terra is the most disappointing scope ever to come out of Zeiss. Especially when using it to fill the vacancy left when dropping the Conquest.
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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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cbm
Optics Journeyman Joined: January/11/2008 Location: SC Status: Offline Points: 580 |
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I don't know all the specifics but the terra doesn't have the T* coatings. Only the Conquest HD5 has those coatings(in the conquest line). I've kind of been under the impression that the old Conquest is better than the terra line.
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JGRaider
Optics Master Joined: February/06/2008 Status: Offline Points: 1540 |
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Meopta made the old version Conquest for Zeiss. If you really like those scopes, look at the Meopta Meopro scopes, or the Cabelas Instinct models. Same thing.
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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The old Conquest was a Zeiss designed scope with mechanical components made by Zeiss, lenses and erector tube assy provided by Meopta, and assembled in the US. It didn't have Zeiss's "T*" coatings, it had what Zeiss called "MC" coatings, which is basically whatever formulation Meopta used.
Terra is a scope Zeiss contracted out to a manufacturer in Japan (at least as far as assembly goes) to Zeiss specs, and possibly includes some Chinese-sourced components. Terras have no design similarities to the Conquest MC series at all; they are some variations of existing Asian scopes with design and appearance tweaks per Zeiss specs, with economy/low price in mind. While I don't think the Terra scopes are Terr-ible (pardon the pun), I was very disappointed with the ones I saw. It's an o.k. scope on its own, IMO, but not to Zeiss standards, even when compared to the "old" Conquest series. This isn't a slam on the old Conquests, as they are/were quite good. Conquest MC was Zeiss's previous "economy" scope series, and they were a great value for the price, yet still good enough to be worthy of the Zeiss brand. Zeiss evidently felt they were not cost competitive, but I disagree when one considers their performance compared to similarly priced scopes. Terra lowers the bar a bit more, as Zeiss decided to sacrifice some optical performance and cut labor and logistics cost to lower retail price. This is a curious decision to me. Zeiss is trying to compete in the lower end scope market with the Terras, and although they are comparable to other scopes in the same price bracket, I think they dilute the Zeiss name and reputation. Only time will tell if this is the case. The Conquest HD5 is a pretty nice scope. It does have their "T*" coatings and is supposedly made in Germany. It's at least as good as the previous Conquest MC, probably a bit better, but with 5:1 zoom ratio. It is a bit long and heavy for a 1" scope for my tastes though. I don't know anything about the new Conquest DL, but I think it's a design variation of the previous Duralyt series, which was o.k., but not as good as their price point would seem to indicate. I haven't had a chance to play with one of them yet. Edited by RifleDude - March/18/2015 at 08:49 |
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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DonDavis
Optics Apprentice Joined: July/15/2010 Status: Offline Points: 53 |
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Great summary, thanks
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Son of Ed
Chuck Norris Joined: June/18/2011 Location: TEXAS Status: Offline Points: 122210 |
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Hey, Rifledude!! ( Ted ) , how does the defunct Duralyt compare with the Zeiss Conquests?
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Son of Ed
Chuck Norris Joined: June/18/2011 Location: TEXAS Status: Offline Points: 122210 |
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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Eduardo--
I have a 2-8X42 Duralyt (non illuminated). It's a good scope and I like the fact that this particular scope is pretty compact. If I'd paid its original MSRP, I would have been a bit disappointed in it. When viewed against the price I paid for it, however, I'm very happy with it. I bought mine as a demo at significantly reduced price off the Sample List. Its only real negative I can find-- it has a prominent ring of image softness around the field edge at low power that goes away when you dial past about 4x. This isn't quite as bad as severe tunneling, as the soft field edge is still usable when locating game animals, but like tunneling, it does kind of negate some of the FOV advantage at low power. It's prominent enough that it's distracting, athough you always aim with the center of the field. Center field resolution seems to be at least on par with a Conquest MC at same magnification, to my eyes a little better. It doesn't stack up to the Victory series, but it wasn't designed to do so, and it's price reflected that. I like the #20 reticle pretty well, which is a variation of a #4. It has excellent low light performance. I would say in that respect, it's the equal of the Victory scopes. Mine seems to track well, but I didn't put that to a stringent test. It's on a "set and forget, aim on hair within MPBR" rig, so knob twirling was never in its future...and it wasn't designed to be. As long as it continues to hold zero, I'm happy with its mechanics. Though some will disagree, I like its grey anodized main tube with black accent parts, and it looks at home on the rifle I have it mounted to, which has a pewter gray receiver. I would say it's a good scope and a good buy at the prices you can currently get them for. |
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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Son of Ed
Chuck Norris Joined: June/18/2011 Location: TEXAS Status: Offline Points: 122210 |
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Excellent!!
I have seen some of them out in the World ( SWFA doesn't have any of them anymore....so, I don't feel like a spy or anything...) and the prices are all over the place. I've actually seen the 2X8 for ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS at a store in Stephenville! I've seen that scope considerably cheaper on the Internet.... I think it would be a good buy....I can handle some blurriness at the edges as long as there was no Black Tunnel. Supposed to be good glass....reticle might only be average thickness, however.... I think the gray is cool.... Low Light performance real good----that's a good thing! Made in Germany! |
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Son of Ed
Chuck Norris Joined: June/18/2011 Location: TEXAS Status: Offline Points: 122210 |
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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A correction to my statement above. I believe the reticle is called the #6, not the #20. The #20 is a plex, and this one is similar to a #4. I get Zeiss's reticle numbering mixed up.
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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bugsNbows
Optics God bowsNbugs Joined: March/10/2008 Location: North Georgia Status: Offline Points: 11201 |
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Ted, maybe that one is one I traded in???!!! It just didn't "ring my bell"... although I didn't mind the gray color.
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If we're not suppose to eat animals...how come they're made of meat?
Anomymous |
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Son of Ed
Chuck Norris Joined: June/18/2011 Location: TEXAS Status: Offline Points: 122210 |
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Son of Ed
Chuck Norris Joined: June/18/2011 Location: TEXAS Status: Offline Points: 122210 |
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I was at this Gun Store in Stephenville, TX ( called STAR GUNS ) and I saw two of those Duralyts under glass. I could peek through the lenses ( backwards! ) and I could see the reticle ( from the wrong way ) and I could still make out that the #6 reticle is what I would call a #4.....I thought the bars looked a little THIN....but, a nice scope, nonetheless...
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