I'm impressed with Nikon's scopes, and most particularly their new side-focus Buckmasters series 4.5-14x and 6-18x. Side-focus is a feature that Leupold, Zeiss, Sightron, Nikko, and other scope brands have used on their top-of-the-line scopes. Nikon also offers side-focus in some of their high-end tactical scopes IIRC.
Another brand I've had exceptional luck with in recent years is Burris. As an avid airgunner, I can tell you that their airgun optics are first-rate, offering superb optical clarity, ruggedness, , and close-focusing capability. Now if they too would go the side-focus route I'd be happy as a clam!
Also a fan of the Zeiss Conquest series. When I was younger and had extra money--something that seems to be in short supply with kids in parochial school--I had the best Zeiss, Swarovski, Schmidt und Bender, and Leupold optics that money could buy at the time (have never owned a Leica or, back in the day, Leitz product but I hear they are outstanding as well). Nowadays I appreciate the fact that a weatherproof Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40mm can be had for less than four-and-a-half bills. Awfully good glass for the money, as is the Nikon Monarch series for game use.
In the Burris line I prefer their Fullfield II scopes to their pricey Signature series, but like their Signature 8x32mm binocs. Speaking of binoculars, for the $$$ it is hard to beat the Zeiss Compacts and most of the Nikon line. If you're going the roof prism route make certain that they are phase-corrected, as you are better off with less expensive inverted porro prism binocs than with non-phase-corrected roof prism ones. JMHO, of course...your mileage may vary.
