Leica BA-BN phase coating ?

[DHB]

I have a pair of 10x42BA's manufactured in 1990 or so according to Leica. Would these be phase coated? I assume yes. Does anyone know if Leica changed thier coatings between this vintage and say a pair of 10x42BN's manufactured 2-3 years ago?
Thanks Much in advance.
Dave

[Leif]

I have a pair of 10x42BA's manufactured in 1990 or so according to Leica. Would these be phase coated? I assume yes. Does anyone know if Leica changed thier coatings between this vintage and say a pair of 10x42BN's manufactured 2-3 years ago?
Thanks Much in advance.
Dave

My guess would be no as phase coating was first used by Zeiss (I think they invented it) in about 1990. So I doubt Leica would have had the time to realise that it was something special, figure out how it worked, and finally introduce it to products. I read that Nikon did not figure it out until the mid-nineties, and used it in the HG/LX range, though I don't know if the source is reliable.

You could always ask the Leica USA service department. I have found them to be extremely helpful.

[DHB]

Leica USA said they are phase coated. Not that he was overly confident sounding but he thought all in the Ultra series trinovid (BA-BN) were phase coated. I knew they were awful sharp to be not phase coated so I believe him. I likely will be selling these and wanted to ensure the buyer gets a good product. For being that old these are like new.
Thanks Leif.
Dave

[henry link]

Leica USA said they are phase coated. Not that he was overly confident sounding but he thought all in the Ultra series trinovid (BA-BN) were phase coated. I knew they were awful sharp to be not phase coated so I believe him. I likely will be selling these and wanted to ensure the buyer gets a good product. For being that old these are like new.
Thanks Leif.
Dave

I have a brochure for the Trinovid Ultra series dated 1991 which says they are phase corrected. I'm virtually certain they were from the start.

FWIW I have a Zeiss brochure with a list of "Carl Zeiss Milestones". It dates the invention phase correction coatings as 1980. If so it certainly took a long time to get out of the lab and into binoculars. I seem to remember that Bausch & Lomb introduced phase coating in the Elites almost simultaneously with Zeiss' introduction in the Dialyts.

[Leif]

I have a brochure for the Trinovid Ultra series dated 1991 which says they are phase corrected. I'm virtually certain they were from the start.

FWIW I have a Zeiss brochure with a list of "Carl Zeiss Milestones". It dates the invention phase correction coatings as 1980. If so it certainly took a long time to get out of the lab and into binoculars. I seem to remember that Bausch & Lomb introduced phase coating in the Elites almost simultaneously with Zeiss' introduction in the Dialyts.

Henry: I stand corrected about the date of invention. Does the brochure say when Zeiss first marketed a phase coated binocular? The date I gave comes from an unreliable source.

[Leif]

http://www.zeiss.de/C12568CF00206298/EmbedTitelIntern/CarlZeissMilestones.pdf/$File/Carl+Zeiss+Milestones.pdf

Quoted from the above Zeiss document:

"1988: P* coating is invented by Zeiss and used on all roof prism binoculars".

[hinnark]

Henry: I stand corrected about the date of invention. Does the brochure say when Zeiss first marketed a phase coated binocular? The date I gave comes from an unreliable source.

I have a German brochure from Zeiss. 1988 was the year they invented P-coatings with their roof binos which mean phase coated. BTW T* coatings was invented in 1979. But I guess also that Leica BA Trinovids had phase coatings from the beginning.

Steve

[henry link]

"1988: P* coating is invented by Zeiss and used on all roof prism binoculars".

Lief,

Obviously a typo in my brochure. 1988 sounds more like it.

Henry

[Ragna]

I had Zeiss 7x42s these were brought in 1989 and they were P coated.