Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x44 CDS-ZL2

HuntingSFPMOA30 mm tube

The Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x44 CDS-ZL2 is a 3-15×44 SFP scope on a 30 mm tube with a Duplex reticle and 0.25 MOA clicks. Across its range the exit pupil runs from an estimated 14.7 mm down to 2.9 mm at 15×, where the twilight factor is 25.7. It is the dearest of the 8 hunting scopes here, at ~$1,199.

Approx. price: ~$1,199
Magnification: 3-15×
Objective: 44 mm
Weight: 19.7 oz

Best for

Open-country hunting where shots stretch past 400 yards

Manufacturer’s product page — not an affiliate link. Price and availability there may differ from our snapshot.

Derived optics

estimated

Exit pupil: 14.7–2.9 mm (3×–15×)
Twilight factor: 25.7 at 15×
Zoom ratio: 5×

Exit pupil and twilight factor are computed from the published magnification and objective diameter, not measured. Real exit pupil is also capped by the erector at low magnification, and coatings and glass quality move low-light performance in ways the formula cannot see — read these as comparisons between layouts, not verdicts on scopes.

Specifications

Manufacturer-published figures, read from leupold.com. MOA/MRAD conversions use 3.438 MOA per mil.

Magnification: 3-15×
Objective lens: 44 mm
Focal plane: SFP
Reticle: Duplex
Illuminated: No
Turret unit: MOA
Per click: 0.25 MOA (0.26″ at 100 yd)
Elevation travel: 75 MOA (≈21.8 MRAD)
Windage travel: 75 MOA
Zero stop: Yes
Turrets: Capped
Parallax: Side focus from 50 yd
Eye relief: 3.7–3.8″
Field of view: 38.3–7.7 ft at 100 yd
Tube: 30 mm
Length: 13.5″
Weight: 19.7 oz
Country of origin: USA
Warranty: Lifetime Guarantee

Features

SFP
MOA
30 mm tube
Zero stop
Capped turrets
Side focus
Lifetime warranty
Made in USA

For it, on paper

+ Side focus from 50 yd to infinity keeps the reticle sharp across the whole 3-15x range
+ CDS-ZL2 gives two revolutions (75 MOA) of elevation with a push-button ZeroLock and an optional custom laser-marked dial
+ 38.3 ft field of view at 3x for timber shots, with 15x available for open country
+ 30 mm maintube with 75 MOA of both elevation and windage travel
+ Eye relief stays within 3.7-3.8 in across the zoom range, so head position does not change when you dial power

Against it, on paper

− 19.7 oz and 13.5 in, noticeably heavier than the 13.1 oz VX-3HD 3.5-10x40
− Side focus bottoms out at 50 yd, too far for close rimfire or airgun work
− Plain Duplex reticle has no holdover references, so drop corrections rely on the dial
− No reticle illumination in this SKU; the FireDot version is a separate, pricier model