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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

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    Fond Memories: 17 Years with a Zeiss Dialyt 10x40B GAT*

    Thanks for that write up- it brought back fond memories of my own Zeiss 10x40BT* leatherette version that I had all through the 1980s and 90s. What intrigues me now is that you hardly ever saw any birder using the Zeiss 8x30B model at that time considering how popular the 8x32 format is today. I...
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    Zeiss SF 8X32 after 8 weeks of use...

    Is anyone here able to explain this massive price difference between the same item in the UK and USA? 1000$ cheaper in the states...why? What are the economics of this difference......? Even allowing for UK tax of 20% (VAT) doesn’t explain a 40% price difference. Who benefits? Is it Zeiss...
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    Skylark singing to avoid Sparrowhawk attack

    An unseasonal burst of skylark song in the grey October sky near Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, attracted my attention. I watched a fast aerial pursuit of a skylark by a male sparrowhawk (Accipier nisus) during which the lark repeatedly gave a short but loud and full burst of song. The pursuit...
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    Ultravid HD+'s made in Wetzlar

    Leica seem to be deliberately misleading customers into believing they are purchasing a German product when they are not. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Portuguese manufacturing so why don't Leica put Made in Portugal on their optics? I have a Leica scope (an apo-televid 60) that...
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    Old model Televid APO 62mm

    I have the APO 62 also and agree with RB that a good one is hard to beat. It is worth bearing in mind that these 62 and 77 Televids were actually manufactured by Meopta not Leica. They were sold with the Leica badge and were possibly assembled by them. I’m not sure the current range of Televids...
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    Identify these bins please

    I hadn’t picked up on that earlier thread on the same topic - thanks for linking to that and many apologies for repeating the question. It seems that the bins were identified as Hensoldt Jagddialyt 6x42 . Thanks Peter
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    Identify these bins please

    Can anyone identify the make and model of these binoculars used by Jane Goodall, the English naturalist? The photo was taken c. 1960 when she was studying chimpanzees in Tanzania at age 26. More info on Jane Goodall here https://www.thextraordinary.org/jane-goodall#biography
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    Color fringes on Leica APO 82

    The 77/62 televids were actually manufactured by MeOpta although sold with a Leica badge. The new 82/65 televids are made by Leica. Leica made optics including the Untravids seem to suffer terribly from colour fringing (chromatic aberration).
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    Autumnwatch 2018

    I rather suspect the decision to move to USA rather than than a European location was financial. No doubt there is a sales market for this type of high quality wildlife programming in the USA but not in non-English speaking European countries. Looking forward to it myself though.
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    Ultravid 7x/8x 42 pre-HD, HD, HDplus transmission figures

    Hi Like you I have experience of Leica camera lenses and have too been surprised by the lens aberrations in their Ultravid binocular lenses. I have sold my UV 8x32 (original, non HD model) now and the chromatic aberration and lens flare were factors in my moving to another brand. I concluded...
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    Status of Yellow Crowned Bishop

    Thanks Simon. Great link and info. Peter
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    Status of Yellow Crowned Bishop

    Birding today at the Aveiro marshes near Salreu in northern Portugal I saw at least two flocks of c. 10 birds in each of mixed male/female/prob young yellow-crowned bishops roaming amongst the reedbeds and rice paddies, and so appeared to be established and common here. I can’t find much about...
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    Does the FPro Swaro EL 8x32 still have the "glare" "issue?"

    Many of the ‘aberrations’ described by users here are particular to individuals own viewing characteristics. Some see terrible things through a particular model, others don’t see them at all. You must view for yourself as optical features such as the glare issue you mention can vary so much...
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    My first Swaro (SLC 10x56)

    Agree with you about the annoying dangly loose ends on the otherwise excellent FP strap. I tie the loose ends up to stop them waving about. I’m considering actually cutting them down as I have a fixed strap length that I never change so don’t need the adjustability of this design.
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    Zeiss Jena Jenoptem quality testing

    The meaning of quality in my post , ie ‘quality control’, simply refers to consistency of product leaving the production line, not that impossible to define aspect, which I agree is very personal. Quality control has a more measurable definition as you are comparing a known factor which is the...
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    Zeiss Jena Jenoptem quality testing

    A current thread (lemons) on the scope forum had me thinking about binocular quality control. Back in the mid 1970s I bought a pair of Zeiss Jena Jenoptem 10x50 binoculars - my first decent optics. After comparing the five or so examples which were in stock in the shop (in London, but can't...
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    ultravid non HD s. HD (8x42)

    I believe the main difference between the original Ultravid and the HD was the improved focus mechanism. The originals were prone to significant free play in the focus wheel (a defect widely criticised by many owners at the time and resulting in reputational damage to the brand) which was...
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    10x32 advice

    Quite honestly I'm not sure. I expect the HT to perform better in low light but I haven't actually gone out with both bins to test that one. Sorry. Peter
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    10x32 advice

    Hi The view through the HT is easier than on the SV, possibly because of the 42mm objective, and in some respects more pleasing and immersive, although this is hard to define. I miss that, but really, so far at least, that is all. The focus wheel on the HT is slightly smoother too but this is...
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    10x32 advice

    Sollas I have been following your comments on this thread with interest because a few years ago I had exactly the same dilemma as you - HT 8x42 or SV 8x32. I went for the HT because of the wonderful view it gives and superb control of CA and flare. However, the weight and size of the HT started...
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    Binos with or without field flatteners

    Although I enjoy reading about and discussing optics I am no expert so please excuse me if the following comment about field flateners is mistaken. I have good, recent, binoculars with and without FF lenses (Zeiss Victory HT 8x42 and Swarovski EL 8x32) and both are excellent optically so the FF...
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    TV nest cameras and nest failure

    Watching the BBC Springwatch series again recently I was beginning to notice how many nests that have been rigged for TV cameras fail. We saw the Peregrines on Salisbury cathedral who didn't incubate the clutch properly (only one egg hatched, but also the RSPB 'orphan' chick from Shropshire was...
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    Troubador's Mini Review: Black vs Grey SF

    Just to support the focus mechanism problem described by Troels above. I had the exact same issue on an early pair of Zeiss HT 8 x 42. The internal focus was very loose and moved as described here, under gravity. The focus wheel was also very free - no play in it but too smooth and moved easily...
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    Seeing is believing

    As a user of several 'alpha' binoculars and scope I am becoming more and more convinced that we see and experience the optics and mechanics of our instruments depending on what our brain tell us rather than what is actually happening. For instance, if we are itching to buy the latest...
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    Jordan off limits for birders?

    Just a quick update to add to this old post in case anyone was considering a Jordan birding trip and might be deterred by some of the experiences mentioned here. I have just returned from a 10 day trip to Jordan (part birding, part archaeology) and had no problems with the authorities with...
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