John A Roberts
Well-known member
After I recently posted the introductory tables about Swarovski, Zeiss and Leica roof prism binoculars, Troubador PM’d with a query about the Zeiss table
This prompted me to refer to what I’d downloaded about the SF and HT models, and it occurred to me that the information would be of wider interest
Attached below is:
1) The introductory SF brochure of 60 pages
Although it’s primarily about the SF there are a lot of comparisons to the HT
In relation to the ergonomic advantage of the SF demonstrated in the diagrams on pages 18 and 19,
my practice with the EL SV is to simply place my middle finger on the bridge arm, so that the index finger then lies straight across the focuser
2) A correctly labelled version of the diagram shown on page 13 above
This version is from the Zeiss publication ‘Beyond’ from 2015
3) Patent US9459441 covering the main aspects of the hinge design
It also includes another diagram of the optical construction
Also, Gijs van Ginkel has posted some clear photos of a cutaway SF (including one in comparison to a Swarovski EL SV) here:
https://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=3189335&postcount=29
4) The introductory HT brochure, and
5) The clearest version that I could find of this cutaway HT image (it’s from Allbinos: https://www.allbinos.com/305-binoculars_review-Carl_Zeiss_Victory_HT_10x42.html )
OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION
TRANSMISSION DATA
GIJS van GINKEL
Gijs of course provides the most comprehensive source of transmission data. His reviews typically contain several comparative graphs,
see: https://www.houseofoutdoor.com/verrekijkers/verrekijkers-testen-en-vergelijken/
A test of the SF 8x42 can be found here: https://www.houseofoutdoor.com/wp-c...Leica-Swarovski-en-Zeiss-def-MAART-2016-1.pdf
And one of the HT 8x42 here: https://www.houseofoutdoor.com/testrapporten/Test_Zeiss_Victory_HT.pdf
ALLBINOS
Allbinos also includes a transmission graph in many of it’s reviews at: https://www.allbinos.com
I find it a useful secondary source as it includes models that Gijs has not tested
But be aware that the data from Allbinos and Gijs cannot be directly compared
- as they use different methodologies, they produce different measurements of the same transmission in a particular model of binocular
However, the Allbinos data seems to show the same relative outcomes as Gijs’ does - the ranking of models is consistent - high is high, low is low
REVIEWS
ROGER VINE
Roger Vine of ScopeViews provides a set of comprehensive reviews. Although his overall perspective is that of astronomical use:
- much of his comment is relevant to general use, and
- he also specifically addresses terrestrial use (see the sections: In Use - Daytime, and - Dusk, and; the Summary)
Roger has reviewed both the Zeiss SF 10x42 and the HT 10x54, and a list of his reviews can be found here: http://www.scopeviews.co.uk/BinoReviews.htm
Unlike many other reviewers, he mainly concentrates on models of 10x and larger, and those with 50 or 56 mm objectives
TOBIAS MENNLE
Tobias Mennle provides another useful source of information at his Greatest Binoculars website: http://www.greatestbinoculars.com/index.html
Tobias conducted a mammoth review of premium 8x42 binoculars, including both the Zeiss SF and HT models
and the summary page can be found here: http://www.greatestbinoculars.com/allpages/reviews/shootouts/shootoutpremier8x42s/8x42shootout.html
What seems to me to be the most significant - though largely unappreciated - point to be taken from the review,
is that Tobias allows transmission (via Gijs’ data) to be put into context with other design considerations
He allows us to consider objectively high transmission verses subjective brightness and image quality
i.e. how the image is perceived by the viewer - particularly under demanding conditions
The difficulty for the new reader to get to this point, is to move past the mass of the data in the summary page
One way to reduce things to a manageable size is to - after an initial read through:
- only consider the Zeiss HT and the Leica HD Plus
- and only in relation to their optical performance
Both perform really well across the optical criteria. However, as per Gijs, we know that while the HT has the highest measured transmission, the HD Plus has the lowest
As to why the performance is so, see Tobias' comments at: http://www.greatestbinoculars.com/allpages/articles/itsthebaffling.html
I hope the above will give people new insights into the SF and HT models
John
This prompted me to refer to what I’d downloaded about the SF and HT models, and it occurred to me that the information would be of wider interest
Attached below is:
1) The introductory SF brochure of 60 pages
Although it’s primarily about the SF there are a lot of comparisons to the HT
In relation to the ergonomic advantage of the SF demonstrated in the diagrams on pages 18 and 19,
my practice with the EL SV is to simply place my middle finger on the bridge arm, so that the index finger then lies straight across the focuser
2) A correctly labelled version of the diagram shown on page 13 above
This version is from the Zeiss publication ‘Beyond’ from 2015
3) Patent US9459441 covering the main aspects of the hinge design
It also includes another diagram of the optical construction
Also, Gijs van Ginkel has posted some clear photos of a cutaway SF (including one in comparison to a Swarovski EL SV) here:
https://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=3189335&postcount=29
4) The introductory HT brochure, and
5) The clearest version that I could find of this cutaway HT image (it’s from Allbinos: https://www.allbinos.com/305-binoculars_review-Carl_Zeiss_Victory_HT_10x42.html )
OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION
TRANSMISSION DATA
GIJS van GINKEL
Gijs of course provides the most comprehensive source of transmission data. His reviews typically contain several comparative graphs,
see: https://www.houseofoutdoor.com/verrekijkers/verrekijkers-testen-en-vergelijken/
A test of the SF 8x42 can be found here: https://www.houseofoutdoor.com/wp-c...Leica-Swarovski-en-Zeiss-def-MAART-2016-1.pdf
And one of the HT 8x42 here: https://www.houseofoutdoor.com/testrapporten/Test_Zeiss_Victory_HT.pdf
ALLBINOS
Allbinos also includes a transmission graph in many of it’s reviews at: https://www.allbinos.com
I find it a useful secondary source as it includes models that Gijs has not tested
But be aware that the data from Allbinos and Gijs cannot be directly compared
- as they use different methodologies, they produce different measurements of the same transmission in a particular model of binocular
However, the Allbinos data seems to show the same relative outcomes as Gijs’ does - the ranking of models is consistent - high is high, low is low
REVIEWS
ROGER VINE
Roger Vine of ScopeViews provides a set of comprehensive reviews. Although his overall perspective is that of astronomical use:
- much of his comment is relevant to general use, and
- he also specifically addresses terrestrial use (see the sections: In Use - Daytime, and - Dusk, and; the Summary)
Roger has reviewed both the Zeiss SF 10x42 and the HT 10x54, and a list of his reviews can be found here: http://www.scopeviews.co.uk/BinoReviews.htm
Unlike many other reviewers, he mainly concentrates on models of 10x and larger, and those with 50 or 56 mm objectives
TOBIAS MENNLE
Tobias Mennle provides another useful source of information at his Greatest Binoculars website: http://www.greatestbinoculars.com/index.html
Tobias conducted a mammoth review of premium 8x42 binoculars, including both the Zeiss SF and HT models
and the summary page can be found here: http://www.greatestbinoculars.com/allpages/reviews/shootouts/shootoutpremier8x42s/8x42shootout.html
What seems to me to be the most significant - though largely unappreciated - point to be taken from the review,
is that Tobias allows transmission (via Gijs’ data) to be put into context with other design considerations
He allows us to consider objectively high transmission verses subjective brightness and image quality
i.e. how the image is perceived by the viewer - particularly under demanding conditions
The difficulty for the new reader to get to this point, is to move past the mass of the data in the summary page
One way to reduce things to a manageable size is to - after an initial read through:
- only consider the Zeiss HT and the Leica HD Plus
- and only in relation to their optical performance
Both perform really well across the optical criteria. However, as per Gijs, we know that while the HT has the highest measured transmission, the HD Plus has the lowest
As to why the performance is so, see Tobias' comments at: http://www.greatestbinoculars.com/allpages/articles/itsthebaffling.html
I hope the above will give people new insights into the SF and HT models
John
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