10-4. That makes sense.

Why were you driving so slow?

That's as fast as his feet could pedal 🤣

I have a few of the high end 30mm scopes you have mentioned. My favorite is an old model Kahles straight 8. I will say I hunted with a Leupold VX6 recently and I think it might be better than my Swarovski / Kahles. Need to do a side by side comparison. That being said we have one of these in the safe at the camp and it blows away anything I have ever used. Absolute game changer. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/987120637?pid=120637

The high end 30mm scopes have larger internal lens systems and seem to "fill up the scope" with an image faster. Or at least my Zeiss VM/V does. Technically no scope "gathers" light.

I have a S&B and a Zeiss, granted they’re both pushing 20 years old, but there is no comparison between them. Zeiss is and has always been brighter and clearer, in my opinion.

I've got 2 of each...two Zeiss Diavari's, and two S&B...one Klassik and one Zenith, and I've always felt the exact opposite. My S&B's seem brighter to me.

My old vari-xiii gets me about 15-30 minutes past legal. I figure that I'll have to spend about 2k to upgrade and get a few more minutes or still be able to see what my binos are seeing

Not true. Get you a Fenix UC35 with barrel adapter.
That sucker with light up downrange for 200 yards, clear as day.

Is there not some objective way of measuring light transmission. Everyone has an opinion on which scopes are brightest. It seems like something you should be able to measure.

M48,

You are no risk of angering me I assure you. I just know what my eyes tell me.

That's because clarity,color rendition and definition all play a part and different people perceive different combinations of qualities as superior. Higher end scopes today of the basic price range will have similar quality but one may place more importance in one certain area. That same holds true for size,weight,reticles,and turret choices. Just always remember that everything is a trade off in some area if only in price,so the main thing is to know exactly what you want before buying. Basically just like anything you buy,"BEST" depends on the reviewer,as much as the product being reviewed.

Admittedly, my color blindness could be a factor in my perception.
I have difficulty with reds, blues and greens. They all look brown or black to me.
I guess it's possible the 30mm tube could be just a little easier for my eyes.
On the bright side, I can spot deer, snakes and other illusive critters when normal folks can't see them.
On the downside, I can't find a bloodtrail to save my life.

I think alot of this conversation depends on background, which direction you are facing and several other factors that might make one spot naturally brighter than another. One guy elevated facing west hunting a lime green foodplot says he can see great through scope x 30min past legal shooting light. Another guy hunting off the ground looking to the east at a background of brown pine logs cant see much past legal light. All that should be considered. Were hunting all over the state and even country in all kinds of lighting conditions. If legal shooting light ends at 5:45, imagine how different that is on the far west side of the state compared to the far east side, it would be much brighter on the west side. I figure if we are going to start naming which scope is #1, the playing field should be level, shouldnt it. Alot to consider other than the scope here in these comparisons.

I don't know of any $400+ scope that I can't shoot a deer with anywhere in Alabama during legal hours. The exception might be at ranges over about 150 yards,but I rarely shoot that far or even hunt where it is possible. On the other hand some of S&B's top of the line illuminated scopes up there about $3000+ will enable you to shoot a coyote at 300 yards at midnight.

Legal shooting light is different as you move across the state. It's not a static time statewide, as sunset in Dothan today (5:16pm) isn't the same as sunset in Mobile (5:28pm).

...only with an external light source, depending on conditions. Lots of stuff will enable you see/shoot shapes/dark stuff at range at midnight, under a bright moon....including eyeballs. Nothing but NV/Thermals/lights will allow you to positively ID animals AND what’s behind them. It’s where $3-$4k is better spent on technology than a European name. Shooting deer in legal light, (I agree)....no extra $ spent or huge lenses needed.

Legal shooting light is different as you move across the state. It's not a static time statewide, as sunset in Dothan today (5:16pm) isn't the same as sunset in Mobile (5:28pm).
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Yeah my thinking was a little off there I guess

Been out of town, so I'm a little late.

For me, tops are the Schmidt-Bender, Swarovski, and any Zeiss with the T* coatings. It does seem to me that some of the older Habicht Swarovski units seem brighter than some of the newer scopes.

I have a Leupold VX6HD that is very close, just have not been able to compare side by side yet.

I haven’t actually tried this...but I believe that a man could get a few more minutes by using one of these eye shields to block external light from the sky.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32593183652.html

The way I see it the only light I care about it coming through my scope. Other light is just making my pupils smaller and decreasing my ability to see details through my scope.

Has anybody ever used one? Maybe bamaeyedoc could chime in validate or crush my theory. I have shield the sky with my hand and feel like it really helps.