Clever Zeiss Safari fake (1 Viewer)

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berryns

Well-known member

• Mar 24, 2015

• #1

Here is a fake Zeiss Safari listed on ebay. The markings are wrong; the oculars, body, and armor are slightly different; and it has an 8.5 degree FOV.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-ZEISS-8X30-BINOCULARS-/121603689008?

I sure would like to have a look through them.

 

Last edited: Mar 24, 2015

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John Dracon

John Dracon

• Mar 24, 2015

• #2

It's a fake. Had a Zeiss 8x30 IF Safari for many years. Not only are the markings wrong, the bleeding port screw is located on top of the arms. The Zeiss port is on the side of the arms. I have many old Zeiss brochures which show enough detail to support your conclusion. The Ebay listing has been removed. Where did it come from? I suspect from Japan, either by Nikon or Celestron. I have a Celestron 10x40 IF which looks similar.

 

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berryns

Well-known member

• Mar 24, 2015

• #3

I've seen a Swift, Brunton, and Celestron version of the ersatz Zeiss.

The Brunton was especially interesting because it was a 9x30.

I saved pictures of the Brunton and the ersatz Zeiss, and will post them later.

 

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berryns

Well-known member

• Mar 24, 2015

• #4

The Celestron version of the Zeiss Safari.

 

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berryns

Well-known member

• Mar 24, 2015

• #5

Here are pictures from the closed ebay auction. The fake Zeiss and the celestron are very similar. It wouldn't surprise me if the copies were from the same manufacturer.

 

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gulf1263

Well-known member

• Mar 27, 2015

• #6

Nikon made a very nice 8x30 that looked similar to the Zeiss.
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