Some further information . . .
Kahles is - and always has been - primarily a producer of telescopic sights
However, they have also intermittently offered binoculars, dating back to around 1910,
there are some early models on Hans Leichtfried’s excellent website ‘fernglasmuseum’, at:
http://www.fernglasmuseum.at/administrativ/museum_k.html
2 LINES OF ROOF PRISM BINOCULARS
A) the first line was introduced in 2000 in both 8x42 and 10x42, with an 8x32 model added some time after
see the attached table from a 2007 catalogue; the 8x32 appears to have used the 10x42 eyepiece - compare the AFOV and eye relief spec's
B) the more recent Helia line is from 2016 in 8x42 and 10x42, with an 8x56 model added in 2018
(there are also 2 Helia rangefinder models which were introduced in late 2017)
again see the attached table from a 2018 catalogue; and as can be seen, the basic optical specifications differ from the earlier x42 series
The site ‘Hunting Binoculars Blog’ has reviews of:
- the 8x42 Helia vs the 8x42 Noblex ED at:
https://huntingbinoculars.net/2018/06/13/kahles-helia-8x42-vs-noblex-docter-8x42-ed/
- the 10x42 Helia vs the current 10x42 Leica Trinovid, at:
https://huntingbinoculars.net/2018/03/06/leica-trinovid-10x42-hd-vs-kahles-helia-10x42/
(the latter review also has clear photos of the both the Kahles ‘Waldkauz’ carry strap/covers, and Leica’s optional neoprene carry harness)
WHERE MANUFACTURED?
While the first series of RP binoculars was prominently marked ‘Austria’ on the focuser cover - there is no clear indication that any of the RP production was manufactured by Kahles
- as opposed to being assembled and tested in Austria *
A) the Allbinos review of the Kahles 8x32 makes clear that it is strikingly ‘similar’ to the Minox HG 8x33 - see the last photograph in the review (post #4 above provides a link to the review)
[and as indicated in the Minox sub-Forum on this website, there are various indications that Minox components are manufactured outside Germany;
also Minox catalogues carefully refer to German design, and German components (Schott glass), without ever claiming German manufacture]
B) the quote that Canip provided in post #9 indicates a similar situation in relation to the current Helia production
In contrast, Kahles main product lines of telescopic sights are both manufactured and assembled in Austria
* EDIT: see the 2002 History of Kahles document included in my previous post. In the 3rd and 2nd last paragraphs, it:
- describes in detail the manufacture of telescopic sights, and then;
- notes that the 8x42 and 10x42 binoculars are also assembled at the Vienna plant
John