x32 SF (1 Viewer)

Troubador · Mar 6, 2020

Swissboy said:
It's interesting to note that Zeiss's own promotional pictures show the x42 model with extended eyecups and the x32 with the retracted ones. Thus optically enhancing the size differences. Your photo here provides a more "neutral" comparison. Of course, I assume your photo comes from Zeiss as well, it's just a matter of presentation.

I have been sensitized to this difference of presentation while studying the Zeiss x32 FLs. It always bothered me that it was constantly shown with the eyecups pulled out. Personally, I need them retracted, and I also feel the FL x32 looks better that way. With the SF, things look less critical. Nevertheless, the size difference between the x32SF and the FL becomes more apparent when the eyecups are retracted.

At any rate the new x32 SF looks very classy with its eyecups retracted. :t:

Hi Robert,

Actually the photo was taken by me and yes I made sure the eyecups were retracted to allow for a proper comparison. It might be the 32 is exaggerated in size a little due to the wide angle lens I used.

Lee

Mark9473 · Mar 6, 2020

Lee, now that we can transition into discussing facts, any chance of splitting this into its own thread?

AlexWes · Mar 6, 2020

The answer is now! However, it will probably be deliverable in May.
Zeiss just uploaded a youtube video about their new Victory SF 8x32 and 10x32, and some website seem to have uploaded the product.

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9j5WxhIpjs
Website: https://www.verrekijkershop.nl/verrekijkers/zeiss-victory-sf-8x32.html

Troubador · Mar 6, 2020

Mark9473 said:
Lee, now that we can transition into discussing facts, any chance of splitting this into its own thread?

Already done Mark. Go to First Impressions.

Cheers Lee

PYRTLE · Mar 6, 2020

In Focus said:
Now officially released:
https://www.at-infocus.co.uk/product/zeiss-victory-sf-black/
The In Focus Team

Are those prices in the link for the new 32mm? The link seems slightly ambiguous.

Thanks

In Focus · Mar 6, 2020

Yes - £2065 and £2110. If you choose the size from the drop down it will show you the price for each model.

pppppvvvv · Mar 6, 2020

wdc said:
Chosun, I agree the MHG is a great size and ergo-friendly package for a full-size bin.

Bill

I wonder what real ergonomically designed binoculars would look like!
They all seem to be designed for perfectly flat faced people..
by the same people who design cameras for people with no nose!

PYRTLE · Mar 6, 2020

dries1 said:
I am going to guess they are going to ask over $2,700 for the X32 (I will give Bill credit for this nick name, we all know what it describes - code name X32=Zeiss SF 8X32.
This thread is generating free advertising for Zeiss, I think some $$ should be provided to BF.

Andy W.

Pretty close guess, at £2065 for the 8/32 that's about 2700 US $.

PYRTLE · Mar 6, 2020

In Focus said:
Yes - £2065 and £2110. If you choose the size from the drop down it will show you the price for each model.

Thank you.

In Focus · Mar 6, 2020

£2065 less 20% VAT multiplied by $1.3/£1 means around $2240 excluding sales tax for US customers.

Mark9473 · Mar 6, 2020

Troubador said:
Already done Mark. Go to First Impressions.

Cheers Lee

I meant the ongoing discussion here, but OK.

ceasar · Mar 6, 2020

dries1 said:
I am going to guess they are going to ask over $2,700 for the X32 (I will give Bill credit for this nick name, we all know what it describes - code name X32=Zeiss SF 8X32.
This thread is generating free advertising for Zeiss, I think some $$ should be provided to BF.

Andy W.

After putting an 8x32 binocular on the market priced at nearly $3000.00 (!) Zeiss might end up not making enough profits from it to donate very much money at all to Bird Forum.:eek!:

Bob

Troubador · Mar 6, 2020

ceasar said:
After putting an 8x32 binocular on the market priced at nearly $3000.00 (!) Zeiss might end up not making enough profits from it to donate very much money at all to Bird Forum.:eek!:

Bob

Lets wait and see what USA dealers actually price at.

Lee

ceasar · Mar 6, 2020

Troubador said:
Lets wait and see what USA dealers actually price at.

Lee

OK.

But Swarovski has priced its 8x32 ELs for $2443.00. It has to be competitive with that one. Dealers, of course can be different--but not too much.

Bob

Troubador · Mar 6, 2020

Troubador said:
Having spent many decades in technical sales (but not in optics) in principal if you are a little afraid of your competitor's product then you price underneath it to attract the customers. If you are confident in the capabilities of your product you price according to these capabilities not the price of your competitor. It will be interesting to see where Zeiss will pitch SF32.

Lee

Bob see my post above.

Lee

henry link · Mar 6, 2020

From the internal view below it looks like the optical design of the 32mm SFs is quite a departure from the 42mm models. There is a new 5 group eyepiece design (6-9 lenses?, cementings are hard to decipher) and it appears that the focusing lens has been moved to a novel position behind the prism. This binocular looks considerably more interesting to me now and I wonder if a similar redesign might eventually be applied to the 42mms.

Troubador · Mar 6, 2020

Henry

Here is a better pic of the ocular, although I am not sure if it reveals any more.

Lee

henry link · Mar 6, 2020

Thanks Lee.

I've been going through a low quality exploding animation on You Tube trying to get a better idea of the design. It looks like there's a fixed triplet up front and the focusing lens behind the prism (if that's what it is?) looks more concave than convex, so maybe the objective has completely abandoned the doublet + positive focusing lens of the 42mm SFs.

A nice clear diagram of the design would be helpful. If you see anything like that, please share.

Swissboy · Mar 6, 2020

Troubador said:
Henry

Here is a better pic of the ocular, although I am not sure if it reveals any more.

Lee

I have tried the same, but think I managed to copy it when the lenses were further apart in that animated display.

henry link · Mar 6, 2020

Thanks Robert.

I went through an HD version of the animation, which completely altered my interpretation of the layout. Now I think the objective and focuser resemble some early Swaro SLC designs from about 30 years ago. There appears to be a mildly positive fixed singlet up front followed closely by a moving doublet, which acts both as the last two elements of an air-spaced triplet and as the focuser. What I thought might have been the focusing element behind the prism (because I couldn't seem to find one anywhere else) looks now like it's the field flattener of a very complex eyepiece with 6 groups and I think 8 elements (but it could be 7 or even 9). One thing is pretty certain, even if the details continue to change: the objective and eyepiece designs are quite different to the 42mm SF models. That's it until I change my mind or Zeiss provides us with an old fashioned unambiguous cutaway diagram.

Henry

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