Old Zeiss Porros -V- New Roofs?

[Steve Napier]

Hello everyone this is my first post so go canny!
I have two pairs of old Zeiss Porro prism binoculars,
8x30 Deltrintem.
10x50 Dekarem.
I mainly use these for Astronomy and general terrestrial use.
Ive never observed through a pair of Zeiss Roof prism binoculars and
I was wondering how they compare in terms of brightness,contrast,
colour correction etc.
Would the current roof prisms be a BIG step up in terms of Image quality?
Thankyou
Steve.

[Pinewood]

Dear Steve,

I have compared my old LEITZ 8x30 BINUXIT(1950), which is similar to the Deltrintem, to a Leica 8x32 BN. Except for brightness, I prefer the old Porro, for overall optical quality, including field of view. However, I suffer from an indulgence in "classical panache."

Happy bird watching,
Arthur Pinewood :scribe:

[Atomic Chicken]

Steve,

For astronomical viewing, where clear weather is almost a given, you will probably do much better to stay with Porro prism binoculars. Roof prism binoculars are usually weatherproof and extremely rugged and compact, but they sacrifice image quality to achieve these design goals.

Best wishes,
Bawko

[Pinewood]

Steve,

For astronomical viewing, where clear weather is almost a given, you will probably do much better to stay with Porro prism binoculars. Roof prism binoculars are usually weatherproof and extremely rugged and compact, but they sacrifice image quality to achieve these design goals.

Best wishes,
Bawko
Steve and Bawko,

I am , recently, convinced that roof prisms of the fiinest quality, match Porro glasses in almost all optical qualities, with the exception of field of view. In fact, they could have a large field of view, but then the roof glasses would be too fat for fashion. Note that the the original 8x30 Trinovid has a wider field than the current Leica 8x32 BN.

For astronomy, some viewers experience 'spiking' of bright stars and planets, unless the glass is properly steadied.

For all binoculars, multicoating has been a marked improvement in image quality, which is why my Binuxit is not as bright as current glasses. I own two Zeiss roof prism glasses, but one cannot properly compare a 7x42 or an 8x40 with an 8x30 or even 7x50.

The biggest problem is that first quality roof prism glasses add a great deal of expense for their advantages of ruggedness, watertight integrity and close foucssing.

Incidentally, I started bird watching to get some more value from my binoculars, which I had used mainly for astronomy.

Happy star gazing and bird watching,
Arthur Pinewood :scribe:

[Pinewood]

Steven,

Have you looked at the Fujinon Polaris series of Porro binoculars? They seem to have been made for astronomy, with individual focussing, flat fields and up to date coatings.

Happy star gazing,
Arthur Pinewood

[Rich N]

Hello everyone this is my first post so go canny!
I have two pairs of old Zeiss Porro prism binoculars,
8x30 Deltrintem.
10x50 Dekarem.
I mainly use these for Astronomy and general terrestrial use.
Ive never observed through a pair of Zeiss Roof prism binoculars and
I was wondering how they compare in terms of brightness,contrast,
colour correction etc.
Would the current roof prisms be a BIG step up in terms of Image quality?
Thankyou
Steve.

Hi Steve,

Why not take your Zeiss porros over to a store that has some of the new Zeiss FLs in stock and do a comparison?

There may not be many people on this list, not to mention the few willing to post here, who have the Zeiss porros have.

Our local astronomy group had a star party in the hills about 40 miles south of San Francisco, California. I tried my Ziess 10x42 FL. It performed very well.

Rich

[Rich N]

Steve,

For astronomical viewing, where clear weather is almost a given, you will probably do much better to stay with Porro prism binoculars. Roof prism binoculars are usually weatherproof and extremely rugged and compact, but they sacrifice image quality to achieve these design goals.

Best wishes,
Bawko

In the past I would have agreed. The current crop of roofs are very good. As good or better than the best porros.

Rich

[Steve Napier]

Thankyou for your replies.
Im now the owner of a pair of 7x42 FL.
These were bought mainly for daytime terrestrial use but,they are turning out to be a great hand held Astronomy binocular too.
Thanks
Steve.

[Rich N]

Thankyou for your replies.
Im now the owner of a pair of 7x42 FL.
These were bought mainly for daytime terrestrial use but,they are turning out to be a great hand held Astronomy binocular too.
Thanks
Steve.

Hi Steve,

Have you compared your new FL to your older Zeiss porros? Now that you have a new Zeiss how would you answer the questions you asked at the start of this thread?

Rich

[Steve Napier]

Thats a good question,I wished I had asked it!
They are FAR superior in every catogery,the CZJ 8x30 and 10x50 are very sharp so,the difference is not too great here but,the brightness and colour defination is incredible.Much more pure view.Its as though there is NO glass in the binocular!
I really hope Zeiss release a 12x model in the FL range.
Thanks
Steve.

[twitcher]

hi everyone am new to this, however have a Q for anyone who can enlighten me some,the classic Ziess 10+40 (thats not meant to be an add sorry cant find the timeson my computer lol ) that said can anyone tell me what quality of class the said 10 by 40 BGAT *P*binocular -BNIB is in relation to the good and the bad, of the classic range of binocular and what all that abbrev is meant to be, sorry about such ignorance but have a pair of Ziess 8by30 and have done many years of birding not all by me but anyhow they are simpley great alas were that is till the coating got badly scratched on one of the lens sorry for waffel per say cheers to all and happy birding to all twitcher

[Otto McDiesel]

the said 10 by 40 BGAT *P*binocular -BNIB

10x means 10x magnification
40 means 40 mm diameter for objective lenses
B means "brillen.." something in German, and it means that people with eyeglasses can use the binoculars because they have rubber eyecups and enough eye relief
GA means "gummi armierung" - they are rubber armored
T* is a coating for lenses
P* is a coating for prisms (phase coating)
Very good binoculars, classical. B&H photo has them for $740.
Beware of ebay bargains, that model was produced for a long time, and the ones without P* coating failed to impress me (i will not use any stronger words here).
and NIB probably means New In Box

[twitcher]

cheers Otto I kind new some of that, on the other hand was trying to find out more here than on the www. have tried looking for a full comprehensive review of the bino but seems very difficult to find I thought with the price paid for them I would have little bother finding reviews lol then not everyone is me thank God says you all .. Anyhow thank you Otto good luck birding, was out today with G/daughter and tested them out thought the image quality was better than images of the past seen through an array binos but then again as one gets older does one really get wiser mmmm still have to think long and hard about my last purchase lol or is it lol mmmmm I really love the ziess make but maybe its just because its Ziess ..... cheers Twitcher