Conquest 10x40 T review (1 Viewer)

[Nixterdemus]

For starters it's been discontinued and isn't in the 2011 catalog. The ABK prisms helped it make a run at the brightness of the Vortex Viper 8.5x50 which in and of itself is a valiant effort giving up 10mm in objective.

Also the FOV is 10' more for the Conquest though 1.5X extra magnification. This makes for interesting comparison as I'm basically looking at the same view through both only +/- 1.5X. Still, the Conquest doesn't exhibit the tunnel vision of the Viper I suppose due in part to the closer view.

They weigh the same and the barrels of the 40MM Conquest barrels are almost as large as the 50mm Viper. Must be a lot of armour there. Wrapping your hands back towards the oculars reveals little difference. The Viper is the length of fully extended eye cups longer at 1" more.

It's been rainy or overcast, so I haven't had good weather to peer. Naturally, the Viper is brighter, yet there's a gnarly tree w/little red berries, smaller than holly berries, 35-40yds behind the glass doors. Both render them well w/Viper being brighter and the Conquest bringing you closer.

So, for fun I broke out the 70's era Swarovski Habicht 10x40. Amber tinged, but I believe it was the 90's when MC Hammer said, "Can't touch this" and it still rings true in this arena. Quite the impressive view and unbelievably light. No wonder they made these for so many years.

I'm disappointed because when I put the objectives to the back door glass they rocked. No, not the view. They rocked back and forth as in side to side. I've thrown junk bins on the door, 90 yr old glass and all manner of types, yet none other rocked. Certainly not the porro hawk either.

It never bothered me that the 8x30 or the 10x40 Conquest that I purchased was assembled in Hungary. I'm no snob, however to manufacture and pass quality control when the ends of the barrels aren't square is nothing short of a joke.

I don't own an American, Japanese, Chinese, Pilipino or Austrian built bin that rocks as a see-saw. As a matter of shame for Zeiss I have a French Colmont that doesn't either.

I'm not through as I wish to view though clear skies. I can't complain too much on the 8x30 Conquest at 4 bills. It appears solid and I really wouldn't expect it to compete against the classic Swaro or blow any comparable Pacific Rim glass out of the water.

Howevah, when I drop over seven bills on the allegedly discounted 10x40 ABK that apparently can't rock the ancient Habicht glass, yet has no problemo rockin' on the back glass then there's a problem.

It'll be a another day before clear weather for me to be able to continue to evaluate against a discontinued and discounted 300 buck Viper and a 35 yr old porro.

Albeit fun and games I don't anticipate the Hungary hype to rock the Casbah.

 

[Nixterdemus]

This is not the villagers w/torches and pitchforks storming Herr Frankenstein's castle. The Viper's 50 mm glass is a daunting hurdle to overcome. The Conquest at 40mm gives up 25% to the 50 and the EP of the 10X @ 4 awards right at 47.5% to the 8.5X @ 5.88. So, as previously mentioned the ABK prisms fought gamely, but there's only so much one can do against the one-two punch of 10mm less and 1.5X more in overcast/dwindling light.

As an aside it fared much better against the ED2 7x36, shudder the Chin-bin thought, sporting 3x less magnification, 4mm less objective & 1.4 more EP. This race at twilight was tight and I didn't have time to properly judge betwixt the two. That being said I'd think, all other things being equal, that for a 10X40 to be compared to a 7x36 after sunset bodes well for the glass and prism of the 10x40.

Something odd to me was the oculars of the 10x40 T. Observing them listed around 45* shows an apparent clear 3mm doughnut all the way around the outside edge. I see reflection as if there's no coating. It gives off reflections in the outside ring that looks as if I were looking upon plain window pane. Perchance someone can clue me in on this observation.

On occasions I've noticed the gray/muddled view at the bottom third that others have mentioned. I can reposition my eyes and eliminate that, but then when I look up the entire view blacks out. I'm not sure what this is or why it only appears sometimes at the bottom of the lens and never at sides or top. Something to due w/position of my eyes vs the lens and maybe I'm looking up w/glass tilted vertically and then trying to move just my eyes down. Before becoming too judgmental I need look more as I don't see this mysterious gray band loitering about just passing time to time.

It would appear another dreary overcast day is upon me, so I must wait w/bated breath to partake of sunlit view. So far I'm pondering, even though discontinued, why? Why build a 10x40 that weighs as much and for all intents and purpose is the same size as a 8.5/10x50 Viper?

But, for now I wish to leave on a positive note. Light and smooth focus, not quite 1 3/4 Turn to turn, good picture w/o a lot of extra distortion/geometric movement whilst panning/scanning and no hint of vertigo which is always a huge plus for me. Also, the adjustable eye cups are very solid w/plenty of tension to stay wherever placed, but not so much friction to inhibit intentional movement. It doesn't possess the 3-4 locking stops and I like that because I turn them all out to eliminate the extra ER.

Not to forget that compared to the 8.5x50 Viper I've slightly more, 10', FOV @ 1.5x more magnification. I don't mind a hunting FOV and have several bins on the narrow side, but I never looked through the Viper and considered it tunnel vision until I looked through the Conquest and saw practically the same view 1.5x closer. Gives a lad a whole new perspective.

Likewise compared to the 8x30 Conquest I don't see nearly as much pincushion. This could be due to the 2X larger pic not allowing me as much view to compare. The same telephone pole doesn't metamorphous into a bow. However, earlier I made note of the 8x30 w/top of a pine tree encompassing the view dancing the Watusi if I oscillated laterally. Although I detect a little sway w/10x40 on the edges it's nothing compared to the 8x30 and those pines are at least 100yds across the street. Possibly this highlights some differences in 30mm & 40mm glass.

Take my ramblings as you will, w/grain of salt or not, for I am but one man expressing my opinion. That and a couple of greenbacks will still provide a bottomless cup of Joe a any Waffle House.

 

[Nixterdemus]

This 8x30 Conquest was received by Zeiss Sports Optics 3/2011 and my 10x40 Conquest was received 10/11. The lady claims that the 10x40 Conquest was discontinued this year and the current 8x30 and 10x40 Conquest models go back 8-10 yrs. In fact she said the 10x40 was 86'd because of being replaced by one of the new models in the spring of 2012.

So, a design that harks back to the turn of the century helps explain the lacking perceived with the current optics market. As well after a decade a new and improved model is needed to bolster the more affordable line. A different lady in repairs gave me directions to return the 10x40 because the end of the objective covers are not on a flat plane. She did ask if the bin focused which I considered to be moot, in light of the see-saw effect of uneven objective covers on a flat surface, unless Zeiss is selling seconds or have decided a straight edge is no longer en vogue as an inspection tool.

I did find out that the cups will lock fully extended it's just that I'd never twisted them hard enough. This all the way extended/collapsed w/o intermittent stops certainly dates the design.

If course the two new to the line 8/10x56 T, @ $1450 and $1500 CLNY respectively, are available. The 10x comes w/344' FOV and 32 oz. 360' & 33.5oz for the 8x. Hard for me to imagine Conquests at these price points. Granted as it stands these two are the latest greatest of the entry. Either of these would have no problem mano-a-mano w/Viper. In fact at their price they could face two-three Vipers at once.

Well, beggars can't be choosers, but I picked the 10x40 T for the price and size. I'll never pay two grand, much less three, for glass. More power to those that choose to though. The 15x45 isn't a fit and the 12x45 was intriguing, but more expensive. Both were available as demos as I recall, yet I wanted the Abbe-Koenig prism. The 10x40 T w/ABK prisms as it's claim to fame was not in as much demand as the 8x40 T and 75 simoleons cheaper, so the die was cast.

The discounted price of $799 was whittled to $725 through snooping around and ironically 75 clams more than the new HD Viper in 10x50. A month ago or so I purchased the discounted/discontinued/replaced Viper 8.5x50 w/only XD glass, instead of the new and improved HD, for the paltry sum of 300 bucks.

I don't have buyer's remorse far from it in fact. The 10x40T, as the 8x30T, are rugged, well built and It's hard to actually find fault at the discounted price, 8x30T-$400. The focus wheel turns very easy on the 10x40 and I would prefer it a bit taut, as the 8x30, but that isn't really a fault. Merely an exercise in eye-hand coordination and an interesting stop motion index finger procedure that requires a very light touch.

I truly expected a little more in comparing the circa 2000 Abbe-Koenig prism sample to the Habicht circa 1970's. However, I suppose on the other hand I should marvel at how far das dach has come to rival the classic 1949 design and 35 yr old glass; amber coatings notwithstanding.

Now snow lays on terra firma and I've noticed a little colour fringing looking at a crow perched high in the top of a mature oak. Another Chinese-American 8x42 product is due today, but I'll return to the match-up to see if I can determine any resolution difference between the two 10x40's. Unless the free market collapses/stock market crashes or soup lines become board of fare for the masses the prices aren't going to become more affordable.

Still, I'll not be in search of a compact Leica to complete my motley crew of an affordable Alpha trifecta. You'll derive a little more panache from the name, but you'll not get a leg up or find an edge against the Vortex Price & life time, transferable guarantee. However you weren't looking for such and certainly won't miss it.