• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Victory FL 7x42 - more problems (1 Viewer)

G

GoldenBear

Well-known member
Just today have found another issue my Victory FL 7x42's that is really irritating. There is a distinctive rattle coming from somewhere inside. I can't tell which barrel, and I cannot visually see anything, but there is a definite noise. Seems to be somewhere in the eyepiece end.

A while back I posted how I found this old stock, NIB binocular at a very reputable Zeiss dealer, and had to send them in for repair of a reflection in the right barrel. When I received them back I thought they were repaired nearly perfectly, although after using them awhile I noticed they still have more reflection in one barrel than the other... about 95% better though.

I was pretty disappointed that they supposedly cleaned the interior surfaces, but I swear there was more dust and dirt in both barrels than when I sent them in. An unacceptable amount really, but since it does't affect the view, and because I didn't want to send them back and wait another 4 months, i figured I'll live with it.

Now, despite never being dropped, bumped, or mishandled in any way, they have developed an obnoxious rattle. I am really developing a love / hate with Zeiss. I had a pair of gray 10x42 SF's that showed shoddy build quality, and I've seen a lot of dust and dirt in several other models I've examined. (No maker is exempt from a speck of two of dust, but Zeiss is easily the worst from my experience)

I know others have had different experiences, but their QC really seems to be subpar from what I've seen. Especially frustrating considering how long it takes them to turn around repairs.
 
Time for you to move brand I guess. You've been unlucky with two models from Zeiss so perhaps you will find better QC internal cleanliness and robustness with a unit from a different company.

Good luck
 
I found where it's coming from... it's the little dust cover on the underside of the bin beneath the focus knob. It looks like this part would "float" so maybe this rattle is normal, although I've never heard it before.

Maybe some other Victory FL owners can shed some light and possibly talk me off the ledge? If it's not abnormal, and since it's not inside the bin, maybe it's just a quirk I hadn't noticed yet.
 
I have an early 8 x 32 Victory FL , pre Lotutec. Never noticed a noise or rattle from my unit, which has survived coming off a car roof at 45mph. Still very much in use.
 
GoldenBear said:
I found where it's coming from... it's the little dust cover on the underside of the bin beneath the focus knob. It looks like this part would "float" so maybe this rattle is normal, although I've never heard it before.

Maybe some other Victory FL owners can shed some light and possibly talk me off the ledge? If it's not abnormal, and since it's not inside the bin, maybe it's just a quirk I hadn't noticed yet.
Click to expand...

Hi GoldenBear,

Jepp, I would have guessed that too!

I had a 7x42, there was that too!
My girlfriend has an 8x32, it is only occasional!
I have read this "problem" several times in forums.
In German this disk is called "kidney disk"!
Try to ignore the sound, there shouldn't be a problem.

Andreas
 
I have the 7x42 T*FL - the little dust cover piece of plastic underneath the focus knob on my unit freely rotates back and forth approximately 1 cm. I spoke to Zeiss about it and they said this is normal. It certainly doesn't rattle though. It only moves when I press on it with a finger.

Lovely bin in my opinion. My absolute go-to when I go for a walk and don't want to bring my tripod with me.
 
Similar to others, the cover on the reverse of the focus knob has some play if you touch it on mine (owned since new, shipped direct from Zeiss), but it doesn’t “rattle” unless you go out of your way to touch it, and I never saw this as a “problem” to investigate further.

I just did a light shake of mine (for the first time ever?!), and no noises heard.

Awesome glass, never even considered changing them out as my main pair, treasure and enjoy if you can.
 
Last edited:
KenSchwarz said:
No rattles here. Use them every day. Sorry to hear you are having problems.
Click to expand...

Just using this post as an example - to all those who "don't rattle", is there free play in that little dust cover underneath the binoculars under the focus knob moving back and forth?

Im just curious.
 
Mine don't rattle either, and there is about 0.5cm play - perhaps a tiny spot of glue or blu-tack could be applied if it is bothering you that much?
 
Samolot said:
Just using this post as an example - to all those who "don't rattle", is there free play in that little dust cover underneath the binoculars under the focus knob moving back and forth?

Im just curious.
Click to expand...

Yes it rotates 1/2 cm or so, hinges fully open, similar to dwatsonbirder’s by the sounds of it - sounds totally normal if we are all experiencing similar. It rotates further when the hinges are set to my ipd.

The only “rattle” I can create is by tapping it, or the nudging back and forth of the disk by the aforementioned distance, i.e. between it’s stops.

I don’t see this as an issue either I have never noticed it in the field as my fingers only go there if I am really fidgeting with them, rather than actually using them, when my thumbs would never really go to that area.
 
Hi,

The dust cover underneath the focus wheel is designed to be slightly loose as the hinge is opening and closing inside it.

Gary
 
I found what you are talking about...yes

Samolot said:
Just using this post as an example - to all those who "don't rattle", is there free play in that little dust cover underneath the binoculars under the focus knob moving back and forth?

Yes, I finally understand what you are talking about. There is a hair free space between the dust cover and the focus knob and yes, you can move it if you push it. I hadn't noticed it before. Anyway, it doesn't rattle!
Click to expand...
 
It seems fairly clear that this is a normal condition and nothing to be concerned with. When I first noticed the noise I was worried it was internal.

I took them out today for a bit and despite not being flawlessly clean inside (I've tried every test I can think of and the dust is absolutely invisible), and a floating cover piece that may or may not occasionally rattle, the image quality is quite stellar.

I have an SLC WB 8x42 and Victory HT 8x42 and the little FL 7x42 is optically on par in every way that counts.
 
Seems like a non-issue. I have both the round-lipped eyecups and the square-lipped eyecups. One of the round ones wasnt extending smoothly so I reached out to Zeiss and they are sending me a replacement, which I thought was nice. I asked if the new SF eyecups are compatible and sadly they are not ;)

These binoculars are certainly one-of-a-kind and seem to have a cult-like following. I compared them to the Leica UVDHD+ 7x42 and the FL's to me came out on top subjectively. Leica makes colors pop which some find very appealing including Tobias Mennle whose reviews I read with great appreciation. The Zeiss however have that really nice wide FoV, and brighter "white-washed" image that I really like. What I noticed yesterday though is they certainly favor greens (now that leaves are finally starting to grow on trees after a mild, but loooong winter). Both binoculars are truly outstanding which I now think is more a result of the 7x42 format, a vastly underrated set-up. Cheers
 
Just for future reference (image attached)

I've had 4 Victory FL units (8x32, 10x42 and 2 units of 7x42) and that little conical cover under the focus wheel has made a rattling noise in each and every one of them. The first time I encountered the issue I was in shock, after spending so much money in such a valuable device, I just couldn't believe it. I rang a friend who has a 8x42 FL (works in the field and has put on the FL all the glassing hours one can possibly think of since at least 2005) and I was told his unit also makes this noise, ufff, what a relief. So everything is fine. I'm attaching a picture just to make sure we're talking about the same piece and if anyone ever comes to the same issue again, there can be some reassurance about the situation. It turns out the little conical cover actually rotates. See attached image: I have rotated the cover all the way it will go, and indicated the limits with my fingertip.

Following on what Samolot says, I think I subscribe to every word. Both 7x42 are amazing devices (mind you I've used the UVHD, not the +). I had both and I had the biggest trouble deciding which one to keep; sweet trouble, this is. In the end it was the FL for me. A binocular which is not devoid of flaws (more glaring, more field curvature compared to UVHD, bulkier and heavier feel in the hand, but brighter and more 3D-esque, sharper and more... how to say it... alive). Oddly enough is a device I consider to have more flaws than the Leica.
 

Attachments

  • Zeiss7x42FL_rattle.jpeg
    Zeiss7x42FL_rattle.jpeg
    54.9 KB · Views: 132
It's been many years ago, but I have posted on the rattle from that "dust cover" (which I affectionately call the "sand trap") before. It is inherent to all FL series binoculars. Every person who has told me their FL doesn't rattle, and whose binocular I've been able to test myself, has rattled, though some are louder than others. I don't find that it rattles much in normal use.

--AP
 
Warning! This thread is more than 4 years ago old.
It's likely that no further discussion is required, in which case we recommend starting a new thread. If however you feel your response is required you can still do so.

Similar threads

Saxatilis
Zeiss Victory 7x42 FL internal check after 15 years of use?
Replies
15
Views
1K
Rg548
R
L
Help! Coatings on Victory SF being... weird?
2
Replies
24
Views
1K
Hermann
Hermann
mgp13
ZEISS Victory SF Appreciation Thread
4 5 6
Replies
101
Views
9K
Scott98
S
mgp13
Zeiss Victory SF - damaged or is this normal?
Replies
4
Views
1K
Troubador
Troubador
A
Zeiss Victory 10x42 T* FL Rubber Armouring
2
Replies
33
Views
3K
PYRTLE
PYRTLE

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
Back
Top