Zeiss FL issue...and are they still repairable? (2 Viewers)

[laurencejackson]

A quick question and a bit of a dilemma. I have just procured an absolutely mint condition 10x42 FL. The only issue and it's a big issue, is that the focuser is very noisy, evenly throughout its range. It's a rubbing/friction sound but loud and intrusive, as if something has been tightened too far. Plastic on plastic or metal etc. I understand these focusers are greaseless so it can't be that. It's also 42c here in Perth today (yikes!) so its not the temperature and all my fiddling with it and constantly rotating the knob has not changed anything.

I bought it from a Japan eBay site with a 60 day return so I could just return them, but I have shed out $200 plus shipping in taxes to import them and I'm unsure I would get that back from the seller. Or, I could find a ZEISS repair here in Australia, but I would have thought the FLs would be too old? They are around 2007/08 with LT.

Does anyone have any thoughts on what's causing this and what to do?

 

[dwatsonbirder]

Zeiss has an excellent customer service department (at least here in the UK) so I would imagine if you drop them an email to confirm details for the technician in Australia there won't be an issue. I sent my FL's in a couple of years ago for a service, undertaken free of charge with a rapid turnaround despite being the second owner. Hard to fault, and as a result I only own Zeiss binoculars now.

 

[David N]

Laurence.​

This is the dealer that handles binoculars on behalf of Zeiss. They have a presence in Perth, which I believe is a warehouse.

​

1 - C.R. Kennedy & Company Pty Ltd.​

Photo lenses, cameras and accessories​

663 Chapel Street
3141 South Yarra Victoria
Australia
Directions

• [email protected]
• Phone: +61 3 9823 1555
• Fax: +61 3 9827 7216
• www.crkennedy.com.au/v1

Whilst Zeiss website list the above company as dealer (strange they do not stock Zeiss binoculars)

I have found this link for you

ZEISS in Australia and New Zealand

ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the fields of optics and optoelectronics.

www.zeiss.com.au

At the foot of the intro page you will see this message.

Consumer optics including binoculars, spotting scopes, camera and cine lenses are supported by Carl Zeiss Singapore.


Best wishes.
David

 

[Ignatius]

...​

This is the dealer that handles binoculars on behalf of Zeiss.

 

[PeterPS]

A quick question and a bit of a dilemma. I have just procured an absolutely mint condition 10x42 FL. The only issue and it's a big issue, is that the focuser is very noisy, evenly throughout its range. It's a rubbing/friction sound but loud and intrusive, as if something has been tightened too far. Plastic on plastic or metal etc. I understand these focusers are greaseless so it can't be that. It's also 42c here in Perth today (yikes!) so its not the temperature and all my fiddling with it and constantly rotating the knob has not changed anything.

I bought it from a Japan eBay site with a 60 day return so I could just return them, but I have shed out $200 plus shipping in taxes to import them and I'm unsure I would get that back from the seller. Or, I could find a ZEISS repair here in Australia, but I would have thought the FLs would be too old? They are around 2007/08 with LT.

Does anyone have any thoughts on what's causing this and what to do?

The focusers of several Zeiss Victory binos (both FL and SF) that I own(ed) have an audible friction noise but I wouldn't call it loud or intrusive. If the focuser of your FL 10x42 is fluid and smooth throughout its range I would not be too concerned.

 

[Maljunulo]

My 8X32 SF (mfg 2020) makes no such noise, and is smooth.

 

[MiddleRiver]

One of the primary reasons I'm currently a Zeiss fan, is in fact, the focusers. My 8x32FL was silky smooth (still regret selling that!), my 8x32SF ditto, and even our SFL's (three owned) have essentially perfect focusing mechanisms.
Personally, for the $$, I would not settle for less...

 

[laurencejackson]

Laurence.​

This is the dealer that handles binoculars on behalf of Zeiss. They have a presence in Perth, which I believe is a warehouse.

​

1 - C.R. Kennedy & Company Pty Ltd.​

Photo lenses, cameras and accessories​

663 Chapel Street
3141 South Yarra Victoria
Australia
Directions

• [email protected]
• Phone: +61 3 9823 1555
• Fax: +61 3 9827 7216
• www.crkennedy.com.au/v1

Whilst Zeiss website list the above company as dealer (strange they do not stock Zeiss binoculars)

I have found this link for you

ZEISS in Australia and New Zealand

ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the fields of optics and optoelectronics.

www.zeiss.com.au

At the foot of the intro page you will see this message.

Consumer optics including binoculars, spotting scopes, camera and cine lenses are supported by Carl Zeiss Singapore.


Best wishes.
David

Thank you David for the info, I will get in touch with them in January and see what can be done.

 

[temmie]

My 7x42 T*FL (2007, non-LT) is currently in Wetzlar because of body armour getting loose, but I already sent them around 2017 for the same issue and when inspecting they told me to focuser had to be revised. Just saying they still repair those and I would assume it's not rocket science and they would have skilled repair facilities elsewhere.

 

[cajanuma]

My 7x42 T*FL (2007, non-LT) is currently in Wetzlar because of body armour getting loose, but I already sent them around 2017 for the same issue and when inspecting they told me to focuser had to be revised. Just saying they still repair those and I would assume it's not rocket science and they would have skilled repair facilities elsewhere.

Is it under warranty? Mine is from 2009 and has pretty big (and recurring) issues with eyecups and the neckstrap attachment which required me sending them in for repairs twice already, but last time I wrote to Zeiss in Italy they said the warranty is only good for 10 years. For this reason I have been reluctant to send them in for service (Zeiss Italy then sends them to Germany anyway) as I'm not sure what the cost would be.
Also, I hate to be without them, they are absolutely brilliant optically!

 

[Harry Stottle]

@temmie said: 'My 7x42 T*FL (2007, non-LT) is currently in Wetzlar'

I thought Zeiss Wetzlar was a semiconducter manufacturing plant, do they also make or repair optics now?

 

[temmie]

@temmie said: 'My 7x42 T*FL (2007, non-LT) is currently in Wetzlar'

I thought Zeiss Wetzlar was a semiconducter manufacturing plant, do they also make or repair optics now?

Carl Zeiss Sports Optics GmbH, and more specifically the customer service for binoculars, is located in Wetzlar.
Carl Zeiss AG (company HQ) is located in Oberkochen.

 

[temmie]

Is it under warranty? Mine is from 2009 and has pretty big (and recurring) issues with eyecups and the neckstrap attachment which required me sending them in for repairs twice already, but last time I wrote to Zeiss in Italy they said the warranty is only good for 10 years. For this reason I have been reluctant to send them in for service (Zeiss Italy then sends them to Germany anyway) as I'm not sure what the cost would be.
Also, I hate to be without them, they are absolutely brilliant optically!

I don't think it's under warranty; I asked for a quote before repair, and the status at the moment is they are inspecting it. Just going back a bit:
1. I filled in the customer service info wrt the repair info on their website;
2. they sent me a parcel shipment label I had to print, I put the bins in a box with the printed repair letter, and off they went to Germany.
3. I got a mail they received the bins;
4. I got another mail they are at the repair department for inspection and a quote will be shortly given.

I spoke to the Benelux Zeiss representative on a bird fair in the Netherlands recently, and we talked quite a bit about warranty. He explicitly told me that e.g. rubber armour is never included in the warranty, as warranty is intended for manufacturing defects, not wear and tear.

Ofcourse, he said, in some cases, like pretty new bins (e.g. <1 year old) with armour falling off while having no scratches on the lenses, Zeiss will be (more) generous and not charge for replacing the armour as you can see this repair more like defect rather than wear and tear, vs. bins (of e.g. 9 years old) with armour falling off while it's clear the bins have scratches, armour has seen a lot of UV light and is damaged as well...

So Zeiss will be lenient but all depends on how likely it is that repairs are due to manufacturing defects vs. wear and tear.
I don't know how they deal with warranty of repaired parts: at the one hand you'd expect that something repaired should work for as long as the warranty on new bins, but on the other hand, some repairs only guarantee a good working binocular until it's 10 years... For example: if your focuser is repaired at 9 years and they changed some wear and tear part. Can you expect the whole focuser to work flawlessly until they are 19 years old?

In short: I expect to pay for the body armour, I only hope they are a bit lenient, but I if not, no big deal. As long as they don't discover any big unnoticed internal damage that will cost me an arm and a leg...As for your damage / repair / warranty, I don't know / can't judge if warranty is applicable as I don't work for Zeiss and haven't seen your bins and how the damage was done (by use, design flaw, production error...?). I only hope they don't change your and my binoculars in the repair facility as I think it's pretty rare they have 2 7x42 T*FL at exactly the same time .

 

[peterginsburg]

"He explicitly told me that e.g. rubber armour is never included in the warranty, as warranty is intended for manufacturing defects, not wear and tear."

That's strange in that my 7x42 FL was re armored at no cost. Perhaps the USA warranty differs.

 

[PeterPS]

I don't think it's under warranty; I asked for a quote before repair, and the status at the moment is they are inspecting it. Just going back a bit:
1. I filled in the customer service info wrt the repair info on their website;
2. they sent me a parcel shipment label I had to print, I put the bins in a box with the printed repair letter, and off they went to Germany.
3. I got a mail they received the bins;
4. I got another mail they are at the repair department for inspection and a quote will be shortly given.

I spoke to the Benelux Zeiss representative on a bird fair in the Netherlands recently, and we talked quite a bit about warranty. He explicitly told me that e.g. rubber armour is never included in the warranty, as warranty is intended for manufacturing defects, not wear and tear.

Ofcourse, he said, in some cases, like pretty new bins (e.g. <1 year old) with armour falling off while having no scratches on the lenses, Zeiss will be (more) generous and not charge for replacing the armour as you can see this repair more like defect rather than wear and tear, vs. bins (of e.g. 9 years old) with armour falling off while it's clear the bins have scratches, armour has seen a lot of UV light and is damaged as well...

So Zeiss will be lenient but all depends on how likely it is that repairs are due to manufacturing defects vs. wear and tear.
I don't know how they deal with warranty of repaired parts: at the one hand you'd expect that something repaired should work for as long as the warranty on new bins, but on the other hand, some repairs only guarantee a good working binocular until it's 10 years... For example: if your focuser is repaired at 9 years and they changed some wear and tear part. Can you expect the whole focuser to work flawlessly until they are 19 years old?

In short: I expect to pay for the body armour, I only hope they are a bit lenient, but I if not, no big deal. As long as they don't discover any big unnoticed internal damage that will cost me an arm and a leg...As for your damage / repair / warranty, I don't know / can't judge if warranty is applicable as I don't work for Zeiss and haven't seen your bins and how the damage was done (by use, design flaw, production error...?). I only hope they don't change your and my binoculars in the repair facility as I think it's pretty rare they have 2 7x42 T*FL at exactly the same time .

Any guess about their turnaround time? Roughly speaking how much time do they need to inspect your bino and give you an estimate, and then to service it?

 

[temmie]

Any guess about their turnaround time? Roughly speaking how much time do they need to inspect your bino and give you an estimate, and then to service it?

I will come back to the time the moment they are back at home
For the moment, they are inspecting and I need to receive a quote. Until now everything went quite smooth, client-orientated and with good communication.

But the most important step will be the price quote, duration of repair and the moment I get them back (both in terms of when and how they arrive).

Ofcourse, Christmas and new year is coming so I am patient with regards to the timing as I can’t expect people at Zeiss working on my bins during this holiday period…

I have my little nifty 8x25 victory pocket as a back up for now…

 

[temmie]

"He explicitly told me that e.g. rubber armour is never included in the warranty, as warranty is intended for manufacturing defects, not wear and tear."

That's strange in that my 7x42 FL was re armored at no cost. Perhaps the USA warranty differs.

I honestly think USA warranty is much more generous, but I don’t know if it’s included in the warranty (I thought there is some kind of lifetime warranty?) or USA customer service is much more lenient because that’s the way things go in the USA and you guys are more demanding…

Fun fact: I bought mine from a guy in the USA through eBay, so technically they should have USA warranty, and I have family living there so I could try over there. But I’m ok sending them to wetzlar and secretly hope they accidentally drop them, so they give me eg a victory sf 8x42 as a replacement (a bin I would gladly ‘upgrade’ to) 😀

 

[GrumpyBuzzard]

Zeiss repair in uk is excellent and something that would influence any future buying decisions I make because you can actually talk directly to Gary on the phone.

Usually a quick turnaround. My FL 10x 42 were repaired with East Coast [zeiss agent] and I had discussed armour. Mine is ok condition but was told a replacement may cost £40-60. As I was getting ocular lenses [previous owner scratched the hell out of them] replaced I opted against as I was already into significant cost.

 

[laurencejackson]

Update: I have decided to keep my 10x42 FLs after all. They are absolutely mint from 2007 and apart from the focuser noise, work perfectly. I can always get them sorted out at a later date..

When I was in the UK for Christmas I picked up an 2009 8x42 FL, also mint, in green armour and had real pleasure in using them despite the dreadful weather. I haven't summed up courage yet to compare properly these recent acquisitions with the other two bins I picked up in the UK, namely a 2018 8x32 EL and a 2022 8.5x42 EL, and my resident NLs. The FLs are a previous generation so by rights should be slightly outclassed, but I'm coming round to the idea that 'newer is not necessarily better'. The FLs are both spectacular, bright, sharp and a real pleasure to use and so far hold their own very much with both the swarovsion models. I could though be proven wrong once my NLs come into the mix...but maybe not so much?

I have found also that these older designs have a much more forgiving and straightforward eye box and are less critical in eye placement (I'm looking at you, 10x32 NLs!). The relentless pursuit of 'wide field' has highlighted this issue to me as blackouts/kidney beening really spoil the whole experience for me when out in the field.

 

[Rg548]

FL's are simply a superb optical instrument.
A true classic. They are a pleasure to look through, and a pleasure to handle, and are built to a standard that I'm not entirely sure is available to this day.
I feel the same about BN's.
For 20 year old optics they are both quite incredible.
I bought a mint pair of 8x42 HT's, they came up by chance, and as the last of Zeiss' top line AK's, they will remain classics.
But my mate bought some 8x42 FL's, and the difference is very small.

I would be happy with either, although I actually prefer the FL's to handle.

I agree with Laurencejackson that these new designs are perhaps not desired or even necessary, especially when you consider the crazy prices required to achieve a wider flatter view, which I just don't crave anyway.
I genuinely would not swap my HT's for NL's..... which is why I haven't !!
I was out at dusk the other night, and the performance of my 'OLD' HT's blew my mind.
The build is not too shabby either!!!