6724,
Zeiss makes some cheap scopes but the one's I have are the German made HD'S and they are not cheap scopes but they are awesome. My buddy has two Nightforce NXS's and I wouldn't trade my Zeiss Hd's for either of them.
Getting back to Vortex, I've had 3 of them ranging from $799 to $1099. All were POS, really bad POS. The very 1st one sighting in at the range, 2 shots and the entire guts came out. The next two not as bad but would not track well enough to sight in. After sending back to Vortex and receiving new ones, I sold them for a huge loss. They say their warranty is great. Yes it is. They don't mind replacing a $900 scope with another $50 scope. JUNK, JUNK, JUNK!!!
I would much rather have a cheap Tasco or Simmons!!!
Leupold has always been good and stood
behind their product but ever since they started using Chinese glass in their mid range scopes ($399 to $999), they are not what they used be, clarity wise. If you don't believe this, look at Leupold's facts page #6. Lot's of scope makers use Chinese glass and there are different grades of glass regardless of where it's assembled. But the best are made in Germany-Japan-Switzerland. My understanding is the high end Leupold's use Japanese glass just like Nightforce, Sightron, and a few others. Still one Leupold VX-3 = 5 Vortex.
My thoughts and ideas about Sightron scopes comes from very hard use. Before I became leg disabled I hunted in southwest Texas in very rough rocky country. My gun and scope rode anywhere from 4-8 hours a day in a jeep, bumping around and getting filthy dirty with dust for 2-3 weeks at a time. 80 degrees during the day and 20 at night, it stayed in the jeep. And yet have I ever had to return one for repairs. I'm sure Leupold would have held up as well but it just doesn't have the clarity of a Sightron. Well that's just my opinion about scopes.
Jim D