Do any of you have real world experience with the VX3hd and the Vx5 hd? Is there enough quality difference to warrant the cost difference?

I have the VX3HD and really like it. I’m going to end up getting another for my .308 soon. The quality at low light is great compared to my Vipers.

I have the Vx3hd. No buyers remorse. Plenty of scope for what I need

Great question. I was just wondering the same thing yesterday. Following.

I’ve looked through both at the store. I’m just not sure if the 5 series is 2x better than the 3 series in actual use such as the last 5 minutes of legal shooting time. That’s about the price difference.

It's this way with all scopes. You pay 2-3 times a much for just a few more minutes of shooting light.

YOU have too decide if it's worth it.

I get that but I was hoping to hear someone say “ I’ve used both and it’s worth it or it wasn’t worth it”

Don't own either but have friends with the VX5HDs, they are excellent IMO. Only you can determine based on your wants and budget if double the green is worth it. When I'm buying anything, I always buy the very best my budget affords. If my budget on a scope is $1k, I'm spending the $1k and getting what I perceive to be the best in that range.

I have experince with the 5HD. Probably teh best scope I've personally used, including Zeiss, Swarovski and S&B
I may be wrong - and probably am - but I thought the only difference beteween the 3HD and 5HD was the magnification range, tube and lens size.

This. And it is worth it to me, where and how I hunt. I have killed several nice bucks I never would have seen with cheap glass.

I just looked up the 3HD and it comes in 1” or 30mm. Just a FYI
I love Leupold’s older scopes, but I may have to check out the 3HD myself.

For what you would spend on a vx5hd you could get into a Swarovski. I don’t have experience with vx5hd but I doubt it’s in the same ballpark as the Swarovski or a Zeiss v4

I have 2 vx5’s and you would have to spend double in my opinion to get a better scope.

You can get a 5 for $1000 to $1100. That’s considerably less than the cheapest Swarovski I’ve seen.

I have Zeiss and Swarovski of several different flavors. I always though leaupold to be dogshit. Now I am a true believer in the VX5HD. Just take a look for yourself. Swarovski and Zeiss are still great but once again, I am a believer in the VX5HD. I do not have a VX3HD but would definitely look into one if it served my needs.

You can get a swaro z3 4-12x50 for under $900

I’ll have to take a look at one then, Leupold is good stuff but the glass was never that good. Of course in the box stores they all look good. It’s that last minute of light that separates the men from the boys. Honestly, there’s a couple of low end scopes that are more than adequate for 99% of what folks use them for.

I will one up you. I think Leupold was crap until the VXHD line of scopes. However, I have stated many times here, I am a total scope snob and I demand quality optics. Lots of good scopes out there but fewer now that Swarovski pretty much took Kahles off the shelf after acquiring them and some corporate dumbass decided to stop making Meopta Meopro scopes to make the crappy optika scopes!

the VX5 is very comparable to a Zeiss V4 in cost, clarity and brightness. I do believe the Leupold is a nicer looking scope though, for whatever that's worth.

My opinions based on my eyes. 52 years old. No corrective lenses, but I do wear readers. I have had or do currently own these. I also do use a pair of Swarovski 8-32mm binos which get used 99% more often than looking at deer through a scope.

Zeiss V4 3-12-56
Swarovski Z6 2-15-56
Swarovski Z3 3-10-42
Leupold VX6HD 3-18-50
Leupold VX6HD 2-12-42
Leupold VX3HD 2-8-36
Leupold VX5HD 3-15-44

Multiple Vari X, VX3, VX3I, VX2 40/50mm etc

I get a little foolish sometimes and carry multiple rifles to a shooting house from time to time just to compare. Of the thousands of dollars of scopes, my favorite is the little 2-8-36. Second favorite is the 42mm VX6. I like them mounted as low as possible with the ability for a good cheek weld etc. For 30 minutes after sunset, in a food plot and inside 150 yards, I think I give up maybe 5 minutes of available shooting light with the 36mm. Maybe. Clarity only. With the aid of binos, I could still make a good shot.

The Z6 is definitely the brightest picture, edge to edge clarity and color. It’s big, heavy, has to be mounted high etc. For legal hunting in a food plot, I don’t believe it’s worth the extra cash over a $500 Leupold. That said, in canopy covered woods or clear cut, the definition is a plus.

The Z3 42 has a little better clarity than the Leupolds. Little bit less eye relief. I think it is brighter and clearer than any of the larger objective Leupolds or Zeiss.

The Zeiss V4 is on par with the VX3/5/6. Both Swarovskis were brighter, better definition, more color.

The VX5/6 will easily get you to 30 minutes after sunset, but really not any more than a 40mm VX3HD. The 50 and 44 are no better than the 42mm to me. I was actually unimpressed with the low light capabilities compared to Z3/Z6 or even the VX3. Keep in mind, I’m talking less than 5 minutes and clarity only.

Multiple tests this year. Mostly on rainy afternoons when forced to a shooting house. The difference between all of them was not as much as thought. Clarity and crispness at last light, yes. Ability to make a shot, no. None of them would give me the ability to accurately assess a Peter 8 point vs a little better than a average 8 point. Binos do a little better job at this for me.


I cannot deny the “wow” factor of getting behind the 56mm Z6, but I’m only doing so when about to pull the trigger. I cannot think of a single deer that I have ever killed or not killed, where it would have made a difference.

Anything more than the 42mm VX5 is diminishing returns for me. Others may be different.
Keep in mind, I’m talking 30 minutes after sunset. Not early rising moons or sitting on plots till 6:00 or after. I feel sure there is value there. I was walking to the truck the other night (in a clear cut) and there was a shot across the line at close to 6 pm. I through up the Z6 and looked down the road just to see. No way could I determine what I was shooting at.

If I can get a reasonably good return on some of these high dollar scopes, they will be replaced with what works for me or a set better binos. My $.02