Zeiss Conquest 3-9 x 40 Reviews?

[Rhoden101]

Thinking about buying a 3-9 x 40mm Zeiss Conquest. Looking for thoughts on how they compare to other brands for the same money (about $400). If anyone has input I would like to hear it.

Rhoden101

 

[35 Whelen]

They are probably the top dog in that price range from our experences with them. There is lots of great scopes out there but when everything is considered it is still pretty hard to beat a Zeiss Scope.

 

[DrMike]

Great glass, and though less of a bargain than they once were, they are still well-priced. I've owned about seven of the Conquest scopes and still have three. They compare very favourably with the three Diavaris I own.

 

[tddeangelo]

They are a good scope, and I own one. My father saw mine and now owns two.

I would suggest, though, that while they were once THE scope to get at that price point, there are some serious competitors in the field now. Meopta's MeoPro and Minox's ZA-3/ZA-5 scopes come to mind as great scopes that equal or nearly equal Conquest performance levels. The Meopta is priced similarly to the Conquest. The Minox, while still available as open-box demo sales at Cameraland in New York, is about half the price.

I compared a Minox ZA-3 to a Conquest, both 3-9x40 in a review in this forum if you're interested.

 

[BK]

Great scope! I was buying them up like crazy for a while, but I see that Zeiss has raised the price up to $500 or so. For whatever reason, I have a lot harder time buying a $500 Conquest 3-9x40 than a $400 unit. Two others I might look at are a Minox Z3 3-9x (also a great scope, at least the one I have is), and a Meopta MeoPro 3-9x42.

Pretty good article: http://opticsthoughts.com/index.php?opt ... s&Itemid=4

 

[ROVERT]

I didn't realize the 3-9x40 was back up to $500. I guess they figured two years at the sale price was enough. I've got two of them and they are very nice scopes. At $500 for the Conquest though, I would be looking at the options that TD and BK suggested. I can vouch for the Minox scopes. I don't have a MeoPro, but do have a Meopta (Artemis) that I'm very happy with. Everything I've heard about the MeoPro/Cabela's Euro has been good.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have owned (4) conquests and still have one. Mine has been a consistant performer for about 10 years if you count all of them. The one that I have now is about 4 years old and still perfect. My sons have the ohers and theirs are still going strong. There are still a few advertized for $400, despite the retail going to $500 this January.

Minox is another option. I believe that Minox is going to revamp their lines again (they already have done some lines) and they are selling ZA-3 and ZA-5 for low prices. I have a ZA-5, 2-10x40 Minox, and it is also a very capable scope for the money. I have had it and used it extensively for over 18 months now with no issues.

 

[35R]

They are probably the top dog in that price range from our experences with them. There is lots of great scopes out there but when everything is considered it is still pretty hard to beat a Zeiss Scope.

x2

 

[FOTIS]

Very reliable, clear, high quality, and track well.
Only negative I have heard (though never experienced) is their CS is nowhere near to Leupold class.

 

[c. schutte]

I have owned (4) conquests and still have one. Mine has been a consistant performer for about 10 years if you count all of them. The one that I have now is about 4 years old and still perfect. My sons have the ohers and theirs are still going strong. There are still a few advertized for $400, despite the retail going to $500 this January.

Minox is another option. I believe that Minox is going to revamp their lines again (they already have done some lines) and they are selling ZA-3 and ZA-5 for low prices. I have a ZA-5, 2-10x40 Minox, and it is also a very capable scope for the money. I have had it and used it extensively for over 18 months now with no issues.

Charlie,

What rifle is that minox on?

 

[SJB358]

I have owned (4) conquests and still have one. Mine has been a consistant performer for about 10 years if you count all of them. The one that I have now is about 4 years old and still perfect. My sons have the ohers and theirs are still going strong. There are still a few advertized for $400, despite the retail going to $500 this January.

Minox is another option. I believe that Minox is going to revamp their lines again (they already have done some lines) and they are selling ZA-3 and ZA-5 for low prices. I have a ZA-5, 2-10x40 Minox, and it is also a very capable scope for the money. I have had it and used it extensively for over 18 months now with no issues.

Charlie,

What rifle is that minox on?

Charles! Great to see you on board buddy! Welcome in!

 

[c. schutte]

Thanks Scotty! Good to be here.

 

[Oldtrader3]

What rifle is that minox on?

Charles, It is on USRAC (1996) Winchester Model 70, .30-06, that I restocked with a Grade II Winchester stock last year and added a one piece steel floorplate also. Used to be Tupperware. Nice to hear from you.
Charlie

 

[c. schutte]

What rifle is that minox on?

Charles, It is on USRAC (1996) Winchester Model 70, .30-06, that I restocked with a Grade II Winchester stock last year and added a one piece steel floorplate also. Used to be Tupperware. Nice to hear from you.
Charlie

Glad to see you did not close shop and go home! :wink:

 

[Oldtrader3]

Nope, just needed some association's modification busy work! I am doing fine now after adding a little clarity of vision with a couple folks. Got banned for it, that's what is really funny! I guess telling the truth does set you free, in a way?

The .30-06 shoots the occasional 1/4 inch groups with that scope on it and I can not bring myself to sell it.

 

[c. schutte]

Nope, just needed some association's modification busy work! I am doing fine now after adding a little clarity of vision with a couple folks. Got banned for it, that's what is really funny! I guess telling the truth does set you free, in a way?

The .30-06 shoots the occasional 1/4 inch groups with that scope on it and I can not bring myself to sell it.

thanks.......................

ps. you were right!

 

[300WSM]

They are a decent scope and I don't have anything bad to say about them but......

I will say this much...IMO go compare them along with Redfield, Leupold, Burris etc etc and judge for yourself.

Make sure you do this power to power where all scopes are on 3 or 5 or whatever just the same power.

I just went through this and I can tell you that out of 4 scopes the Zeiss did not make the top two.

It wasn't just one bad one. It was 2 of each model to be sure on the quality control. They were all decent scopes and could service well but there was a difference when looking at them rapidly.

 

[rquack]

I decided to begin a scope upgrade program several years ago on all of my rifles. Started out by buying a 4-12 Swarovski [it happened to be attached to Rem 700 Mountain Rifle in .270 at the time]. A couple of years later I was in Cabelas and found a 3-9x40 Zeiss Conquest in the Bargain Cave for $279 [that thing left the shelf so fast it made even my head spin - I could find NOTHING wrong with it].

Fast forward... Last year while sighting in the Conquest on my 7mm-08 I was alternately shooting a newly purchased 7Mag with an older Leupold 3-9 Vari X II. I was AMAZED by the difference in brightness and edge to edge clarity. I have never before been able to see so significantly the differences between scopes. The [much older] Swarovski 4-12x56 is also a great scope which I enjoy shooting also; easily the equal of the much newer Zeiss.

Would I hesitate to get another Zeiss Conquest? NO. I consider it one of my best ever purchases. But I must admit I'm a bit mesmerized by the Swaro Z5 3.5-18 and being able to do load development [using higher magnification] and hunt with the same glass. But that would come at the cost of a couple of Conquests.

Also, I purchased a Zeiss 4.5-14x44 for my son in law as a marriage gift [that scope came to him attached to a Rem 700 Limited in 7Mag with a custom made highly figured walnut stock]. I really liked the silver Zeiss scope on the Stainless Steel rifle in the wood stock. The blued rings and bases really complemented the black adjustor rings and highlights on the Zeiss silver scope; quite an impressive looking package.

 

[SJB358]

Those sound like some great scopes. I am slowly changing over all of my scopes to better Minox, Leupold or Zeiss. I would like to do the Swaro plunge, but I am just not there yet!

 

[Guest]

They are a decent scope and I don't have anything bad to say about them but......

I will say this much...IMO go compare them along with Redfield, Leupold, Burris etc etc and judge for yourself.

Make sure you do this power to power where all scopes are on 3 or 5 or whatever just the same power.

I just went through this and I can tell you that out of 4 scopes the Zeiss did not make the top two.

It wasn't just one bad one. It was 2 of each model to be sure on the quality control. They were all decent scopes and could service well but there was a difference when looking at them rapidly.

This is precisely why I tell people to test scopes with their own eyes. I have no doubt that 300WSM's eyes told him the right story for his situation. I can tell you, though, that my experience has been remarkably different, in that my Conquest is one of the brightest, clearest, best scopes I own. And that's compared to one remaining Leupold that my dad bought and I'll keep on his rifle until I hand that down to one of my kids, and several good quality scopes from Burris, Pentax, and Bushnell. The only scope I have that might best the Conquest is the new Minox sitting on the shelf. Once I get it mounted, it and the Conquest will end up outside at dusk for some comparisons. Should be interesting.