A Zeiss S5 5- 25x56 mm is cheaper than a Zero Comp 5- 27x56 mm. Why is the glass on the Zeiss inferror ?
Rifle Scopes Zeiss S5 vs the Zero Comp optics quality
- Thread starter Iron Worker
- Start date
what the hell kind of thread is this...
What planet do you live on? Seeking information before I pull the trigger on one of those two brands.
I think you’re just asking how the two scopes compare, and why the ZCO is more popular on this site, right? Because two scopes can have equal glass but other things, like turrets or reticles, can sway the market.
Take a look at Ilya Koshkin's, (aka Dark Lord of Optics) reviews.
The glass from all the top brands like ZCO and Zeiss will be pretty similar.
Pick the one with the reticle you prefer. None of the other features will make much of a difference. Unless you need the extra 5 mils of elevation and daylight bright reticle on the Zeiss.
The glass from all the top brands like ZCO and Zeiss will be pretty similar.
Pick the one with the reticle you prefer. None of the other features will make much of a difference. Unless you need the extra 5 mils of elevation and daylight bright reticle on the Zeiss.
Exactly, the optical system is just one piece of the puzzle...
Richard
916-628-3490
@Iron Worker looks like you thumbed up my post, quoted above.
I have never used either scope (edit: nor know a thing about the S5) or else I’d help you.
Now that we know, broadly, what you’re after, maybe someone who’s used both can offer some comparisons?
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I currently have a 7-35x56 ATCAR and a Sightron SV111 5- 40x56 mm that I will use this weekend in Long Range Varmint Silhouette. Those German Optics scopes are tempting.
My number is 916-628-3490, we carry both brands of scopes and pretty much every alpha level scope out there. I can go over the pros funds of all of them.
Richard
Yes! No it's not Aimpoint/ LPVO bright, but it's not used for that purpose. -Richard
The Zeiss gets extremely bright on a sunny day. @CSTactical does the ZCO get as bright? Or does the ZCO get barely daylight bright like many other tactical scopes?
The Zeiss may be a hair brighter off of memory but the current ZCO's are much brighter than most scopes in its class. It was years ago they increased the brightness of their Illumination. - Richard
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Got it. That is interesting. The daylight bright illumination was one of the reasons I picked the S5 over ZCO.
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Yeah I like it. I have a Steiner M7 4-28 and Minox ZP5 5-25 to compare to.
The only odd thing about the Zeiss is the elevation turret has a muted sound and feel. The windage turret is great. I haven't heard anyone else complain about this, so I think it's a one-off problem. I plan on sending it to zeiss.
For me it has the best combination of features and quality. I chose it over the ZCO because I preferred the reticle and daylight bright illumination in the zeiss. The windage and illumination knob can be locked out, and you can adjust the auto-off settings on the illumination turret.
I can try and compare them all side-by-side tomorrow if I get a chance.
Huh, cool to know. That’s important to me, as I’ve spun the turrets in the past inadvertently when carrying the rifle. For my next scope, not having a lockable elevation turret on the Atracr models gives me some pause (7-35 is the front runner due to price/performance ratio and flare performance).
How’s the S5 deal with very strong flare conditions? Like with the setting sun quite near the image.
and its the Johnny "Wad" Holmes of elevation turrets. So tall I'm surprised there isn't snow on the top. lol
Yeah, nitpicking....I've looked thru one at the range and thought it was quite good. But that turret.....haha
IKR? Huge big boi turrets.
Are they the same size as the S3’s? Because the S3’s look huge as well but I think Rob01 said it’s an optical illusion on the S3.
Funny looking! Regardless of the actual dimensions, I’m not sure why but optically all those Zeiss turrets just look frickin’ massive. I don’t think I’ve ever had such a visceral “holy shit those things are yuuuuge!” reaction with other brand’s turrets.Nope, S5 is taller.
S5
S3
They are crazy tall, LOL.
All I know is all my "flip caps" now flip sideways not "up" because i don't like looking over them when pre-sighting targets. It just seems to get more targets in the sight-picture faster that way. IE looking lower over the turrets, with a sightline coser to the optical center etc.
(but it also maybe because I suck... ).
All I know is all my "flip caps" now flip sideways not "up" because i don't like looking over them when pre-sighting targets. It just seems to get more targets in the sight-picture faster that way. IE looking lower over the turrets, with a sightline coser to the optical center etc.
(but it also maybe because I suck...
).
The more I use them the more I like them. The numbers and markings are easier to read vs the low/wide type turrets.
I haven't tested that yet. Ill update you once I do.
I have a 3" sunshade for it, I can try it out with it on and off and see what difference it makes.
The Zeiss S3 is a great scope for the price and the S5 is also a really good scope overall, when they had the promo to get free $2,000 binos we sold about a dozen sets.
I owned a ZCO several years back and just didn’t love it for whatever reason. It did have a yellowish tint to it but optically was very good. Wasn’t a fan of the reticle or turrets even though both were perfectly useable.
Currently I own one of the S5 and optically it is a bit better to my eye. I like the reticle and turrets more than the ZCO. I’m also a fan of the MTC feature so that’s a bonus. I really like the larger amount of adjustment and 34mm tube. My only complaint with the Zeiss is the screws they used for the turrets themselves, make sure you don’t lose the wrench that comes with the scope!
Currently I own one of the S5 and optically it is a bit better to my eye. I like the reticle and turrets more than the ZCO. I’m also a fan of the MTC feature so that’s a bonus. I really like the larger amount of adjustment and 34mm tube. My only complaint with the Zeiss is the screws they used for the turrets themselves, make sure you don’t lose the wrench that comes with the scope!
The zeiss flip up caps come with a holder for an allen key.
Although I'm thinking it would be better to buy a scope chap with material for a patch, and put a spare Allen key under the patch.
About the zeiss caps...
No matter how tight you make the ocular scope cap, it will still rotate under moderate pressure. Good quality though.
The MTC is pretty light. You won't accidentally skip past 1.1, 0.9,etc.
Dang. I just re-realized why I haven’t seriously considered a Zeiss. I hate their reticles! Just looked at them again as I had semi-forgotten; like, I had a hazy memory of disliking them, but wow I hate them. Such a personal thing.
I like the ZCO 3x, the NF Mil-XT & Mil-R, and the March FML-TR1. And the 7D in the Razor, and maaaybe the S&B Gr2id.
The Zeiss are too “hash-y”, I guess. Those fat Zeiss turrets would be satisfying to spin, though (serious).
I like the ZCO 3x, the NF Mil-XT & Mil-R, and the March FML-TR1. And the 7D in the Razor, and maaaybe the S&B Gr2id.
The Zeiss are too “hash-y”, I guess. Those fat Zeiss turrets would be satisfying to spin, though (serious).
Reticle are a personal preference for sure. And just because you like it on paper, doesnt mean you'll like it in real life.
For me, the Zeiss mil reticle is the best one I've used or seen so far.
So true. I owned a Vortex AMG once, and I utterly despised its mil reticle but had convinced myself that I had liked it on paper. Yeesh.
But I love their somewhat similar EBR-2C/2D variants. Go figure.
Shit, forgot to mention the MSR2 in the S&B. Growing on me, on paper at least. That could be one of the few non-tree rets that provide enough holds (exactly one! 1 mil down, 1 mil wind) to cover 80% of my shooting.
I liked the Zeiss reticle in person. Seeing the diagrams I didn’t like it.
The reticle clears up as you zoom in, it’s not as tightly cluttered as it appears.
MSR2 is the Lords reticle…
I have the MSR 2 in my Steiner. Its very good. As for non tree reticles, I was really liking the P5FL in the Schmidts. But now that Schmidt has gone insane with their pricing again, im no longer interested.
Comparing the features and reticle though, I see the Schmidt as a downgrade from the S5.
