SzimiStyle
The Shorebird Addict
I wanted to blog about this release, but I am not able to find a proper product image of any of the models. Any idea where to find some good resolution images (min of 800 pixels on the longer side)?
http://www.zeiss.com/sports-optics/en_de/nature/experience/news/increased-expertise.html
thank God, zeiss hired a bunch of bird watchers, at last..
all those zeiss hunting commercials started to get on my nerves..
I'm not inclined to give any design credit to the executive who says, "make me a binocular with a wide field that's sharp to the edge". Couldn't we all handle that job? The designer is the one who comes up with the eyepiece that makes it happen.
This from the US Zeiss facebook page:
"Carl Zeiss Birding_US SF stands for Smart Focus. The SF was designed by Gerold Dobler who also designed the EL. It is not a copy but an evolution of the design concept, better in every dimension. Wider field (the field of a 7x in an 8x), sharp to the edge without uncomfortable distoritons for a more comfortable view; lighter weight; stronger, more comfortable Triple hinge system; superior balance; and, as you would expect from ZEISS, brighter by a visible margin. In photographs it might look something like an EL (in person it actually has its own unique look), but the view it provides, and the way it feels in your hands, is so noticeably different that no one is going to mistake the SF for an EL, once they get them in front of their eyes. The SF is what the EL wants to be when it grows up. It is, very simply, the world's best birding and nature observation binocular. I am Steve Ingraham, and you have my word on that!"
Apparently some Americans are enjoying a "Zeiss Victory SF Experience" in Austria right now, including Ben from Eagle Optics and Debi Love Shearwater (well known pelagic guide). Some people have all the luck!
https://www.facebook.com/zeissbirdingus
Mark
With all those extra elements, it will be interesting to see if the SF retains the ''pop'' and transparency of the HT.
At any rate, my days of buying new bins ended with the HT's.....I guess I'm a hunter now.
Hi
My understanding is that Gerold Dobler leads and directs a design team. I wouldn't know how to separate the direction given to achieve certain optical and handling abilities and characteristics from the act of doing the optical calculations and detailed design work itself. It would appear to be two sides of the same coin.
If I am mistaken in this perhaps Mike Jensen or Mark Karn could enlighten us.
BTW I should add that Gerry attends the British Bird Fair from time to time and can be found on the Zeiss stand. He is the most approachable of people and an enthusiastic birder.
Lee[/QUOTE
Gerry has a PHD, but I'm not sure what exact discipline. At Zeiss, he is a senior PM, not an optical designer, not an optical engineer. However, he is one of maybe 2 or 3 people in the world that can lead a team to build a product like the SF. As the brainchild of the EL, he has been developing concepts for years on what the next evolution of a binocular can be. An excellent PM need not do the optical calculations, but they MUST understand what theoretically is possible. If you drive your team to the impossible, you get nothing. Knowing how lenses function within the product, how to move them, how placement affects what optical feature is a fine balance between art and science. His work is amazing, we are proud to have him, and his work isn't done yet.". .
Gerry has a PHD, but I'm not sure what exact discipline. At Zeiss, he is a senior PM, not an optical designer, not an optical engineer. However, he is one of maybe 2 or 3 people in the world that can lead a team to build a product like the SF. As the brainchild of the EL, he has been developing concepts for years on what the next evolution of a binocular can be. An excellent PM need not do the optical calculations, but they MUST understand what theoretically is possible. If you drive your team to the impossible, you get nothing. Knowing how lenses function within the product, how to move them, how placement affects what optical feature is a fine balance between art and science. His work is amazing, we are proud to have him, and his work isn't done yet.". .
Very lyrically waxed there Lee ...... :clap:
Yes indeed. But I think I would change the role of the product manager in Lee's analogy from composer to impresario, who may not be able to read, write or play a single note. If he choses a composer (designer) like Mozart we get the binocular equivalent of "Don Giovanni", if he choses Rogers and Hammerstein we get "The Sound of Music".
Henry
Very lyrically waxed there Lee ...... :clap:
But who brings the Carbon Fiber ?! |8.|
(..... perhaps there's just a tad more than 2 or 3 people in the world capable
Also, pizza is quite good for fuelling those all-nighter design sessions :eat:
Chosun :gh: