Binocular Types

[bluebird00]

Hi

I hope someone can help me here because I've had no luck searching online.

Can anyone explain what are the meanings of different types of binoculars ie DCF, ZCF, MCF etc.

Is one type preferable to another for bird watching?

Thanks in advance.

[Tero]

There are 3 types
Porro..old army type
Roof Prism...see Wikipedia for the prisms
Reverse Porro, like Nikon Travelite or a similar Opticron

see also
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=99721

DCF is a German acronym, a type of roof prism

[bluebird00]

Thank you - that's a really useful thread.

[Tero]

As far as preferences go for birding, it all varies. If money is an issue, some lighter end 8x porro model is a good starting point. But I hesitate to recommend any model as I have no porros left myself. Something in a 8x40 size. Or 8x30.

[NWBirder]

what's ZCF then?

[ceasar]

what's ZCF then?

I think it's a type of barrel construction for Porro Prisms, but I could be wrong.

Maybe EDZ, aka Ed, one of the Binocular Experts on this forum and on Cloudy Nights could intervene here? ;);)

Cordially,
Bob

[Kevin Purcell]

The CF is Center Focus in this case, AFAIK.

[Alexis Powell]

what's ZCF then?

As Bob noted, the Z part used to be used to indicate a Z-body type porro design (rather than a B-body type porro design--though nobody seems to care about the difference these days); however, I've also seen it used to indicate a zoom binocular in some cheap offerings. The CF is center-focus as Kevin noted.

--AP

[Tero]

The D of DCF is German, Dach or roof No idea of Z. But it used about a porro not a roof prism, as noted. There are two possible porro prism arrangements.
http://www.chinatraderonline.com/Binoculars/DCF-Binoculars-Series/7x50-ZCF-Binoculars-19340483/

I think only D starting codes are roof prisms, the others are various porros.

Here is a cute little porro where you can actually see the shape of the triangular prisms
http://www.opticsplanet.net/minox-6x20-cp-classic-porro-compact-binoculars.html

[henry link]

The "Z" and "B" Porro body style designations go way back. Z stands for Zeiss, sometimes called German style and "B' stands for Bausch and Lomb, sometimes called American style. The Zeiss style uses a two piece body with the objective tubes screwed into the prism housing and the Bausch and Lomb style combines the objective tubes and the prism housing into a one piece body.

A "B" is more often used today to indicate a binocular suitable for use with eyeglasses.

[ceasar]

The "Z" and "B" Porro body style designations go way back. Z stands for Zeiss, sometimes called German style and "B' stands for Bausch and Lomb, sometimes called American style. The Zeiss style uses a two piece body with the objective tubes screwed into the prism housing and the Bausch and Lomb style combines the objective tubes and the prism housing into a one piece body.

A "B" is more often used today to indicate a binocular suitable for use with eyeglasses.

Thanks Henry. That stimulated my memory and that's how I remember it.
Bob

[NWBirder]

Bob and everyone, thanks for the reply. It is very educational. I learnt some German here too.;)

[Pinewood]

I think it's a type of barrel construction for Porro Prisms, but I could be wrong.

Maybe EDZ, aka Ed, one of the Binocular Experts on this forum and on Cloudy Nights could intervene here? ;);)

Cordially,
Bob
Bob,

You are on the button! In Porro binoculars, there were two types of construction of each barrel. A one piece construction was known as American, and a two piece construction, with objective lens, mounted in a piece screwed into the the prism housing, known as German or Zeiss type. Hence ZCF means Zeiss style, center focus. I read that in an Encyclopedia Americana published in the 1990's, when encyclopedias were on paper.
D is an abbreviation of dach German for roof.
Obviously, these letter designations have nothing to do with the country, where a binocular is made.
Does that help?

Happy bird watching,
Arthur Pinewood :egghead: