I think this lineup may expand eventually, but so far they have announced a 3-12x40, 3-12x50, and 4-16x50.
Some thoughts.
The vx-5 and 6 lines got an update to gen2, which includes tool-less zero reset. Unfortunately they did not incorporate that update into this vx-4hd line. Huge miss. Nobody likes using the world’s tiniest Allen wrench on the old style cds turrets.
The gen2 also got a price hike. It used to cost around a thousand for the 3-15x44, which is one of their most popular models, but that model is now ~1500 for gen2. The vx-4hd is now the one that sits around $1k USD. So a lot of people will probably settle on vx-4hd for that reason alone.
Both 3-12 and 4-16 are versatile ranges for magnification, but I find the choice between 40 and 50 really annoying on the 3-12. They should have just split the difference and gone with a single offering 3-12x44. For Midwest US hunters I think 3-12x40 would be more popular but I don’t know, it’s a trade off of slimmer lower profile vs more comfortable eye box and slightly better low light performance. At lower magnification the difference will be less pronounced and that is where we mostly spend our time so I could see the slimmer and lighter option winning out in the marketplace. 50mm means moving to medium rings usually over low, and feels noticeably bulkier.
I hope they do a 1.5-6 and not a 1-4 as an lpvo option. Would be more versatile, but I could see them doing nothing too, since they have a 4x, 5x and 6x offering between 3hd, 5hd, 6hd already. It would just be nice to have something that remains around that $1k mark and does better than 4x at the top end.
While they got rid of the need for the World’s smallest Allen key with the Gen 2, they changed the battery compartment cover, and now you need a Leupold specific tool to change batteries.
One more note: since they are clearing stock on gen 1, you can get older vx-5hd right now for around 30-40% off at some retailers, cheaper than the new vx-4hd models (for a short time anyway).
Vx 5 gen 1 route is the way I’d go right now as long as there out there, as I’ve seen the fire dot 3-15x44 as cheap as $719…. I went to Crapelas the other day at was looking in the shadows of displays they had across the store and the VX5 clarity was much more obvious then the Nightforce SHC at $500 more
Update: I got my hands on a VX-4HD so I could form some more opinions. I’m honestly a bit underwhelmed. It is the same optical quality as the VX-3HD (they call it the “Elite” optical system as opposed to the “Professional” of the VX-5HD and VX-6HD).
So the VX-3HD series comes in 1.5-4, 2.5-8, and 3.5-10, as well as 4.5-14.
This VX-4HD is offered in 3-12 and 4-16. So it’s not that big of a deal. Little bit more magnification options for this “tier” of their offerings. The only other upgrade is that you do get 2 full revolutions of elevation adjustment in the VX-4 (CDS-ZL2) vs. just one rotation in VX-3 (CDS-ZL).
But it is hard for me to see how this is worth ~$1,000+. Compare this for example to a Vortex Viper HD 3-15x44 (which is also very nice glass quality)–that is $750… why would I spend more money for less features (not to mention smaller field of view)? And I’m sure there are other competitors out there you could find to compare in a similar way.
Leupold needs to do some work if they want to keep up with the competition. Very disappointed.
Whoever said stick with the VX-5HD gen1 is right. Much better value since they are all on deep discount right now. Get’em while you still can.