I am looking to buy a high quality spotting scope for sheep hunting. I would like everyones thought on the Zeis, Sworovski and Leica and which one they would think would be the best overall for what I am looking for. I would think they would be the same but I don't know much about them and may be missing something. I have heard that Zeiss is better for low light but that is one persons opinion.
Thanks

You might also consider a Pentax. I've used the PF-80ED and was impressed. It's half the cost of the European spotting scopes.

I've used 3 different Swaro's and 2 Leica's. I prefer the APO Leica to the HD Swaro's. I haven't compared them directly to the new Zeiss' yet...................DJ

If you want a variable eye piece then go with the Swarovski, If you are going with a wide angle fixed eyepiece then it's a toss up. The Swarovski is the only variable eye piece that Better View Desired has ever recomended

i sure don't want to carry my swaro up and down mountains, maybe because its so big and heavy or maybe because i'm getting to old a lazy. instead i have a small leupold (its about 15 yrs old) 30x fixed power that small & light and can be carried around easy. this one has a crass hair in it thats really quite handy when trying to point something out to someone else. The key to it is having good glass in something small & light. same goes for the tripod.

Most of my "scope" experience has been through astronomical telescopes... What amazes me with the Swaro's and for that matter the Leica's is the extreme prices... At least for the APO Leica's you are talking absolute top quality optics which is what this is all about.. With an APO lensing system you simply get the clearest color aberation free view of any other lense system (shy of the fluorite APOs from several telescope manufacturers)... Though weighing in at about 4 to 5 lbs I can gather MUCH more light that is color aberation free in a 90 or 102 mm Maksutov Cassegrain telescope made for land viewing.... The clarity will exceed any of the standard spotting scopes and many of the very high end ones. With a high quality zoom eyepiece the whole thing would set you back between 5 and 6 hundred dollars... Just my two cents worth....

Ken....

For Sheep hunting I suggest that you stay away from the larger 77mm + tubes. You will be happier with a 60-65mm tube as the size and weight is more comfortable to lug around with you.
As far as a quality difference between the three it is more of a personal flavor decision. IMHO the Zeiss FL would be considered the most flavorful as I think that the colors are brightest thru it whereas the Leica and Swarovski would be more true or muted. The Leica is probably the highest quality as far as workmanship and materials used, but all three are excellent.
The bottom line is that if you choose one of these three you will be happy and not feel the need to purchase another scope. If you have designs on doing some digiscoping than go with the HD version of Swarovski or the APO version of the Leica. The Zeiss is an FL and quite ready to be used for digiscoping.