Six months ago, a compact angled spotting scope called the Zeiss Conquest Apia 65A showed up with a simple pitch: Zeiss optics, low weight and an affordable price. Now the family has grown. VALYRA has announced the Conquest Apia 85A, two straight models and a batch of eyepieces and accessories, all following the market's shift toward lighter, smaller equipment. The lineup now has four configurations: the Conquest Apia 65A and 65S (angled and straight, 65mm - below) and the 85A and 85S (angled and straight, 85mm - further below). The 65mm scopes cover 20 to 50x, with a field of view of 48 to 27 meters at 1,000 meters and a weight of about 1,344 to 1,350 grams, depending on the variant. They are built for mobility, for anyone who travels or spends long days in the field. The 85mm scopes cover 24 to 60x, with a field of view of 40 to 23 meters and a weight of about 1,758 to 1,772 grams. They gather more light for dawn and dusk and show more detail. Product Manager Stefan Gerner says the goal was spotting scopes that are "lightweight, easy to carry but also affordable," because spotting scopes have traditionally been bulky, cumbersome and costly. Optically, the scopes use ZEISS's HD concept, with up to 87% light transmission and the ZEISS T* coating for clear, bright images. FieldFlattener technology keeps the image sharp across the whole field of view, and a LotuTec coating keeps the view clear in rain, fog and wet conditions. The weight balance is optimized for stable viewing on a tripod or handheld, and the eye relief is designed for comfortable viewing. Handling matters in the field, so the scopes have large focus and zoom wheels, fast and precise focusing and an ergonomic design to reduce fatigue. The accessory range is where shooters may take notice. Every Conquest Apia scope works with new and existing accessories, including a newly improved stay-on case for each model, reticle eyepieces in both MRAD and MOA and the popular magnetic digiscoping adaptor. The ZEISS tripod range rounds out the system.The potential with reticle options is where most of TFB’s readers should show their interest; this is a great addition. Digiscoping is also a lot of fun, as long as your tripod is steady. The Conquest Apia 65S, 65A and 85A are available now through selected ZEISS retailers. The 85S, the reticles and the new stay-on cases arrive from mid-November. ZEISS Conquest Apia key features:Four models: 65A, 65S, 85A and 85S (angled and straight)65mm models: 20 to 50x, 48 to 27 m field of view at 1,000 m, about 1,344 to 1,350 g85mm models: 24 to 60x, 40 to 23 m field of view at 1,000 m, about 1,758 to 1,772 gUp to 87% light transmission and ZEISS T* coatingFieldFlattener technology for sharpness across the field of viewLotuTec coating for rain, fog and wet conditionsLarge focus and zoom wheels, ergonomic designReticle eyepieces in MRAD and MOA, magnetic digiscoping adaptor and improved stay-on casesCompatible with the ZEISS tripod rangeThese two links will help you to dig deeper for more knowledge on these optics:https://www.zeiss.com/photonics-and-optics/en/nature-observation/products/spotting-scopes/conquest-apia/conquest-apia-65.htmlhttps://www.zeiss.com/photonics-and-optics/en/nature-observation/products/spotting-scopes/conquest-apia/conquest-apia-85.html Would you choose the compact 65mm or the 85mm for low-light performance? How much weight are you willing to carry for a spotting scope on a long day in the field? I found out that the older I get, the more light and magnification I need, but I also want less and less to carry. The laws of optics are not kind to the seniors.If this post has you ready to hit the range, head over to gunranges.com - a free directory to help you find shooting ranges near you, wherever you are in the United States.