I've been using an L3 as my backup scope for awhile now and it's performed admirably.
I didn't want to spend more than $2,500 for a backup scope.
The ocular zoom isn't a gimmick, it works as designed.
It makes a 384 scope a viable option for longer range shot's.
The scope doesn't record the zoomed image because it's magnifying on the ocular side, not the objective side.
Here's a video of a fox that was almost 300 yards away when taken.
I didn't have to digitally magnify the scope to make the shot.
As with most thermal optics, the actual image looks a lot better than the downloaded image.
SJC