Servicability of dialyt 7x42 binoculars (1 Viewer)

matt green

Norfolkman gone walkabout

• Jan 2, 2021

• #1

A question for anyone more familiar with classic zeiss optics than myself!

A pair of classic zeiss dialyt 7x42 in fairly rough condition are coming up in a local auction and if they go cheap I might take a shot at them, however they are described as having fungus and worn rubber armouring so would likely need to have them serviced..you can probably guess whats coming next!!

Is it likely zeiss would service them, they may need internal cleaning/realigning and maybe even new rubber and how much would this likely cost?

The current situation dictates the auction is online only so unable to inspect them in person,

Matt

 

PYRTLE

Old Berkshire Boy

• Jan 2, 2021

• #2

Gary Hawkins at East Coast Binocular Repairs is your man. Your issue will be availability of spares, and whether cost effective..... particularly if described as you say. Hopefully T*P* otherwise I wouldn't personally touch them. Thankfully my pair are still in very good nick after being cleaned by him at Birdfair many years ago.

 

garymh

Binocular Engineer

• Jan 2, 2021

• #3

Hi,

The binocular can still be serviced but it may not be worth it.

If the fungus is very light and fresh it may be possible to clean the optics and treat them with fungicide. If it has got between the elements or started to etch/stain the optics then the only option would be replacement.

An idea of prices for 7x42 parts is:

Ocular assembly £137.00 each
Prism assembly £146.00 each
Objective assembly £149.00 each
Replacement armour £30.00
Plus whatever labour is required.

As you can see........in a worst case scenario the cost to replace all the optics and the armour would be over £800 + labour.

Gary

 

Conndomat

United States of Europe

• Jan 2, 2021

• #4

matt green said:

Is it likely zeiss would service them, they may need internal cleaning/realigning and maybe even new rubber and how much would this likely cost?

Click to expand...

Hi Matt,

I recently had a 10x56 FL for maintenance at Zeiss, it was expressly pointed out that Zeiss does not clean binoculars with fungus!
I would strongly advise against buying such a glass, the fungus can also attack other optics if it goes badly.

Andreas

 

matt green

Norfolkman gone walkabout

• Jan 3, 2021

• #5

Thanks for the replies,

I know this model has a cult following, when I saw the innitial auction estimate of £70-90 along with a few other odds'n'ends it looked a bit too good to be true!

Considering the uncertainty of repair costs etc I will leave well alone!!

Matt

 

garymh

Binocular Engineer

• Jan 3, 2021

• #6

Hi Matt,

I looked at the same auction myself.

A couple of weeks ago when it was first listed there was no mention of fungus in the description - it looks like it has been updated.

The big no-no for me was that the rubber armour and eyecups on the 7x42 are covered with white mould. I imagine that the binocular has been stored in its case somewhere damp for a number of years. Damp conditions and leather cases are lethal to binoculars as fungus thrives on the leather. I dread to think what the internal optics are like as this binocular is not sealed / nitrogen filled.

Looks like someone could end up with an expensive purchase !!!!!!!

Gary

 

matt green

Norfolkman gone walkabout

• Jan 4, 2021

• #7

garymh said:

Hi Matt,

I looked at the same auction myself.

A couple of weeks ago when it was first listed there was no mention of fungus in the description - it looks like it has been updated.

The big no-no for me was that the rubber armour and eyecups on the 7x42 are covered with white mould. I imagine that the binocular has been stored in its case somewhere damp for a number of years. Damp conditions and leather cases are lethal to binoculars as fungus thrives on the leather. I dread to think what the internal optics are like as this binocular is not sealed / nitrogen filled.

Looks like someone could end up with an expensive purchase !!!!!!!

Gary

Click to expand...

The Dialyts sold for £420 so someone was pretty keen!!

The sale also included some nice old Jena porros, one particular 10x50 looked almost unused but don't know how much those sold for.

Matt

 

PYRTLE

Old Berkshire Boy

• Jan 4, 2021

• #8

Buyer beware!

 

garymh

Binocular Engineer

• Jan 5, 2021

• #9

Hi,

"The Dialyts sold for £420 so someone was pretty keen"

That was just the hammer price !!!!!!!

Factor in the buyer commission at nearly 30% and the postage that auction houses charge and in the end the buyer paid around £550.

Not far off thè retail price of a good (and safer) used example.

Gary

 

Last edited: Jan 5, 2021