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Message: <blockquote data-quote="mak" data-source="post: 3264912" data-attributes="member: 774">HiAs an ex employee of Zeiss, hopefully I can shed some light (excuse the pun).The Night Owls (Design Selection) contained in the objective lensan element,  we termed as "flint glass", high in lead, this particular element was the reason behind the increase in weight.  The glass used did enhance the blue light spectrum, something the human eye struggles with in low light.  The transmission of this model is in excess of 90% (some modern day binoculars do not achieve 90%).  Zeiss moved to using more environmentally friendly glass, hence the introduction of the Victory, Victory FL, etc.  Some users of the Night Owl state that in low light conditions, the NO in their opinion out performs the current models, this is a point of view for that particular user and in many ways valid, however this can differ from the information given by calibrated optical testing machines, but at the end of the day it is the individual that matters. This particular model was great for European high seat hunters who tend to rest their elbows on the bars of the high seat, when observing their area, however for birders the weight was a problem (the 7x42 NO was friendly enough and again contained this glass type), but in the end the numbers did not add up and lighter competitor offerings changed the focus of supply and demand. In fact the 10x56 weighed less than the 8x56, with the smaller 7x45 proving to be the most popular of the three models (certainly in the UK).</blockquote>

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