I decided tonight with the bright moonlight night to compare some of my scopes to see how the perform against each other. I have a field beside my house that is 300 yards to the end, with viewing ranging from 225-300. All scopes were set on 8. The scopes that were compared were as follows rated by the best light transmission and clarity per my eyes:

1. Zeiss Conquest 3-12x56,#8 1st focal plane reticle (magnifying) This scope was hands down the winner, I could make out stumps with crisp clarity, there is a power pole at 250 yds with a piece of 1" tubing that sticks out 6 ft from the side,I could see this piece of 1" tubing with this scope but not with any others. The stumps jump out at you with detail and color. The magnifying reticle definetly is alot better and much more defined than any other.

2. Zeiss Conquest 3-9x50, #4 Reticle, non magnifying. This scope was clear but not as well defined as the 56mm, I could not see the 1" tubing on the pole at all, and the stumps in the field appeared to be somewhat distorted. The reticle was able to be made out but was definetly not as good as the 1st focal plane.

3. Leupold Mark 4 4.5-14x50, Mil-Dot Reticle, I was kinda disappointed with the Mark 4, it was not as bright as either of the Zeiss but could still make out the stumps with it but they appeared dull and fuzzy. I could not even see the 1" tubing, nor could I make out the reticle. The scope is about the same in good lighting but fades off in the shadows of darkness.

Thought some might find this interesting. I hope to purchase a Zeiss Victory later on to mount on my 300 Win, if the Victory series is as good as everyone says I would like to see it. Overall on the scopes I tested above, each of them is good til last light for any shot in normal hunting hours, and could probably get you in trouble with ole green pants.

Thanks for sharing your review!

Good read. Thanks

Need to be in a stand right now!

257, it's definetly a bright night, but I can't afford a hunting award nor will I take the risk, tomorrow is suppose to be the best day of the week.

imo ,,,, that really means nothing in the world of killing deer .

Frankie, can't hit what you can't see. Means alot when you are in the last of fading light when alot of older, bigger bucks appear. I'm not trying to degrade anyone or their equipment, but having good quality optics makes all the difference in the last few minutes of light. Now I do not have the best or most expensive but I would say I'm middle of the road. I hope to save and purchase a Victory series in a year or so.

wal-mart has a nikon 3x9x40 on sale for about $140 buy you one spend the other money on beer and women . you'll have a lot more fun and kill just as many deer .

This... Having quality optics makes a wold of difference. Maybe not as much in bright daylight, but when the last minutes are in you will see what you would never see before that.
I just took a reviled 3-9x40 off my rifle since I couldn't see worth a darn at last light. I replaced it with a Steiner gs3 and can see so much better. My Gino's use to out right my scope, but now the scope puts the Gino's to shame. So yes optics really do make a difference in the world of killing deer.

What he said. If I can't see them with my naked eye I'm not going to shoot anyway. Just not worth the risk. I know some people do it but I'm not

I have to disagree with you there buddy, I have a Nikon prostaff 3-9x40 on my 22, it is not even close to any of the three I mentioned above, you can kill deer no doubt but you will never see them in some situations. I could go on and on and I'm sure others could argue too so I'm gonna close with this one. Have a nice evening and enjoy your beer and women and I'll enjoy my optics, wife and kids.

Not any way in hell I'm not spending for quality optics from binos to scopes. Reloader 79 is spot on. In bama the big older bucks move right at dusk dark for most part. Thanks for the report reloader 79.

it don't have to be close , it just has to do the job . enjoy one of the finest scope made .

With this moon I think I could be sitting in a stand right now and see the deer well, at 11:10 PM with my Zeiss Diavari 3x12x56.

why i said what i said in my first post . you could see them but you can't legally shot them . hunters don't have to have $1000 or $500 scopes to kill deer at dusk . like me , most people buy what they want not what they need .

So a $25 light and $140 scope and your good to go.

Great test. Moon light not the same as twilight. Deep cover with no moon will show you a clear winner. 56 would still be winner possibly. Turn those down to 4x with no moon at dark I bet you may not like what you see? Other brands would be great or would it? Drop one of those with the hunting I do and that could be a money pit fast. Thanks for sharing though, quality sometimes is worth it.

I've had 3 Conquest scopes and none of them were as clear,gathered light or had the eye relief of any of my Leupolds to me.That comparison comes from being in real hunting situations with and without moonlight many times with each of the scopes. Not downing the Conquests at all cause they are great scopes I just prefer Leupold.

yep , i'm good to go . do i hunt with that now , depends on what gun i want to hunt with that day . i hunted last year with a H&R 35 whelen with a $50 Simmons scope on it and a $10 flashlight.