John Dracon
John Dracon
Back in March of 2010, John Russell started a thread about a new Zeiss spotting scope, the Dialyt 18x45x65. It was a funky looking scope, reminiscent of the Zeiss Dialyt 7x42 and Dialyt 8x56 binoculars. Those had the heavy black rubber armoring with ribs running length wise down the barrels, representing as tough a covering one would find on an optical instrument. This scope has this in spades.
I posted on the thread wondering why the lower end of the zoom wasn't 15 rather than 18. Hermann's posts I thought got into the meat and potatoes about the scope. Most of the posts pointed out that this wasn't a premier bird spotting scope but rather a hunter's scope, at best, even though it could pinch hit looking at birds.
I saw several in sporting stores in Montana, noting that the retail price hovered around $1500, considerably less than what Zeiss spotters were selling for then.
Then a while back while cruising past the optics section of a major sporting goods store (for Montana) I noticed the Dialyt in a glass case, with a substantially reduced price. Why the reduction? Seems like last fall a hunter had made the purchase and returned it the next day. It had all the papers and box and was in new condition, virtually unused. Ownership transferable.
So I started haggling with the clerk, and eventually the manager, and the bottom line turned out to be even less. So I snapped it up, and I'm not a bit sorry.
This Dialyt spotting scope is a hybrid. The optics are excellent for a zoom. The FOV is 120-69, somewhat less than a scope costing several thousand dollars more. Nitrogen filled and really waterproof down to over 10 feet. Close focus is 32.8 feet, compared to 13 feet of the DiaScope 65 T FL and 16 feet for the DiaScope 85 T FL.
I have difficulty imagining a birder without binoculars using the above scopes where birds are close by.
The Dialyt weighs 42 oz, 3 oz more than the DiaScope 65, and 10 oz less than the DiaScope 85.
It is in ruggedness that the Dialyt is the clear winner. I shudder to think of either DiaScopes falling off a tripod on concrete, or anything outdoors. I believe the Dialyt would survive that. Ruggedness is important to older people who are prone to drop things, partially because the skin on the finger tips grows thinner and everything is slippery.
The Dialyt can be hand held for quick peeks. I might look like Captain Horatio Hornblower looking at a French Man O' War with left hand extending out and right hand resting on my nose, but it is steadier than it appears.
Improvisation goes along with the Dialyt in the field. One person used a light rope with a noose fashioned on one end. The noose went around the body, and the other end around a tree, and both tightened up to become a makeshift monopod. No damage will be done to the rubber covering doing this.
The Dialyt goes with me everywhere I go now to look at birds, either riding on a seat or slung over my shoulder via the strap which attaches the objective cup and the ocular cup. These cups or covers are superior to anything designed for protection with other spotting scopes and stay attached.
The end of the Dialyt extends past the objective lens by approximately .75 inches. (there is no sliding sun shade) It does have standard threads for filters - M 67 x 0.75).
The Dialyt has the standard foot for 3/8" and 1/4" threads for mounting on tripods. All in all it is a compromise for birding, but under certain circumstances it can be very useful. I don't hunt anymore, but I enjoy looking at wild animals, and wherever they are found, birds will be found.
One feature that some will criticize is the Dialyt lacks the eye cups of modern binoculars. Instead it has the rubber turn down cups. I find these absolutely satisfactory. They are the screw on kind and interchange with the older Dialyts which I find a very nice and intelligent touch by Zeiss. The eye relief allows a full FOV with eye glass wearers through the zoom's full range.
Call it a retro spotting scope, marginally appropriate for birding, etc. The Dialyt does have its strong points, and a dedicated birder may find some use for it. I certainly have.
John
I posted on the thread wondering why the lower end of the zoom wasn't 15 rather than 18. Hermann's posts I thought got into the meat and potatoes about the scope. Most of the posts pointed out that this wasn't a premier bird spotting scope but rather a hunter's scope, at best, even though it could pinch hit looking at birds.
I saw several in sporting stores in Montana, noting that the retail price hovered around $1500, considerably less than what Zeiss spotters were selling for then.
Then a while back while cruising past the optics section of a major sporting goods store (for Montana) I noticed the Dialyt in a glass case, with a substantially reduced price. Why the reduction? Seems like last fall a hunter had made the purchase and returned it the next day. It had all the papers and box and was in new condition, virtually unused. Ownership transferable.
So I started haggling with the clerk, and eventually the manager, and the bottom line turned out to be even less. So I snapped it up, and I'm not a bit sorry.
This Dialyt spotting scope is a hybrid. The optics are excellent for a zoom. The FOV is 120-69, somewhat less than a scope costing several thousand dollars more. Nitrogen filled and really waterproof down to over 10 feet. Close focus is 32.8 feet, compared to 13 feet of the DiaScope 65 T FL and 16 feet for the DiaScope 85 T FL.
I have difficulty imagining a birder without binoculars using the above scopes where birds are close by.
The Dialyt weighs 42 oz, 3 oz more than the DiaScope 65, and 10 oz less than the DiaScope 85.
It is in ruggedness that the Dialyt is the clear winner. I shudder to think of either DiaScopes falling off a tripod on concrete, or anything outdoors. I believe the Dialyt would survive that. Ruggedness is important to older people who are prone to drop things, partially because the skin on the finger tips grows thinner and everything is slippery.
The Dialyt can be hand held for quick peeks. I might look like Captain Horatio Hornblower looking at a French Man O' War with left hand extending out and right hand resting on my nose, but it is steadier than it appears.
Improvisation goes along with the Dialyt in the field. One person used a light rope with a noose fashioned on one end. The noose went around the body, and the other end around a tree, and both tightened up to become a makeshift monopod. No damage will be done to the rubber covering doing this.
The Dialyt goes with me everywhere I go now to look at birds, either riding on a seat or slung over my shoulder via the strap which attaches the objective cup and the ocular cup. These cups or covers are superior to anything designed for protection with other spotting scopes and stay attached.
The end of the Dialyt extends past the objective lens by approximately .75 inches. (there is no sliding sun shade) It does have standard threads for filters - M 67 x 0.75).
The Dialyt has the standard foot for 3/8" and 1/4" threads for mounting on tripods. All in all it is a compromise for birding, but under certain circumstances it can be very useful. I don't hunt anymore, but I enjoy looking at wild animals, and wherever they are found, birds will be found.
One feature that some will criticize is the Dialyt lacks the eye cups of modern binoculars. Instead it has the rubber turn down cups. I find these absolutely satisfactory. They are the screw on kind and interchange with the older Dialyts which I find a very nice and intelligent touch by Zeiss. The eye relief allows a full FOV with eye glass wearers through the zoom's full range.
Call it a retro spotting scope, marginally appropriate for birding, etc. The Dialyt does have its strong points, and a dedicated birder may find some use for it. I certainly have.
John
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