Help Understanding Leupold Series Designations

South Pender

South Pender

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Can someone explain to me the sequence of designations Leupold has used over the past few decades with their 1"-tube variable-power scopes? As I understand it, we had the Vari-X (I, II, III) series, followed by the VX (I, II, III) series (do I have that right?), and then there was the VX Freedom scopes. At some point, the VX-3i scopes appeared, and now there appears to be the VX-3HD scopes. If anyone can explain what changes occurred through this sequence, I'd be very grateful, although I know I'm asking a lot! I'm particularly interested at this point in the changes between the VX-3i and VX-3HD scopes. Are the latter better? If so, in what ways? How do the VX-3HD scopes compare--in terms of sharpness/clarity of image--with the better European scopes like Swarovski and Zeiss?
 
SWFA_Vari-X_to_VX.jpg

http://www.opticstalk.com/uploads/298/SWFA_Vari-X_to_VX.jpg
 
Yes, that helps a lot. I guess I'm most interested in changes in optical quality (brightness, sharpness, clarity) between the VX-3, VX-3i, and VX-3HD iterations. The VX-3HD scopes have Leupold's "Elite Optical System." Is this superior optically to the lenses/coatings on the earlier VX-3 and VX-3i scopes?
 
Maybe send PM to Korth to get specific answers? I seem to recall a post of theirs circa a few years ago, showing how Leupold had taken features of various older lines and put those together as the "Freedom series" - and many of the old lines then ceased to be produced. As I note from that chart above - is an important detail whether numeral or letter - VX-1, 2, 3 never were the same as VX-I, II and III. Vari-X does not mean the same as VX; and so on.

Is an excellent "look-up" on Leupold website under FAQ - serial number of scope (usually the letter suffix or prefix), versus the year-of-manufacture.
 
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