Old Zeisses still in use today (1 Viewer)

[Patudo]

Hey all,

Thought it would be really interesting to see photos of and comments relating to the old (or indeed any non current model) Zeisses that are still being used today - and since I started the thread I suppose it would be churlish not to contribute myself.

Since the lockdown started I've had to scratch off a lot of my birding options, but fortunately there are still a couple of good spots that are still accessible, and for one of the most open of these, I have taken the old 10x50 with me more than any other over the last week or so. This binocular took quite a bit of getting used to when I first started using it, and whenever I have used it after a hiatus it has needed a bit of time before I've become comfortable with it again. But once in harmony with it, its fine qualities, in particular excellent field of view, strong performance against glare, and handling, still impress me. I must also admit that it is (to my eye, anyway) a most handsome looking device. I would however exchange those classic looks for the butt-ugly military green rubber in a heartbeat if the coatings could in doing so be changed to the latest T* or equivalent. What a view it would offer then...

Best regards,

patudo

 

[eronald]

Hey all,

Thought it would be really interesting to see photos of and comments relating to the old (or indeed any non current model) Zeisses that are still being used today - and since I started the thread I suppose it would be churlish not to contribute myself.

Since the lockdown started I've had to scratch off a lot of my birding options, but fortunately there are still a couple of good spots that are still accessible, and for one of the most open of these, I have taken the old 10x50 with me more than any other over the last week or so. This binocular took quite a bit of getting used to when I first started using it, and whenever I have used it after a hiatus it has needed a bit of time before I've become comfortable with it again. But once in harmony with it, its fine qualities, in particular excellent field of view, strong performance against glare, and handling, still impress me. I must also admit that it is (to my eye, anyway) a most handsome looking device. I would however exchange those classic looks for the butt-ugly military green rubber in a heartbeat if the coatings could in doing so be changed to the latest T* or equivalent. What a view it would offer then...

Best regards,

patudo

Some enterprising repair shop surely offers multicoating as a service

Edmund

 

[jring]

Hi,

very nice Zeiss West 10x50 - the Jahrhundertglas - binoculars of the century...

Does my Hensoldt DF 8x30 count? Back then Hensoldt was a trademark of Zeiss West used for military optics...
It is my pair for the car - surprisingly nice view if you disregard the non-existing eye relief, single coatings, reticle and of course individual focus...

Joachim

 

[NDhunter]

Some enterprising repair shop surely offers multicoating as a service

Edmund

Sorry, this is a complicated process. Not likely to find someone who can
do this, as it would cost more than the old binocular.

Jerry

 

[elkcub]

My contribution is the 7x42 B/GAT*P, which I love to use because it's old like me* and has enough eye-relief and field-of-view to satisfy.

Ed

* I'm older, really.

 

[NDhunter]

My contribution is the 7x42 B/GAT*P, which I love to use because it's old like me* and has enough eye-relief and field-of-view to satisfy.

Ed

* I'm older, really.

Ed:
Good to hear from you, and you are correct the 7x42 BGA is very good, I have recently been enjoying the great sharpness and wide great view of mine.

This model must still be considered one of the great Zeiss binoculars, and it is still very competitive with anything out there.

Jerry

 

[Pinewood]

Zeiss service

Hello,

I have three discontinued, but modern, Zeiss binoculars, which I occasionally use. I am attaching a photo of 7x50 BT*, which I last used tonight to looks at Venus. It also got good use during last year's lunar eclipse. This model has been called Nautic and Marine, but it is now discontinued.

Like Elkcub, I have a great fondness for my 7x42 ClassiC, which was a very late mode. If the thread continues, I will add another discontinued model.

Stay safe,
Arthur

 

[Hermann]

>...> I have taken the old 10x50 with me more than any other over the last week or so. This binocular took quite a bit of getting used to when I first started using it, and whenever I have used it after a hiatus it has needed a bit of time before I've become comfortable with it again. But once in harmony with it, its fine qualities, in particular excellent field of view, strong performance against glare, and handling, still impress me. <...> I would however exchange those classic looks for the butt-ugly military green rubber in a heartbeat if the coatings could in doing so be changed to the latest T* or equivalent. What a view it would offer then...

I've got one of those as well which belonged to a long deceased family member. Mde in the early 60s, so it's actually a few years younger than me. As to the optics, I agree with you totally, with modern coatings the 10x50 (or the other old porros, notably the 8x50B and the 8x30) would be quite something. Not sharp to the edge at all but an easy, wide view. I never liked the position of the focuser though.

BTW, what difference a modern coating would make becomes clear if you ever have the chance to compare one of the old 15x60s to one of the later versions with T* coatings.

Hermann

 

[elkcub]

Ed:
Good to hear from you, and you are correct the 7x42 BGA is very good, I have recently been enjoying the great sharpness and wide great view of mine.

This model must still be considered one of the great Zeiss binoculars, and it is still very competitive with anything out there.

Jerry

Hi Jerry,

Thanks, my visits to BF are brief nowadays. So much to do, so little time...
But, surely you must be kidding about living in Central Park? |8.|

Ed

 

[lmans66]

My contribution is the 7x42 B/GAT*P, which I love to use because it's old like me* and has enough eye-relief and field-of-view to satisfy.

Ed

* I'm older, really.

I have a pair....this is my fav pair of bins. I have a newer Victory Zeiss and I prefer my 7 x42 B/Gat....what sharpness.

Now the only thing I don't like is the focus wheel is not as 'easy' to move ....I wish I could put some padding there or something to make it a bit thicker and it might improve focus time

 

[Pinewood]

The big one

Hello,

I have Zeiss binocular which must be mounted on a tripod, the 15x60 BT*. I have never used it for bird watching, but it would be wonderful in a hide. As is,
do use if for astronomy. The fit and finish is of the highest quality, making it resemble a scientific instrument. Before it was discontinued, it was marketed to European hunters, who like to work from platforms, a fixed position.

Stay safe.
Arthur :hi:

 

[Pinewood]

,,,
Now the only thing I don't like is the focus wheel is not as 'easy' to move ....I wish I could put some padding there or something to make it a bit thicker and it might improve focus time

Hello Imans66,

Yes, the binocular has focussing like an old fashioned Porro by means of a moving bridge. Modern roof prism binoculars have internal focussing, which moves a lens in each barrel.

Stay safe,
Arthur :hi:

 

[42za]

Hello All,

My Zeiss 7 x 45 T*P* Design Selection Night Owl (circa 1994) , my current favourite binocular.



Cheers.

 

[NDhunter]

Hi Jerry,

Thanks, my visits to BF are brief nowadays. So much to do, so little time...
But, surely you must be kidding about living in Central Park? |8.|

Ed

Ed:
You are very observant, I move around, now I am not limited to a small
park, but I live in the Prairie Pothole area of the great plains.

Jerry

 

[SeldomPerched]

I have a pair....this is my fav pair of bins. I have a newer Victory Zeiss and I prefer my 7 x42 B/Gat....what sharpness.

Now the only thing I don't like is the focus wheel is not as 'easy' to move ....I wish I could put some padding there or something to make it a bit thicker and it might improve focus time

Ed and Jim,

I find exactly the same and agree with you on all points, including that I actually prefer the Dialyt BG/AT*P* to the T*FL, which is also a firm favourite. Something about the open bridge and slim barrels makes it seem weightless to me and I like the eyecups. Because of that I can live with a slightly harder focus action.

Is it just me or is there less aberration at the edges of the view with the Dialyt than the Victory FL?

Enjoy your old glass!

Tom

 

[slingworks]

Those are some awesome old Zeiss Bins.

You know, I've had and used a fair number of Binoculars over the last few years...Some of the old classics are still pretty good.

Until recently I also had a Zeiss (Hensoldt) 8x30 IF Military bin and it was fairly sharp and color neutral. Didn't like the reticle in it but otherwise was pretty good.

I know it's not a Zeiss, and maybe not relevant to the topic, but I have a pair of Leitz Binuxit 8x30 that I've used on occasion. If they were made today with modern glass and FMC, I'd probably say they would be as good or better than most anything today. (But then I don't wear glasses).

 

[Gijs van Ginkel]

slingworks, post 16,
Hensoldt was bought by Zeiss in 1928 and is since then a full Zeiss company. Zeiss Wetzlar is situated in the original Hensoldt factory.
Gijs van Ginkel

 

[jring]

Hi,

Hensoldt used to be a Zeiss company but the name has been sold in 2012 along with Carl Zeiss Optronics (the military business) to Cassidian and those were merged with EADS (the military business of Airbus) and some others to form todays Hensoldt GmbH, a subsidiary of KKR group...

They don't build binoculars any more, I think...

Joachim

 

[elkcub]

Gijs, Post 17,

Along that line it is interesting to note that Swift & Anderson (S&A) [the predecessor of Swift Instruments] was the North American distributor of Hensoldt binoculars and monoculars as early as 1930 — two years after they were acquired by Zeiss.*

I've attached portions of their 1930-31 catalog, which makes for interesting reading. Note that a factor of 19.2 can be used to estimate 2020 price equivalents. They were not inexpensive! The average family income in the US was $1,368 at that time, and the 8x30 Sport cost $1,617.

Ed

* I suspect the connection may have started earlier and carried over into the Zeiss period.

 

[Foss]

Thanks Ed, Great read on the S&A catalogue.

My contribution to this thread is a Docter 7x40 BGA Wide Angle (7.5° FOV) that was imported into the US under the Deutsche Optik badge.

Interestingly, this model was designed and built by Zeiss, became Docter, and is still being sold by Noblex, IIRC.