Cornell Lab Review - Zeiss Did Very Well Here (7 Viewers)

[jan van daalen]

Yes.

Good/timely warranty/repair service doesn't hurt either.

Mike

Mike,

You are right, but down here the Zeiss warranty and the repair service is of high standards, both from the Dutch distributor as from Wetzlar so that should not make any difference.

Jan

 

[Mike Penfold]

Mike,

You are right, but down here the Zeiss warranty and the repair service is of high standards, both from the Dutch distributor as from Wetzlar so that should not make any difference.

Jan

Unique qualities aside, the 8x42 Zeiss HT, and the 8.5x42 Swarovski SV are a toss-up.

In my experience, Zeiss service time from Canada has significantly improved.

Mike

 

[Mac308]

Unique qualities aside, the 8x42 Zeiss HT, and the 8.5x42 Swarovski SV are a toss-up.

Not to me, rolling ball makes the SV truly awful for me... Zeiss hand's down and I don't even own one and have no intention of ditching my Leica's!

Both the Zeiss HT and Swaro SV have terrible objective covers...

 

[CSG]

Actually, the objective covers and rainguard on the HT's work perfectly.

 

[Troubador]

Actually, the objective covers and rainguard on the HT's work perfectly.

The objective lens covers might work CS, but I defy anybody to look at them, and look at the price tag on HTs and tell me those covers belong on those bins.

I am a Zeiss enthusiast as you know but I really don't think those covers are a premium solution, a solution yes, but not a top-of-the-line, best-we-can-do one.

The rainguard is excellent as is the Lotutec coating in anything like normal rain. The only rain in which it is not effective is in rain that is very light and mist-like and the droplets aren't big enough for the coating to do its job. But I find it works well in normal and heavy rain (works just fine on my glasses too, but then again it was originally developed for spectacles). It definitely helps cleaning the lenses too.

Lee

 

[Holger Merlitz]

The objective lens covers might work CS, but I defy anybody to look at them, and look at the price tag on HTs and tell me those covers belong on those bins.

I am a Zeiss enthusiast as you know but I really don't think those covers are a premium solution, a solution yes, but not a top-of-the-line, best-we-can-do one.

The rainguard is excellent as is the Lotutec coating in anything like normal rain. The only rain in which it is not effective is in rain that is very light and mist-like and the droplets aren't big enough for the coating to do its job. But I find it works well in normal and heavy rain (works just fine on my glasses too, but then again it was originally developed for spectacles). It definitely helps cleaning the lenses too.

Lee

Lee, what should a best-we-can-do lens cover look like? Made of leather, with engraved golden Zeiss-logo?

I mean it, seriously, we should suggest here what exactly we expect to find on a 2000 Euro binocular.

Cheers,
Holger

 

[james holdsworth]

As both a bird watcher and binocular watcher at the same time, it is my observation that 90% + of all birders never use the objective covers.

I never have, nor any of my friends but, I suppose, if you want some the tethered end cap is the best solution.

 

[lmans66]

As both a bird watcher and binocular watcher at the same time, it is my observation that 90% + of all birders never use the objective covers.

I never have, nor any of my friends but, I suppose, if you want some the tethered end cap is the best solution.

I have also noticed that but I guess I am a man apart as I prefer to use them so I do have them tethered. My thinking is that if I spend 'that' much money on them, why take chances of scratching them up...

 

[Troubador]

Lee, what should a best-we-can-do lens cover look like? Made of leather, with engraved golden Zeiss-logo?

I mean it, seriously, we should suggest here what exactly we expect to find on a 2000 Euro binocular.

Cheers,
Holger

Holger

Its a fair question and I will be mailing my ideas on this to Zeiss with whom I have had a conversation about this already.

I don't use objective covers myself as, for the most part, we don't suffer from dry and dusty / sandy conditions in the UK: its usually wet here.

But I have tried out the HT covers in the field and I have to say that I found the cover a nuisance dangling on the tether and getting tangled up with other observation instruments or cameras or with their straps. or with twigs and branches of scrub I was pushing through, or snagging on barbed wire fences I was climbing over.

My argument is not about the lack of decoration or distinctiveness but the lack of a truly premium functional solution.

There are other design options that I think would be more efficient and user-friendly and, no, they don't involve leather, gold-plated Zeiss logos or carbon-fibre effect inlays, titanium fittings or antique brass and wood :-O.

Lee

 

[CSG]

Lee, I agree that they could do better. My point is that the objective covers on the HT's work fine, unlike the ones on the HD's. However, I prefer tethered covers like one finds on Vortex and use them on my 8x32 SE's and 8x32 HD's.

 

[Hermann]

As both a bird watcher and binocular watcher at the same time, it is my observation that 90% + of all birders never use the objective covers.
I never have, nor any of my friends but, I suppose, if you want some the tethered end cap is the best solution.

Hear, hear. I'm the same, I don't use them at all and I don't think I've seen more than a handful of people actually using objective covers in well over 30 years. Using them in the field is, well, counterproductive. I tend to look through my binoculars at lot in the field, and objective covers sort of get in the way in the most inconvenient moment.

BTW, the only half-way acceptable solution is in my opinion the one Zeiss uses for the 7x50 and the Hensoldt series of military binoculars. At least you can't lose them and they don't get in the way.

Hermann

 

[lmans66]

Lee, I agree that they could do better. My point is that the objective covers on the HT's work fine, unlike the ones on the HD's. However, I prefer tethered covers like one finds on Vortex and use them on my 8x32 SE's and 8x32 HD's.

But how many times I have heard of people complain about the tethered covers breaking or coming off or in the way. They look cheap etc..

I am not sure that tethered covers is the answer to the issue of entanglement with the strap etc.
My two sense after having covers of all types.

 

[Troubador]

But how many times I have heard of people complain about the tethered covers breaking or coming off or in the way. They look cheap etc..

I am not sure that tethered covers is the answer to the issue of entanglement with the strap etc.
My two sense after having covers of all types.

Exactly

Lee

 

[Troubador]

Lee, I agree that they could do better. My point is that the objective covers on the HT's work fine, unlike the ones on the HD's. However, I prefer tethered covers like one finds on Vortex and use them on my 8x32 SE's and 8x32 HD's.

CS

The problem with HT is that the outer surface of the barrels is uneven as there is rubber armour in parts but none in others. To get a sand or dust proof barrier it needs to be moulded to fit the contours of the barrels and then it ends up being fixed in one position which won't suit everyone, or the cover moves around during use of the bins and leaves gaps where sand can get in.

Lee

 

[CSG]

I can tell you for a fact that the soft and pliable rubber Vortex covers I'm using on my 8x32 HD's, which have similar armoring to the HT's in that it's not perfectly symmetrical around the barrels, work just fine to seal the objectives.

As to whether or not one likes tethered objective covers is a personal choice. I prefer them.

This is the type I'm referring to but don't recall which specific size I'm using. So far, I've not been able to find ones that fit the HT.

http://www.eagleoptics.com/binocular-accessories/vortex/vortex-tethered-objective-lens-covers-medium

 

[eddy the eagle]

I only use the eyepiece and objective covers when not actually using my HT's.For in the field work I use the S4 Gear Lockdown harness and I find that this protects the eyepieces from rain and the objectives from dust, scratches etc.Instant access and keeps tight to the body when bending under fences or tree branches.I have had this harness for 12 months and cannot fault it....Eddy.

 

[lmans66]

I can tell you for a fact that the soft and pliable rubber Vortex covers I'm using on my 8x32 HD's, which have similar armoring to the HT's in that it's not perfectly symmetrical around the barrels, work just fine to seal the objectives.

As to whether or not one likes tethered objective covers is a personal choice. I prefer them.

This is the type I'm referring to but don't recall which specific size I'm using. So far, I've not been able to find ones that fit the HT.

http://www.eagleoptics.com/binocular-accessories/vortex/vortex-tethered-objective-lens-covers-medium

I had that on my Vortex backup binos...and I have lost or have had two of them break on me. The strap holding the cover to the ring is not made of quality material and they snap off/break.

 

[Holger Merlitz]

Holger

Its a fair question and I will be mailing my ideas on this to Zeiss with whom I have had a conversation about this already.

I don't use objective covers myself as, for the most part, we don't suffer from dry and dusty / sandy conditions in the UK: its usually wet here.

But I have tried out the HT covers in the field and I have to say that I found the cover a nuisance dangling on the tether and getting tangled up with other observation instruments or cameras or with their straps. or with twigs and branches of scrub I was pushing through, or snagging on barbed wire fences I was climbing over.

My argument is not about the lack of decoration or distinctiveness but the lack of a truly premium functional solution.

There are other design options that I think would be more efficient and user-friendly and, no, they don't involve leather, gold-plated Zeiss logos or carbon-fibre effect inlays, titanium fittings or antique brass and wood :-O.

Lee

Would these covers serve better? At least, they are also useful sun-shades ...

Cheers,
Holger

 

[curvecrazy]

I have also noticed that but I guess I am a man apart as I prefer to use them so I do have them tethered. My thinking is that if I spend 'that' much money on them, why take chances of scratching them up...

Says the man who "worked HARD" for the money that bought the binoculars. Bravo!!! I know the covers on most are a pain. The covers on the Nikon SE's are snug and stay in place. on every other binocular I have they about fall right off. Lots a use??? Anyways. I usually store them with the covers. In the field the covers stay off. Too much trouble fiddling when birds are at hand. As you know they so often disappear in a blink.

I'm also one to set the focus ahead of time based on the cover that I am in. Saves a millisecond usually when the bird shows up right where you expected it would but your optics were focused in the wrong place causing you to miss the glimpse.

 

[lmans66]

Says the man who "worked HARD" for the money that bought the binoculars. Bravo!!! I know the covers on most are a pain. The covers on the Nikon SE's are snug and stay in place. on every other binocular I have they about fall right off. Lots a use??? Anyways. I usually store them with the covers. In the field the covers stay off. Too much trouble fiddling when birds are at hand. As you know they so often disappear in a blink.

I'm also one to set the focus ahead of time based on the cover that I am in. Saves a millisecond usually when the bird shows up right where you expected it would but your optics were focused in the wrong place causing you to miss the glimpse.

Right on....!

I like what you do and find myself doing that when I remember...I set the focus to at least near or far so I don't have as far to go to focus....