Zeiss Conquest XDX LRP 15x56 Impressions

Why write a blog post about a pair of binoculars? Could there possibly be a more boring topic?  Before I started using the Zeiss Conquest XDX LRP 15x56, I would have asked myself the same question, but these particular binos have caused such a stir at the class and matches that I’ve taken them to that they merit a quick assessment. 

The Conquest XDX LRP are 15x binocular with a mil-grid reticle. Further specs can be found from Zeiss if you would like more details. These particular binos are marketed toward competition shooters - hence the reticle and higher magnification. Both these features come at a cost - both financially and in size and weight, but the capability they bring to the table is worth the trade-off for many use cases. 

Freehanded iPhone picture that doesn't do them justice at 600 yards

Long-range competitors spend a lot of time looking through magnified optics during a match. Half the time, or more, at a match will be spent looking through a spotting scope or binoculars to spot hits for other competitors, measure targets, and read the wind conditions downrange. One would think that spotting scopes would be ideal for this task, but I find the high magnification to be unnecessary. I would much rather have binoculars. Being able to keep both eyes open and relaxed reduces fatigue considerably and allows me to take in more of the wind picture. 

The Conquest XDX LRP 15x is ideal in this role. The magnification is right in the Goldilocks zone, the reticle allows me to measure targets for building wind brackets, and the larger size and weight are non-factors since these spend the match clipped into my tripod via the included Arca adaptor. Other manufacturers have options that, on paper, offer the same capability at a significantly cheaper price point, but the moment one looks through the Conquest, the difference in glass quality is immediately apparent. 

There are many ways to measure glass clarity: image resolution, edge-to-edge clarity, light transmission, color transmission, etc. Some manufacturers do better at certain things than others. The glass in the Zeiss Conquest is some of the best I’ve seen across all categories. One shooter described the difference between it and other similar binoculars as watching a 2d movie vs a 3d movie. The iPhone images do not do it justice, but if you see me at a match, feel free to take a look yourself. 

This clarity makes the binoculars stack up well against higher magnification spotting scopes in the $1800 and under range. You can see hits on paper at a significant distance with the Zeiss binoculars and still have the benefit of a much larger field of view. 

The ranging reticle is in the left lens, which may feel odd at first if you're used to the information being in front of your right eye.

Do the Conquests make the process of shooting a stage easier? No. But they do reduce eye strain and allow one to pick up on things like mirage and wind currents with greater speed and ease between stages. 

The biggest downside to the Zeiss is the cost. With an MSRP of $2000, they are not cheap, but you do get what you pay for - the difference in glass compared to less expensive options is immediately noticeable. 

Bottom line: 

The Zeiss Conquest XDS LRP15x binoculars have some of the sharpest glass I’ve looked through and strike an ideal balance between magnification and field of view for spotting during PRS, QP, and other long range matches. The price point puts them at a place in the market where they are not right for everyone, but if you need high performance optics with a reticle that you will be observing objects with for hours at a time, the Zeiss Conquest is tough to beat. 

Full disclosure: I paid for this product with my own money, though I did receive a substantial discount from a prize table certificate that I picked up at a match. I have no relationship with Zeiss, and they were not aware I was planning on writing my impressions.