Questions about rubber armour on Zeiss FL models (1 Viewer)

[mfunnell]

My questions are from general interest - not out of any sort of concern.

I am lucky enough to have three Zeiss FL model binoculars - a quite recent 8x32FL bought new a couple of years ago, a 10x56FL bought 2nd-hand and a just-acquired 7x42FL. The 7x42s are an older pre-Lotutec model, while the others have Lotutec.

The rubber armor on the 7x42s is black and smooth rather than textured, while the armor on the others is textured and maybe, perhaps, slightly softer-feeling (black on the 8x32s; green on the 10x56s).

Is this something which changed over time - say between earlier and later production of FL models? Or is it a difference between different models within the FL range?

I guess I have a mild preference for the (later?) more textured armor in terms of 'feel'. Perhaps it also gives a slightly better or less slippery grip, though if so it is so slight as to make no real difference to me. I also guess that I marginally prefer the looks of the (earlier?) smoother armor.

Or are my guesses off base? Maybe something completely different happened with FL models and the armor? If so, inquiring minds would like to know what...

...Mike

 

[Sc0tty]

I’ve got the 8x32FL pre-lotutec and they’ve recently been re-armoured. The original rubber was smooth and the replacement rubber is more grippy.

 

[Ries]

I've held a 7x42 B?GA T* recently and wondering if that smooth rubber doesn't get slippery when having sweaty hands in summer?

 

[Swissboy]

My questions are from general interest - not out of any sort of concern.

I am lucky enough to have three Zeiss FL model binoculars - a quite recent 8x32FL bought new a couple of years ago, a 10x56FL bought 2nd-hand and a just-acquired 7x42FL. The 7x42s are an older pre-Lotutec model, while the others have Lotutec.

The rubber armor on the 7x42s is black and smooth rather than textured, while the armor on the others is textured and maybe, perhaps, slightly softer-feeling (black on the 8x32s; green on the 10x56s).

Is this something which changed over time - say between earlier and later production of FL models? Or is it a difference between different models within the FL range?

I guess I have a mild preference for the (later?) more textured armor in terms of 'feel'. Perhaps it also gives a slightly better or less slippery grip, though if so it is so slight as to make no real difference to me. I also guess that I marginally prefer the looks of the (earlier?) smoother armor.

Or are my guesses off base? Maybe something completely different happened with FL models and the armor? If so, inquiring minds would like to know what...

...Mike

I have a relatively early (Oct 2005) pre-Lotutec 8x42 FL that at some point needed to have its armor replaced (it developed a large bulge). But if I recall correctly, the original armor had the same texture as it has now. The only difference was that the protruding "Victory FL" on the upper side was not there before. That protrusion had actually irritated me to the point that I carefully levelled it off with a knife. Meanwhile I got used to it as it came back with another armoring again when I had recently sent it for a general overhaul. Within the last two years, I also acquired two used x42 FLs, one 7x the other one 10x. Their armor is textured as well. (All are black.) But when searching for these near-new ones, I found several others with the smooth armor, some with the green version that was an early option, if I recall correctly. I also got a new 8x32 FL a bit less than two years ago. All these three additional ones have Lotutec, but I am just as happy with the pre-Lotutec 8x42 version. I am absolutely fond of the x42 FLs, all of them. They provide such an easy view for me with my glasses on. The x32, while handy, just does not get to the larger ones for my liking, though it's OK too. The fact that Zeiss had changed to a red-orange coating in the meantime has added to my not liking them so much. (I have discussed that in other threads.)

So I think you are correct that the textured armor came later, but I do not know when. Perhaps some other BF members can fill in? The green models were only offered at the beginning, thus black and green to choose from. Again, I do not know when Zeiss abandoned the green ones. I think Zeiss kept the green longer for the x56 models as those are particularly catering to hunters. At any rate, I think you are really lucky to still have found those FLs. :eat:

 

[peterginsburg]

My 7X42 FL which is the green model with lotutec has smooth armor with 4 ribs on each barrel.
Peter