I have a pair of the Zeiss Dialyt 8x30. It’s the older, longer pair. Pre-ClassiC. They have purple coating. I’m wondering if they are worth sending for a service. They are very dusty. Glass seems unmarked. I read a threat in which someone said these older, longer models can be quite good. Is it worth sending them off for a service?
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Zeiss Dialyt 8x30 (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter ZeissMan
- Start date
Hermann
Well-known member
The "longer" pairs were not phase-coated. And in my book that means no, you wouldn't really want to use them. On the other hand, they're nice collector's item, and it you like them, why not give Gary a call what it would cost to clean them?
Hermann
No, they aren’t phase coated. Although, I tried the non-P 7x42 and it was good. Not great, but good. I have a couple at Gary right now.
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Ignatius
Inactive member
The long-body 8x30 Dialyts were produced from 1964 to 1969. Zeiss introduced the 'P'-coating in 1988.
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Thotmosis
Well-known member
They look really cool 😎, this old binoculars still deliver. I have an old Zeiss 8x30 “Safari” model that lacks phase coating but are still usable in the real world.
Sorry that was a typo. They absolutely ARENT phase corrected!
That’s amazing, so it’s the from the 1960s? I’m astonished at how good it is.
Amazing that the rubber coat is still impeccable. Nowadays it starts to budge and separate from the metal quite easily after a few months of use, even with alphas.
Ignatius
Inactive member
Only the eyecups are rubber. The body is covered in what is probably 'vulcanite'.
Pinewood
New York correspondent
Hello Thotmosis,
One of the most rugged and reliable binoculars ever made. I believe the UK Army did get units with phase coating.
Happy bird watching,
Arthur
Thotmosis
Well-known member
Hello Arthur,
Yes they are tough as a nail. Would like to get one with phase coating.
Cheers,
T.
I’ve had the opportunity to compare the 1960s Zeiss Dialyt to the 1960s Zeiss 8x30b Porro. I presumed the porro would be better. However, the Dialyt had a much cleaner view whereas the porro was distinctly yellow.
It makes me wonder, could the Dialyt have been serviced by Zeiss and better glass/coatings applied?
It makes me wonder, could the Dialyt have been serviced by Zeiss and better glass/coatings applied?
Gijs van Ginkel
Well-known member
Thotmosis, post 6,
Nikon made an almost identical 8x30 Tropical, also with green rubber armor. I think that we have one in our lab. collection.
Gijs van Ginkel
Nikon made an almost identical 8x30 Tropical, also with green rubber armor. I think that we have one in our lab. collection.
Gijs van Ginkel
Hermann
Well-known member
I had one of those actually. Very well-built binocular. Not phase-coated. Not very sharp, not even in the image centre. I sold it quickly.
Hermann
Hermann
Well-known member
That's very surprising. Sounds to me like the porro needed a cleaning. Haze is a well-known problem with these porros.
Not very likely. It may have been cleaned at some stage though, that makes quite a difference with these old binoculars.
Hermann
Hermann
Well-known member
AFAIK the 8x30 Safari was never offered with phase-coating for the civilian market. No idea whether they made a few for the military somewhere. The German military used porros at the time.
Hermann
Thotmosis
Well-known member
Hi Hermann, that is what i thought also but there where rumors and after some investigations i found an example:
See e.g. my post in thread 'Production year Zeiss 8x30 B GA IF / Safari'
Production year Zeiss 8x30 B GA IF / Safari
If think I’ve read somewhere that phase coatings was only on the last two years of the production, but im not sure at all. Maybe more knowledgeable members can chime in.
That’s what I thought.
