Sure that Gary has said the Conquest has ED glass.....
Yes! :t: cue - end of speculation .......
Although, all ED glass is not created equal, so even this new 'Terra' model will have the speculators primed (no hidden message there for the clue hunters either!). I know that
we at
Bf have managed to pin down a few specifics in the past (HT stuff being one of the no brainers), though companies are not in the habit of giving away such vital business confidential info. If we get it well and good - bully for us! But if not, then I at least understand why ............|:x|
The comments in this thread are interesting, and in many ways predictable.
Predictable first off in the degree of "snobbery" or "elitism" apparent here. "Zeiss is ordained by a higher power to only make elite level expensive binoculars intended only for those who are able to appreciate the finer things in life".
Zeiss it seems to me has produced a heck of a good binocular in the new Conquest HD...good for them. For less than $1,000 you can have a Zeiss binocular that needs not apologize to any other binocular for the view it offers, or for the apparent construction quality it contains. You also don't have to save twice as much to get it as compared to the new Victory HT either. I grant, sight unseen, the tenant that the HT is likely a better binocular than the HD.
We have heard practically since the inception of today's plethora of less expensive, yet very good glass, that these are from "posers", "re-branders" or any of several other "pejorative" terms. All lament the fact that these johnny-come-lately's have no experience and are far from anything like being a world leader in optics. Sage advice is given to avoid these. Now here we have what is obviously a world leader in Zeiss offering a still lower tier than the Conquest HD. Now suddenly Zeiss is sullying its fine name. I submit Zeiss is like any other company, they need to sell their product in order to survive.
It seems to me they have made the decision to offer the Zeiss blue badge on the Terra ED. Again, good for them. I have this silly notion that Zeiss will use their know how and expertise and may well raise the bar yet again on lower price glass. I predict is is a Zeiss design that is outsourced outside of Germany and will have strict Teutonic QC supervision. It is very likely to be a very decent lower mid priced glass. If that's not for you, then buy a Conquest HD, a Victory HT, or even a Swarovision.
Further comments reserved until after I actually have a chance to look at a Terra.
Steve,
Admittedly I've only skimmed this thread (unless the speculatin' is seriously funny and/or insightful - I really ain't in the market thesedays......=), but I wasn't getting that
("snobbery") ......
Firstly, this
could be great for consumers, although the spec /form holds no appeal for me (not even a wide field 8x, and only 14mm ER on the 10x, also the weight on both, while lighter, is still over what
I would like ...... just sayin' is all).
I agree with you on the Conquest HD - it's a bit of a market sledgehammer - goal! (about the only shortcoming I can see, and many others have commented on too is the weight - too heavy for a nice birding bin). If it was me sitting either side of the boardroom table I would have just shoved the very nice HD optics in a CFRP body - dropping the weight way down, fiddled with the styling /skin, and marketing a bit, and shazzam! Rampant 'value player' erosion stabilised, and new fields layed down ......
But consumers are one thing, and business is another (strangely enough?!). Will the new bin end up being a 'Terra' in the market? Or just a dilution nightmare for the fine Conquest HD. The die is cast now, so we shall see ........
What I, (and what I interpreted others as saying) was that strategically this business model tack is
strange stuff for 'Alpha' Zeiss. Mercedes Benz is not Hyundai and vice-versa. Although as I said before, there
may be valid business reasons providing some justification -
Nobody knows if that's the case for
sure unless they're part of the Senior Exec. at Zeiss. So I for one am not going to let the facts get in the way of a good story :brains: .........speculators on your marks, get set, ............ !!
Even though similarly to you, Brock makes a good point below about the wider market pressures from the ED ChinBins, your Hyundai still ain't a Merc (although it's really something to watch, how those clever little Koreans are pushing the Tuetonic Titans so hard - isn't it. Memo: someone at Toyota hire some Hyundai stylists pronto !!). Same game, different halves ...... although, I think the Zeiss suits will pull it all together with more internal consistency that Nikon (that's not saying a great deal though), however the move carries
huge risk - already to me, I feel that the 'Terra' spec is neither here nor there - no clear parameter winner - just 'ordinariness'.
Folks! The game is afoot ........ but then again, so is the thing on the end of my leg !! Enjoy B
........Besides the changing demographic factors I already mentioned, I think the other reason Zeiss is offering a lower priced bin is due to competition from the plethora of ED ChinBins on the market, which are getting better and better. Even former "Better Dead than Red" Hunters are now looking at ED ChinBins and thinking, do I really need a $2,400 Swaro when the ZR Prime is nearly as good and can be had for a quarter of the price? That's a lot of ammo money.......
<B>
btw, Brock! leave the business of being young to the young! You're demographic take was how shall we say ....... 'old-fashioned'!
:hippy:
Chosun :gh: