8x32, 10x32 FL Press Release

[Rico]

Victory FL binoculars (http://www.zeiss.de/C1256A770030BCE0/WebViewTopNewsAllE/066B42AB1DBF7102C1256F190046381E?OpenDocument)

"Zeiss achieves pioneering advances in this class with the new Victory 8x32 T*FL and 10x32 T*FL binoculars"

[Atomic Chicken]

Rico,

Sweeeeeeet!!!!!
The 8x32 FL weighs only 580 Grams (20.4 Oz). That's over 1/4 lb. lighter than my Nikon HG 8x32! If it is comparable in terms of brightness and sharpness, I'd seriously consider selling my Nikons for a pair of 8x32 FL's.

One other thing... if Zeiss came out with a 7x32 FL, I'd buy it in about 2 milliseconds! ;)

Best wishes,
Bawko

[Rich N]

Thanks, Rico!

I can't wait to have a look through them.

Rich

[Andy Bright]

I saw them last month and they are amazingly bright, looking forward to more prolonged use with them.

[Rich N]

I saw them last month and they are amazingly bright, looking forward to more prolonged use with them.

Hi Andy,

How do these new 32mm FLs compare in eye relief to the 42mm FLs?

Thanks,
Rich

[mak]

Hi Andy,

How do these new 32mm FLs compare in eye relief to the 42mm FLs?

Thanks,
Rich

Rich.

The eye relief is the same for the 32 FL as the 42 FL. All have 16mm eye relief. Eye relief with a minimum 15mm should give spectacle wearers a full fov.
mak

[Rich N]

Rich.

The eye relief is the same for the 32 FL as the 42 FL. All have 16mm eye relief. Eye relief with a minimum 15mm should give spectacle wearers a full fov.
mak

Thanks Mak.

That is very good eye relief for a 32mm binocular. I can't wait to try them.

I can't see the edge of the field in my Zeiss 10x42 FL unless I move a little off center. But, I do see close to the edge (when wearing my eye glasses).

Rich

[Jonathan B.]

[One other thing... if Zeiss came out with a 7x32 FL, I'd buy it in about 2 milliseconds! Bawko]

Why has no manufacturer done this? Swarovski's discontinued 7x30 SLC is a fine binocular, save for the amber color cast and 13-foot close focus. The image is amazingly natural and sharp, and the binocular is a joy to use. An EL, FL, or Ultravid 7x32 could be fantastic.

[chartwell99]

According to the Zeiss website, the 32mm FLs use Schmidt Pechan prisms vs. Abbe Koenig prisms for the 42mm models. Even with silver coated prism faces, reflection is far less efficient than refraction, so its interesting that early impressions of the 32mm models are so positive.

Perhaps it is not all that surprising, as I have been a fan of the tried and true Zeiss 8 x 30 Classic for years, and dispite its shortcomings (e.g., not waterproof, no close focus, miserable rubber eyecups), I am still amazed at the extraordinary level of optical performance. The actually pocketable size and manageable weight also go a long way to offsetting the minuses.

[Atomic Chicken]

[One other thing... if Zeiss came out with a 7x32 FL, I'd buy it in about 2 milliseconds! Bawko]

Why has no manufacturer done this? Swarovski's discontinued 7x30 SLC is a fine binocular, save for the amber color cast and 13-foot close focus. The image is amazingly natural and sharp, and the binocular is a joy to use. An EL, FL, or Ultravid 7x32 could be fantastic.

Jonathan,

I suspect the reason is economic - it seems like a large majority of people think "bigger is better" and there are not enough birders "in the know" to support a full line of 7x optics. I'm just glad that Zeiss had the presence of mind to introduce a full size FL in 7x, I'll be buying one early next year. A top-of-the-line 7x32 is still one of my "dream binoculars" though... as soon as an optics manufacturer releases a good 7x32 they will get my $$$. Hell... I'd even settle for a nice 7x25 compact if someone made one available!

I am a big fan of 7 power for binoculars, they have a magnificent field of view, nice wide exit pupil, and a depth of field that almost does away with the need for a focus control under many common conditions! Sure... the bird isn't quite as "big" as through higher powered optics, but it does tend to make one improve fieldcraft to get closer as a side effect. Much to be said for 7x... I'm surprised they are not more popular.

Best wishes,
Bawko

[normjackson]

Hell... I'd even settle for a nice 7x25 compact if someone made one available!...Much to be said for 7x... I'm surprised they are not more popular.


Look at the outcome of this recent UK Ebay sale; folks can barely give 'em away ;)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10955&item=6118593588

[Hermann]

According to the Zeiss website, the 32mm FLs use Schmidt Pechan prisms vs. Abbe Koenig prisms for the 42mm models. Even with silver coated prism faces, reflection is far less efficient than refraction, so its interesting that early impressions of the 32mm models are so positive.

I had a chance to look through one of the pre-production 10x32 FLs at a trade fair today. Unfortunately they didn't have the 8x32 FLs available; I would have loved to look through that particular model. An exit pupil of 3.2mm is just a bit too small for me.

Anyway, I liked the 10x32 FL a lot even though I didn't have a chance to do a thorough test of the optics since I couldn't take it outside. Very bright with high contrast, no visible CA and no ghosting when viewing against bright lights. Ghosting, that is reflexes when viewing against the light, is one of my pet peeves in optics, even more so than CA. Excellent handling, smooth and precise focussing, low weight and a large field of view. In short - they seemed like *really* nice binoculars.

It will of course be really interesting to see how the 32mm FLs perform against the 42mm FLs in the field once they're on the market in the next few months. Zeiss claims a transmission rate of over 90 percent due to newly developed dielectric coatings on the Schmidt-Pechan prisms. If that's borne out by their performance in the field, the 32mm FLs will be a most interesting low weight alternative to the larger (and heavier) 42mm FLs.

Looks like binocoholics like me will be in for an interesting time ...:)

Hermann