Research I have found. Leupold LPS ( Diamond Coat, 30mm internal Lenses, Recticle 2nd Image Plane-Side AO / Wire, 99.65% Per Lense ). Nikon Gold ( 30mm internal Lenses, Reticle 2nd Image Plane-Side AO adjustment/ Wire, 99.5% Light Transmission through entire scope.)
Burris Black Diamond ( Same as above except 99.5% Transmission per lensewith posi lock option.)
Kahles ( 99.7% per Lense Surface and 94% total light Transmission, Etched Reticle in First focal plane ) Swarosvki ( 94% Total Light Transmission, Steel Waffer Reticle and square adjustment range in the First Focal Plane, Four spring adjustment housing. )
Ziess V/VM ( No INfo on Light Transmission, Etched Glass Reticle In the first focal Plane with square adjustment range. Widest field of view next to the Kahles.) The Ziess Z/ZM OR KNOW CALLED COnquest 30mm ( One piece steel tube, Smallest field of view, Etched Glass reticle in the first focal plane. Markedly above 90% light transmission.)
Doctor optic ( Wire reticle in first focal plane, Markedly above 90% Light transmission)
COMPARISONS OUTSIDE GUNSHOP AT LATE EVENING - Total OPINIONS.
ZIESS V/VM ( Brighter than the PH Swarovski but hardly noticable, per myself and the clerk and one other customer, all this after the clerk was pushing for the swarovski ph. He changed his view to (just a bit brighter) Field of view was also comparable) Once you looked for more than a few seconds you really could not see a difference. When you first raised the scope each time is were we saw a subtle difference in brightness.)
Nikon Gold also proved to be a hair brighter tham the PH.
Ziess V/VM and Nikon Gold neck and neck.
The PH and the Burris Black Diamond seemed to come close but we all agreed the PH was a hair better optically than the Burris.( not $500 better ) So that is our Great summation. I still do not Know which scope to Buy.
