8X30 B/GA I.F. "Olive"

[Hogjaws]

Has anyone tried these older "Classics"? There are not center focusing. How is the view? Are they phase coated? Are they very bright?

Hogjaws

[Robert Ellis]

They are designed as safari binoculars so their use for birding will be limited. Phase correction probably depends on how old the pair you are speaking of is, and being Zeiss they are probably bright.

[chartwell99]

They are designed as safari binoculars so their use for birding will be limited. Phase correction probably depends on how old the pair you are speaking of is, and being Zeiss they are probably bright.

They are bright, but being originally intended for military use, lack both phase coating and T* coating,and have a much narrower field of view than the 8 x 30BGA Classic.

[mak]

They are bright, but being originally intended for military use, lack both phase coating and T* coating,and have a much narrower field of view than the 8 x 30BGA Classic.

I disagree. The 8x30 olive does have phase coated roof prisms. They also have a multi layer lens coating.

[chartwell99]

I disagree. The 8x30 olive does have phase coated roof prisms. They also have a multi layer lens coating.

If you check the Zeiss website, you will see that the 8 x 30 B/GA IF Classic is the only Zeiss binocular not identified as T*. According to Zeiss USA, the coating on the binocular is far more scratch resistant than the T* multicoating, consistent with its military (which Zeiss now terms as "safari") purpose. Presumably that limited purpose also made P* phase coating unnecessary as well.

[Robert Ellis]

I think we have been down this road before. Zeiss has a tendency to change things as they go along, so I would not hesitate to imagine that during the life span of the 8x30 Safari-type there were versions treated to different coatings. I am thinking specifically about products whose life-spans are longer than the existence of phase correction as the 8x30 IF family presumably is.

[mak]

If you check the Zeiss website, you will see that the 8 x 30 B/GA IF Classic is the only Zeiss binocular not identified as T*. According to Zeiss USA, the coating on the binocular is far more scratch resistant than the T* multicoating, consistent with its military (which Zeiss now terms as "safari") purpose. Presumably that limited purpose also made P* phase coating unnecessary as well.

I did not say T*, but the lenses are coated. I stick to my post that they have phase coated / corrected prisms. I am certain that I have read this information somewhere before.

[Omid]

I had a pair till a few week ago. It was phase coaed (P*) but it was clear that this is not the norm for all of these binoculars (that it was P* phase coated was printed on a sticker which was then attached to the box). They are very sharp and quite bight but the field of view is not as wide as modern designs such as Nikon 8x32 HG. The built quality of these binoculars is superb. May pair was made in West Germany.