Introduction
Last year, Zeiss introduced its brand-new line of affordable riflescopes – Conquest V4. It was a successor to the Conquest DL series. The V4 line, priced at around 1000 €, was generally well-accepted by the general public. Interestingly, Zeiss decided to move the production from Germany to Japan (Conquest DL was made in Germany, Conquest V4 is manufactured in Japan). Even though they have made this major change, V4 delivers great optics for the price (we must keep in mind that these are still designed and engineered in Germany). This year, at Shot Show 2019, they announced the release of two new models – 3–12×44 and 4–16×50.
For now, these models are only available on the American market. We will have to wait and see if they will be available on the European market also.
New features
All the V4 models have a 4x zoom factor and a reticle in the second focal plane. They are nitrogen purged to prevent internal fogging at low temperatures, lightweight and waterproof to 4 m of depth for 2 hours. The optical part is enhanced with T* Six-Layer Lens Multi-coating and Zeiss‘ signature LotuTec coating which repels water and dirt particles from the external parts of the lenses. The V4 line is equipped with a 30mm tube and produces 90 % of light transmission rate.
The 3–12×44 is Zeiss’ new addition to the existing V4 range. The combination of the magnification range and 44mm objective lens make this a perfect choice for hunting in the mountains. Turrets are protected with caps, allowing you to move through the bushes without the danger of bumping them against something and ruining your zero setting. The clicks are ¼ MOA. For now, two reticles are available: Z-Plex and ZBR-1, both positioned in the second focal plane. It is only available without illumination and has parallax fixed at 91 m (100 yards).
The 4–16×50 is the second addition to the V4 range. In contrast to the 3–12×44, this one comes with a tactical turret previously seen on some other V4 models. It is easy to manipulate with and produces very tactile, crisp clicks (¼ MOA). For now, there is only one reticle available: ZMOAi-1. It is only available with illumination. Max. 16x magnification and parallax adjustable from 10 yards to infinity make this model a great choice for varmint hunting on a bit longer distances (in this series, a 6–24×50 already covers the ‘long range hunting segment’, but the 4–16×50 model still fits in nicely).
Both introduced models have a generous eye box, making target acquisition easy.
Conclusion
These are expected to retail in the same range as other Conquest V4 models – 1000 EUR. Keeping in mind that V4 riflescopes are sought after, these should sell well. Nice addition to Zeiss’ affordable world of riflescopes.