New Product Highlight: Zeiss V3 Rifle Scopes

I’ve been impressed with Zeiss optics lately. Two spotting scopes, the Victory Harpia 85 and Conquest Apia 65, were particularly excellent in testing.

The trouble is that the brand is typically priced out of reach for most shooters.

That just changed, because the new line of Zeiss V3 rifle scopes is surprisingly affordable – while still promising to deliver the optical quality we expect.

All V3 scopes feature a Zeiss Bright Technology optical system, fully multi-coated lenses, 90% light transmission, and lens protection against dirt, water and fingerprints. Here’s a quick breakdown of what each scope offers beyond that.

V3 2.5-8x35 RF

The Zeiss V3 2.5-8x35 RF is designed specifically for rimfire rifles.

Features include a lightweight 1-inch tube, 50-yard fixed parallax, and second-focal-plane BDC reticle. The whole idea is to make your .22 LR rifle more effective without adding a bunch of weight and bulk to the receiver.

This would be perfect on something like a Ruger 10/22 or lever-action varmint rifle.

Winchester .22 LR 36gr HP – 555 Rounds

$36at Ammunition Depot

Prices accurate at time of writing

$36at Ammunition Depot

Palmetto State Armory (See Price)

OpticsPlanet (See Price)

V3 2.5-8x35

The Zeiss V3 2.5-8x35 (non-RF) is externally identical to its rimfire-focused counterpart, but differences inside the scope set the two apart.

This time, parallax is fixed at 150 yards. In addition to the BDC reticle, you can also choose a simple duplex reticle with finer crosshairs for a little extra precision.

This strikes me as a perfect deer-hunting scope for deep woods, where reaction time and field of view matter more than big magnification and Christmas-tree reticles. Throw this on your old .30-30, pack a thermos of hot chocolate, and you’re ready for opening day.

V3 3.5-10x42

Zeiss bills the V3 3.5-10x42 as the line’s do-it-all hunting scope. This is where you start to get more options to suit your particular style of shooting.

Keep things basic with one of two non-illuminated reticles and capped turrets, or choose an illuminated center dot and exposed elevation turret for a little more capability in low light and at longer distances. In either case, parallax is set at 150 yards.

This looks like a sweetheart of a scope that would be right at home on a bolt-action rifle like the Glenfield Model A, Savage Axis, or Ruger American.

Glenfield Model A

$368at GrabAGun

Prices accurate at time of writing

$368at GrabAGun

MidwayUSA (See Price)

Kygunco (See Price)

V3 4.5-14x44

The Zeiss V3 4.5-14x44 adds a nice bump in top-end magnification, while retaining a fairly usable close-quarters low end. It’s also compact and lightweight for hunters who don’t want to add a bunch of heft to their rifle.

This scope gives you the option to have a parallax dial that’s adjustable from 25 yards to infinity, and the same reticle options as the V3 3.5-10x42.

V3 4.5-14x50

The Zeiss V3 4.5-14x50 is mostly unchanged, save for a larger objective lens for greater light gathering.

The goal is to give you a better view at dawn and dusk, and in the woods where light struggles to penetrate a dense canopy. If that sounds like the majority of your hunting, stepping up to a larger objective lens could be worth your while.

V3 6-18x50

The big dog of the group is the Zeiss V3 6-18x50.

Notable features include an optional exposed elevation turret with a mechanical zero-stop, and the same three reticle options as many of its smaller counterparts.

A minimum magnification setting of 6x might be a bit much for eastern hunters, but this range is well suited to western big game hunts that frequently require longer shots. It would also be pretty sweet on a DMR-style AR-10 with an offset red dot for closer engagements.

All in all, the new lineup gives hunters a wide array of optics with plenty of room to spec them out exactly how you want.

“The Zeiss V3 is designed specifically for the North American hunter who is looking to get the most out of their hunt – to be able to see game until last legal light and stay in the hunt”, Kyle Brown, director of marketing and product at ZEISS, said. “These new Zeiss V3 riflescopes deliver excellent optical performance that is always expected from Zeiss, allowing hunters to witness the bright and clear image they desire, and at very attractive pricing.”

Zeiss projects retail prices from $299.99 to $949.99 for the V3 rifle scope family.

What do you think of the new Zeiss V3 rifle scopes? Let us know below. Looking for more options? check out our guide to the Best Rifle Scopes!