Field test of the Zeiss Conquest V6 2.5-15×56 riflescope with AVS: precision and versatility for €2,559

PREMISE

After reviewing it Zeiss Victory HT 3-12×56 and it Zeiss Conquest V4 6-24×50, I had the pleasure of testing it at the shooting range Zeiss Conquest V6 2.5-15×56 equipped with ASV turret. I'll let you know that this format is the most versatile of the V6 models and is suitable for a variety of usage situations. As always, it was kindly provided to me by the Italian distributor. Handbooks which suggests a price for the month of August 2024 of €2,559. I invite you to read the article and follow the summary in the video review to understand its strengths, its weaknesses, its technical characteristics and my practical impressions in the field resulting from a test at the shooting range.

 

 

TECHNICAL DATA DECLARED BY THE MANUFACTURER

 

AVAILABLE FORMATS

The Zeiss Conquest V6 2.5-15×56, which we tested, represents a particularly balanced choice for those looking for a riflescope suitable for both long-range shooting and hunting situations at dawn or dusk. This series offers a complete range of optics, tincluding the 1.1-6×24 for driven game, the 2-12×50 for daytime use and the 3-18×50 and 5-30×50 for long-range shooting. It is possible to opt for the version with an illuminated reticle, in some cases with the ASV turret and with different reticles. Prices in Italy start at €2,049.00

ACCESSORIES SUPPLIED

 Here too, we find a white box clearly depicting the riflescope. Inside, a naturalistic scene is depicted. A neoprene sleeve allows for easy transport without damaging the riflescope. Inside, there is a Torx wrench for adjusting the ASV system and a CR 2032 battery. There is also a manual explaining the product's main features, its warranty, and the classic lens cleaning cloth. Using the QR code on the box, you can also access the official Zeiss Sport Optics website.

Personally I received the scope already mounted on the 30mm rings, always supplied by Handbook, from the APEL Blu Line series.

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES

As with the Conquest V4 series, it should be possible to purchase a metal lens hood and neoprene cover separately to protect the scope during transport. A quick-release lever for the magnification selector is also available. If necessary, you can ask for more information at Handbook, regarding the accessories available for the Italian market.

 

MOUNTING ON THE RIFLE

As a matter of practice, the shooting scope was installed on top of a Savage High Country 110 carbine, also distributed by Handbooks. . I zeroed it at 40 meters, then refined it at 100 meters, and finally took shots out to 200 meters. I wasn't able to test recoil resistance with large calibers because, due to cost constraints and the large amount of ammunition I use for my tests, I only own .223 rifles.

MECHANICS AND FOCUSING SYSTEM

Tubular body

We are faced with a medium-high quality riflescope with excellent finishes and, as always with the Conquest line, with an excellent price-performance ratio.

The scope features a very light and slim design, weighing only 630 grams without the rail., distributed over approximately 34 cm in length. It has a classic diameter of 30 mm and is made of a monolithic aluminum tube with sandblasted black anodization. It is waterproof up to 400 millibars and filled with nitrogen. Its operating temperature ranges from -25 to +50°C. The space between the bell and the magnification selector is excellent, at 70 mm, while between the turret and the bell it is approximately 45 mm.

Robustness and waterproofing

This riflescope, like most of the top of the range Zeiss riflescopes, It has been subjected to a series of tests in the company to verify its robustness and waterproofing. It then faced the classic immersion test in a column of water, the shock test of up to 1500 times the G force with continuous impacts for a full 90 minutes and also had to overcome the thermal shock of -40 to +50 degrees in less than 5 minutes. I remind more attentive readers that Zeiss also subjects its riflescopes to another very severe test. The scope is placed inside a chamber inside the Zeiss laboratories and left for 24 hours in a salt spray together with a metal test strip. To pass this test, the scope must remain intact while the metal strip is completely covered in rust.

Magnification selector

As I have already had the opportunity to reiterate, the riflescope being tested in this test is the most versatile of the Conquest V6 series. It features a magnification selector with a 6x zoom factor, ranging from 2.5x to 15x. The bezel is thick and knurled, with a diameter of almost 50 mm and a width of 20 mm. I found the grooves to be a bit close together, so you need to use a firm grip when rotating them. It has a wing that provides a tactile feel for the magnification when you can't waste time looking at the visual references. At 8x, it's right in the center. It's easy to operate with winter gloves or shooting gloves. The movements are fluid and precise, without blockages or jamming in either direction of rotation. There are silkscreened graduated markings that clearly represent the magnification range and the following steps: 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15. Where there are no numbers, white dots are visible. The reference markings are also clearly visible.

Diopter adjustment of the reticle

The reticle's diopter adjustment is achieved by turning the rubberized ring near the eyepiece, which also serves as a small lens hood. Again, the movements are smooth, although a fair amount of pressure is required to rotate it. This way, you won't be able to move the adjustment during practical use in the field.

TURRETS

The Zeiss Conquest V6 model I used, It is equipped with the ASV ballistic turret. The front features the MOA and clicks at 100 meters, as well as the elevation direction. The diameter is quite large, approximately 33 mm, with a knurled area of 14 mm. After zeroing the rifle, simply use a Torx wrench to remove the top cap and raise the turret. Next, you'll need to lift the Zero Stop cap, align it, and screw the top cap back on. The process is simple and completely reliable, requiring only a small tool.. There are no small clips or springs to get lost. It's a fast, safe, and reliable system. Elevation and windage clicks are 1 cm at 100 m, offering simple and reliable adjustment, with 200 cm of elevation (200 clicks) of vertical and lateral adjustment. 

On the left side of the scope is the turret that controls the reticle illumination. A waterproof cover houses the CR2032 battery. The turret is activated by pushing it out. There are no index marks or numbers to adjust the illumination intensity, but simple reference figures show when the reticle is illuminated at its brightest.

There is no parallax adjustment system, which was factory-set to 100 meters (109 yards).

The right side turret is responsible for windage adjustment and features a very similar mechanism to the Conquest V4 model, although in this case one click corresponds to 1/3 MOA, while the V4 model had movements of 1/4 MOA per click. It is not very large, in fact it has a diameter of about 20 mm; However, mechanically it is discreet and has graduated notches. The windage adjustment can be reset by returning the knob to the zero position by pulling it out and then rotating it back to the center, a very convenient method that does not require additional tools.

Illuminated reticle

This model features the 60 reticle, which is lighter and thinner than the 40 reticle used until a few years ago. Among its main features is that the bars have half the coverage of the previous model, thus offering the minimum possible coverage of the framed subject. At twelve times magnification, coverage at 100 meters is only 0.55 mm. Another feature I appreciated is the illuminated dot, whose extreme brightness and pinpoint accuracy are remarkable. The system relies on fiber optics that allow for the thinnest illuminated dot in the world: at 100 meters, in fact, it has target coverage of only 3.3 mm. Again, the reticle has been placed on the second focal plane of the image. For this reason, the correspondence between reality and the graduated scale occurs only at maximum magnification. 

As for other available reticles, the scope offers a variety of options: Reticle 6 (Z-Plex), Reticle 43 (non-illuminated), Reticle 60 (test object), ZMOA-1, ZMOA-2, ZMOA-4, ZBR-1 and ZBR-2. Each reticle is designed to meet different accuracy and visibility needs, offering a suitable solution for different shooting conditions and personal preferences.

 

OPTICS

Objective

For this range of riflescopes, ZEISS has used an excellent SHOTT synthetic fluorite glass, which provides a light transmission of the 92%, 3% under the most valuable Victory range. The maximum aperture is 56mm at 15x, providing an excellent field of view even at low magnification. The effective lens diameter at 2.5x is 24.3mm. Images are clear, sharp, and contrasty, with no loss of sharpness at high magnifications. I think this is one of the best scopes I've used in this price range.

Mechanically, the lens cell is embedded almost 20 mm inside the dome, providing some protection from side light, rain, and sand. However, I would like to point out that a metal lens hood is available as an option.

Optical coatings

To achieve a light transmission of the 92%, the high-quality Zeiss T* multi-layer anti-reflective coating system has been used, a Zeiss recipe. In addition, the riflescope has been optimized on the eyepiece field lens and the front objective lens with the LotuTec treatment, also a Zeiss patent. This is a specific oil- and water-repellent coating that prevents drops, dirt, and oil from clumping on the external lenses, making it easier to clean the lenses and use them on humid days or in light rain.

The multi-layer treatment reveals a pleasant purple color, very similar to that of spotting scopes. Harpia e Loon.

I'll teach beginners a trick to immediately verify which coating is best in the field: when you're with friends who own other riflescopes, you can perform a simple test. The riflescope that shows the most detail of your face reflected will have the worst coating, because it means most of the light won't reach the eyepiece but will be "reflected" back at you. So, if you see very little detail on your face, you'll generally have a good-quality coating.

 

Eye

The eyepiece provides a 6x zoom factor. However, despite the high magnification range, you can still enjoy a wide field of view: at 100 meters it is 16.4 meters, which becomes 2.7 meters at maximum magnification. For this reason, the viewing angle at 100 meters is also between 9.4 degrees and 1.6 degrees. The eye relief is excellent, 90 mm, which allows you to handle even heavy calibers with noticeable recoil. The diameter of the eyepiece field lens reaches 38 mm, and this size not only prevents vignetting at low magnifications, but also prevents fogging in adverse environmental conditions.

 

Exit pupil 

Based on the assumptions made regarding the optical design, the effective diameter of the exit pupil is between 9.7 mm and 3.7 mm. The exit pupil proved to be perfectly circular at both minimum and low magnifications, without any "blue-ring" effect, which is a classic blue ring of lateral chromatism that can sometimes occur in optical instruments. The containment of scattered light is impressive: it is noticeable from 2.5x up to about 5-6x magnification, after which the scattered light around the pupil is truly minimal, comparable and sometimes better than that of some products with a decidedly higher price. Certainly, a great job has been done in this regard. In fact, images at medium and high magnifications are well contrasted even in the presence of strong lateral light.e. Great work. I assume this performance can be further improved by purchasing the optional lens hood.

CHROMATIC AND GEOMETRIC ABERRATIONS

 

I'd like to point out that I want to be a bit picky this time, as it's rare to read reviews of riflescopes in industry magazines or online that detail the aberrations of an instrument. However, I would like to provide some benchmarks for all enthusiasts, especially to show them how much difference there can actually be between a great marketing campaign and the actual performance of an instrument. I would like to remind you that the presence of residual chromatic aberration, chromatic and geometric aberration, and other factors can degrade the images of an optical instrument, especially in poor lighting conditions. I therefore hope that this paragraph is well received. I suggest that enthusiasts unfamiliar with these terms visit the relevant article. Binomania glossary to better understand the appropriate terminology.

Chromatic aberration at the center of the field

The parameters sought by the designers of a riflescope are different from those required to create an excellent observation instrument. In any case, the presence of glass with an (undeclared) fluorite mixture, It allows for excellent containment of chromatic aberrations even at medium-low magnifications. In the selective test I perform at the range, the targets are well color corrected up to about 6-7x magnification. Subsequently, you will notice the presence of a very slight residual green chromaticism around the silhouettes of the most contrasting subjects or objects. Obviously, in practical use in the field, observing and framing both naturalistic scenes and game, the perception of residual chromaticism is decidedly less evident.

 

Lateral chromatism

Lateral chroma increases proportionally as you move away from the center toward the edge and is primarily noticeable on objects with sharp, defined, and highly contrasting edges, with the classic green-violet halo. However, this chromatic aberration is not invasive or compromises the effectiveness of the image's contrast.

 

Field curvature

The images are perfect from the center to the edge, both at low and high magnifications. The image provided by this riflescope is truly excellent, with no loss of resolution at the extreme edges.

Angular distortion

No significant angular distortion is noticeable at high magnifications, while it is more noticeable at low magnifications. Although it is not a binocular, it is obvious that such a format can be used for panning. For this reason, I must confirm that, although not very sensitive, the "rolling ball" effect (see glossary (for the uninitiated) is present, but this scope still provides a very natural image when moving from right to left.

 

PRACTICAL IMPRESSIONS

 

General impressions on optical quality, ergonomics, mechanics

Before talking specifically about the test carried out at the range, I would like to present my impressions regarding the mechanics, ergonomics and light transmission of this instrument.

First of all, I can confirm that the scope is very light (at least for long-range shooting at the range). An ideal setup could be the Savage High Country rifle, which in 223 caliber weighs less than 8kg.

As for the mechanical quality, the presence of SHOTT glass is perceptible even during the day and not only at dusk. The images are very sharp and contrasty, and the field of view is completely correct from center to edge. Thanks to its excellent internal construction, which also includes excellent containment of scattered light. Even when observing at twilight, framing backlit subjects, theThe stray light rejection quality of this scope surpasses that of many high-quality binoculars and spotting scopes. It is evident that the designers aimed for maximum visibility in the worst observing conditions, rather than seeking the best containment of chromatic aberrations.

From an ergonomic point of view, I appreciated the space between the turret and the magnification selector, which is greater than for example the V4 series, and allows you to customize the position of the riflescope on the rail of your rifle according to your physical build. The turrets are well designed and the AVS system with ballistic compensation is fast and effective. The zero stop system is also easy to use both in the field and at the range.. Personally, I would have preferred a slightly larger windage turret, but I have no complaints. The reticle is excellent, with crisp, fringing-free pinpoint accuracy thanks to the fiber optic illumination.

Another advantage of this scope is its wide versatility. It offers a 6x zoom, with the possibility of obtaining a wide field of view at 2.5x, while still allowing you to search for detail at maximum magnification. The anti-reflective coating and the quality of the optical elements guarantee excellent light transmission even at 15x, where, remember, the scope operates at full aperture.

 

Impressions after the test at the shooting range

As always, I wasn't able to perform a robustness test like an average user who uses it for months would. My testing was done solely at the range using a .223 caliber, but it seems fairly obvious to me how much care Zeiss has taken to create a very robust and reliable riflescope. The images are sharp and contrasty, very bright, and have good ability to contain chromatic aberration and stray light even in poor lighting conditions. Sharpness on paper targets and the gong remains high even at 15x.

Due to the absence of a parallax adjustment turret for pure range use on targets beyond 200 meters, I noticed a minimal parallax error when going from low to high magnifications, but at 15x only long-range shooters and hunters would complain. In any case, regarding pure comfort, I was able to find my natural aiming point even quickly switching from 2.5x to 15x. I must also confirm that due to the wide-angle of the riflescope The presence of the final part of the muzzle in the lower part of the field of view is noticeable up to about 5x. This factor will also depend on the height of the mounts and the muzzle length of your rifle's barrel.

The illuminated red dot of the Reticle 60 always keeps the reticle clearly visible, regardless of any background or lighting conditions.  

From a mechanical standpoint, I tried to verify its accuracy and tolerances during the short time I tested this riflescope. For this reason, I fired a couple of shots at my targets, then exactly at the cardinal points of the target, before returning to the center. Each time, I used the turrets and then finished the last shot at the center. I must confirm that the Zeiss Conquest passed the test with flying colors. In the video review, due to length, you can see the initial part of the test. Every bullet hole was within the one-inch aiming mark.

 

PROS AND CONS

Pros:

• AVS system
• Excellent light transmission (92%)
• Using SHOTT fluorite glass
• Sharp, contrasty images without degradation at high magnifications
• Excellent pupil extraction
• Precise turret mechanics (at least in the short test period)
• High quality illuminated reticle perfect for hunting

Defects:

• Slightly smaller lateral fin turret
• The absence of the parallax adjustment turret, which however is more essential at 15x for long-range shots at the range than in common hunting situations.

IN SUMMARY

The Zeiss Conquest series continues to demonstrate its excellent price-performance ratio, with the V6 2.5-15×56 model standing out in particular. This riflescope, the subject of our practical test, offers remarkable performance thanks to the AVS ballistic compensation system, which further enhances its versatility. With the light transmission of the 92%, the use of fluoride Shot glass, and sharp images even at high magnifications, the Conquest V6 proves to be an excellent choice for those looking for a riflescope capable of excelling at both close-range and long-range shots. Although the windage turret could be larger, the Conquest V6 remains a high-quality product that meets the precision and versatility needs of shooting enthusiasts.For mere use at the range but in that case the 5-30 x50 version is better I recommend the 43 reticle or possibly purchasing the Conquest V4 series which I have already reviewed and which mounts more specific reticles for long-range shooting with lateral wind compensation.