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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

No more classic dialyt 8x56 (1 Viewer)

SAD, but

I am glad that I got the 8x56 dialyt 2 years ago-it is one of my favorite binoculars.
Its low light ability is well known, and it is my go to for handheld binos for astronomy.

How many other binoculars have been in production for 50 years?

edj
 
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As I see the 60s coming down the road my old eyes would not be able to fully appreciate the 8x56 though I consider it an art form in the classic design regardless of manufacturer.

I have a Japanese made 8x56 from the early 70s. Of course the coating is barbaric by modern standards. Still, it employs the same basic design and I can see more at night w/them than w/o.

Yet, I do not deceive myself as it is no Zeiss.
 
The dialyt collection 1932-2016 and 3 prisms from China, Zeiss 56 and 42.

From left to right:
8x32, 8x42, 7x56, 8x56, 16x56, 8x56GA, 8x56 mono all Hensoldt and last but not least the Zeiss 8x56 TP.

Jan
 
Jan: Wow! What a collection! The history you have lined up on top of the shelves is fascinating! Is this all showing at your store? Should have done a side trip from Amsterdam a few years back.
 
Thanks,

Google House of Outdoor and than on virtuele rondleiding. You'll get the "old scenery" and on the pictures the new one. Next month it will be on Google earth shops and than you can virtually walk through the shop.

Jan
 
Jan, you are a good one to ask, as it has been mentioned that Zeiss seems to be asleep at the switch regarding a new HT or SF 32 mm bin.

What percentage of binocular sales in your store are 30 - 32 mm, compared to 42 mm and up?
 
james holdsworth said:
Jan, you are a good one to ask, as it has been mentioned that Zeiss seems to be asleep at the switch regarding a new HT or SF 32 mm bin.

What percentage of binocular sales in your store are 30 - 32 mm, compared to 42 mm and up?
Click to expand...

If we take 2015 'till now as date and 42 versus 32:
In Conquest it is 4 to 1;
In Terra 2 to 1;
In SV 1 to 1;
In HD 1 to 1.

Jan
 
jan van daalen said:
If we take 2015 'till now as date and 42 versus 32:
In Conquest it is 4 to 1;
In Terra 2 to 1;
In SV 1 to 1;
In HD 1 to 1.

Jan
Click to expand...

Which would suggest that, given a choice, Zeiss premium buyers would opt for a 32 mm as often as a 42 mm.

So, it really does beg the question as to why Zeiss has been so slow with a premier 32 mm. They have done a good job on giving us options in the mid to lower tier but have done poorly at expanding the HT / SF line-up.
 
edwincjones said:
SAD, but

I am glad that I got the 8x56 dialyt 2 years ago-it is one of my favorite binoculars.
Its low light ability is well known, and it is my go to for handheld binos for astronomy.

How many other binoculars have been in production for 50 years?

edj
Click to expand...

The 8.5x44 Swift Audubon, including the 804 and 820 models. 1958 to present, i.e., 58 yrs.

Ed
 
jan van daalen said:
Thanks,

Google House of Outdoor and than on virtuele rondleiding. You'll get the "old scenery" and on the pictures the new one. Next month it will be on Google earth shops and than you can virtually walk through the shop.

Jan
Click to expand...

Great tour! Good to see the Swaro draw tubes and habicht binos on display and the outdoor gear looked great!
 
james holdsworth said:
Which would suggest that, given a choice, Zeiss premium buyers would opt for a 32 mm as often as a 42 mm.

So, it really does beg the question as to why Zeiss has been so slow with a premier 32 mm. They have done a good job on giving us options in the mid to lower tier but have done poorly at expanding the HT / SF line-up.
Click to expand...

You are absolutely right James.

I think there are several reasons for this. The tradition at Zeiss is for 42mm models to be launched first. This makes commercal sense as it tempts folks that are keen for something new to buy the bigger, more expensive model. This is why hardback versions of books are published first.

Then there is the fact, as much as some might disagree with it, that there was never going to be a 32mm HT. Mark from Zeiss UK said it on here but maybe we didn't listen carefully enough. The next HT we got was HT54, because this followed the logic of 'twilight specialist' role that Zeiss had in mind for HT. Next up Zeiss clearly wanted a model to challenge Swaro's EL and following the pattern of 42mm first, out came (eventually) SF 42.

And unlike in previous decades, Zeiss has also developed an entry level of products in the form of the Terra line and taken it from 42 to 32 and now to Pockets. You could say that Terra has taken development time away from a premium 32. Why? Because research done by KISKA (and mentioned on their website) shows that the average hunter in the States will not spend more than $500 on a pair of binoculars, and I'm guessing its likely this applies to the average birder too. So I think its likely that Zeiss wanted to open up the sub-$500 market in the States before considering a premium 32.

This is my personal interpretation of events.

Lee
 
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