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

Nobilem Super (1 Viewer)

dries1

Member
Not many have held one for a view - made in small numbers between 1980 - 85. Eight (8) degrees FOV and for the tame hearted, 1250 grams of prism glass and German steel (hoorah). I need to research, but the APOV appears larger than 60 degrees. This is 3 - D heaven.
Nobilem super 8X50 editrd.JPG
 
Yes Jack, I had one in the family many years ago (it is back in Germany now), and wanted to get one over the years, but they were built in small numbers, and do not come up for sale often at all. I am extremely pleased with this sample, just the slightest hint of haze, but almost mint overall.
 
Not many have held one for a view - made in small numbers between 1980 - 85. Eight (8) degrees FOV and for the tame hearted, 1250 grams of prism glass and German steel (hoorah). I need to research, but the APOV appears larger than 60 degrees. This is 3 - D heaven.
View attachment 1390551
Thanks for sharing plus the nice picture, Andy!!
My info says RFOV 8.0 degrees, AFOV is 64 degrees (so yes, you are right, it‘s over 60 degrees).
Enjoy that wonderful find!
Canip
 
I bought a Nobilem "super" in 1985. It came from the US importer at the time, who had to use the brand name "aus JENA" to sell Zeiss/Jena products here. As I recall it cost a little over $500, a large sum for a binocular then. I bought an Octarem a few years later and stupidly sold the Nobilem. I didn't fully appreciate the extravagance of its design and construction at the time. Should you ever decide to part with it please let me know. I won't quibble over the price.

Henry
 
Thanks Canip for the APOV info, was looking for it and could not find it. It is a wide glass, much wider than my Octarem 8X50 especially around the main body, plus the focus wheel is closer to the eyecups.
8X50 super.jpg
 
Jack are you referring to the Docter Nobilem 8X50? if so that is basically the Zeiss Octarem 8X50 made from 85 - 90 as shown below. They were produced under Docter when they took over production from Jena. Essentially the FOV of the DocterNobilem/Octarem is 7.4 degrees and they weigh almost 200 grams less in weight compared to the Nobilem Super. I always thought the Jena DF 7X40 was made similar in design to the Super, the civilian version was called the Septarem, another rare glass - DF with center focus.
Holger Merlitz did a review of them shown below.

DSCF5128.JPG
 
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Henry,

Just curious did you keep your Octarem?

Well, I bought two Octarems, identical to the ones in your photo. First I bought a rubber armored "aus Jena" version just like yours from the US importer, then a year or so later I bought an unarmored one labeled Zeiss/Jena from a UK dealer just like yours. I sold the rubber armored version and still have the unarmored one.

In 1987 the Octarem sold for £199.95 including VAT in the UK. I paid £173.86 without VAT (still have the bill of sale}. That worked out to about $280 in 1987 US dollars. I thought I had quite a a bargain until the binoculars arrived and I found out that there was a 40% US duty on East German goods, so I wound up paying a total of about $392, still about $100 less than buying from the US importer.

Henry
 
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Thanks Henry, - wow that is quite a charge, 40%. Thanks for the pricing history, just gives you an idea what the $$ could buy then.

Andy W.
 
I thought I had quite a bargain until the binoculars arrived and I found out that there was a 40% US duty on East German goods...
Very interesting. Did such policies apply then to all Communist countries, or might this have been a specific result of lobbying by Zeiss Oberkochen? (Hard to imagine what other products might have been an issue, certainly not Trabants...)
 
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