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Zeiss Lifetime Warranty Issue (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Tom Cook
- Start date
No really "rant" as described here
The information in this thread is useful for some of us.
"disappears"? And...?
His "rant" was subtle/well written.
It's the lingering smell of these types of postings that turn my stomach.
Should be "flushed" by the mods.
Binocollector
Well-known member
What "smell"? I think no company can really keep stock for vintage binos to repair them indefinitely. Even a "lifetime warranty" has limits (keep in mind that a lifetime warrenty even violates trade laws in Germany -- so German companies cannot even offer it -- at least not for stuff they sell directly in Germany -- I guess that is the reason why you can still get a Dialyt repaired in Canada but maybe not directly in Germany. So a Zeiss branch in another country would have to keep their own stock of parts to fullfill the lifetime warranty). I had a similar problem with a vintage Hensoldt pre-WWII that I inherited from my grandpa. Zeiss for some time offered service for old Hensoldts but they stopped doing it. The company who now still does service for them (a third party), told me they cannot repair it as it is too old.
An independent bino repair shop told me, they can't even guess how much it might cost and if they damage something, they can get no parts and it's ruined. So I kept them as is and will work on a few other cheap binos till I have the knowledge and the nerve to repair and restore them myself. Because the optics are still amazing -- those were built before "pincushion distortion" was even a thing so they have no distortion and pretty sharp edges, too). So I hope to restore them one day, give them a real leather cover, clean the prisms (uncoated so should be no problem) and put them back together.
However those are porros, so working on them is not really that hard. I never took apart a roof prism bino so far.
An independent bino repair shop told me, they can't even guess how much it might cost and if they damage something, they can get no parts and it's ruined. So I kept them as is and will work on a few other cheap binos till I have the knowledge and the nerve to repair and restore them myself. Because the optics are still amazing -- those were built before "pincushion distortion" was even a thing so they have no distortion and pretty sharp edges, too). So I hope to restore them one day, give them a real leather cover, clean the prisms (uncoated so should be no problem) and put them back together.
However those are porros, so working on them is not really that hard. I never took apart a roof prism bino so far.
Last edited:
Bird_watcher123
Member
The victory would still be Asian manufacturing which is the issue with the OP I think.
Was the offer to swap them even?
His prime argument is that the "Made in Germany" has a certain quality appeal in itself. I can relate to this.
So it would seem to be a matter of perception and expectation, rather than actual quality.
Good enough, thanks.
MiddleRiver
Well-known member
Sadly, the 'MIG' label will probably also increase resale value...
Hello. In 2021, I was sending my 8x42 HT to ZEISS for a focuser repair. All the work was done for free. The binoculars are back in the condition of a new product. They even replaced the rubber coating. But at the time of shipment, the binoculars were under warranty. What will happen to products outside the warranty period, I can guess from the experience of my FL 8 x32, which was repaired to the condition of a new product, but for my money)
PYRTLE
Old Berkshire Boy
Yes I can; however I am keen and contribute on optics discussions.....but not so when my news feed becomes cluttered with pointless notifications - all the recent posts being unrevealed.
Zeiss didn't offer to replace mine. I sent my Zeiss 10x25B's in for repair and got the same song and dance except they would offer me $100 trade in on some pair of binoculars. I bought the mini's new about 40-45 years ago. I asked one more question of Zeiss and they never replied. In about two weeks they sent my 10x25B's back to me. Nice game manuf play, stop keeping parts and voiding your warranty.
So how long should manufacturers keep parts? Indeed - how many optics manufacturers retain parts/expertise to work on 40-45 year old product? Leica maybe?
Maybe turn off notifications for posts that don't interest you?
Skilled optics repairers can manufacture new optics.
But the original glass types may not be available, say lead glass.
Thorium glass isn't allowed any more.
Then we have Hassleblad wide cameras that were stopped because I think of small amounts of lead solder.
Many 1960s cameras used mercury batteries. These are no longer allowed and replacements aren't great.
As to mechanical parts. If these are not available skilled workers could make new parts.
My friend repaired watches and had bottles of radium paint made in Switzerland that he used to paint hands and dials. He is still around in his late 80s.
A Zeiss variable separation binocular was sent to a top repairer, but he was unable to collimate it.
No doubt Zeiss could make a rig or actually still have the means of doing this, but don't.
Manufacturers also generally don't deal with serious fungus.
There are many reasons why old binoculars are not repaired, but a skilled person may be able to do it himself or herself.
Horace Dall repaired all Zeiss and Leica microscopes throughout WW2.
He made all the necessary optics and parts himself and probably aspherised optics if it gave better results.
Some of the drains under British pavements are over a hundred years old.
They may be repaired by using sub diameter plastic pipes.
My friend used to repair his 1920s Vauxhall car himself and race it.
Even making new engine parts.
Old aero lenses were bought back from ex gov. dealers and brought back into service.
The Vulcan in the Falklands had parts that were used as ashtrays and bits from museums.
I think the shuttle had old computer parts bought back from the internet.
As to old binoculars,it sometimes just isn't commercially sensible to fix them unless you do it yourself.
Then we have people who want to multicoat old single coated binoculars.
Why waste your time on futility?
Regards,
B.
But the original glass types may not be available, say lead glass.
Thorium glass isn't allowed any more.
Then we have Hassleblad wide cameras that were stopped because I think of small amounts of lead solder.
Many 1960s cameras used mercury batteries. These are no longer allowed and replacements aren't great.
As to mechanical parts. If these are not available skilled workers could make new parts.
My friend repaired watches and had bottles of radium paint made in Switzerland that he used to paint hands and dials. He is still around in his late 80s.
A Zeiss variable separation binocular was sent to a top repairer, but he was unable to collimate it.
No doubt Zeiss could make a rig or actually still have the means of doing this, but don't.
Manufacturers also generally don't deal with serious fungus.
There are many reasons why old binoculars are not repaired, but a skilled person may be able to do it himself or herself.
Horace Dall repaired all Zeiss and Leica microscopes throughout WW2.
He made all the necessary optics and parts himself and probably aspherised optics if it gave better results.
Some of the drains under British pavements are over a hundred years old.
They may be repaired by using sub diameter plastic pipes.
My friend used to repair his 1920s Vauxhall car himself and race it.
Even making new engine parts.
Old aero lenses were bought back from ex gov. dealers and brought back into service.
The Vulcan in the Falklands had parts that were used as ashtrays and bits from museums.
I think the shuttle had old computer parts bought back from the internet.
As to old binoculars,it sometimes just isn't commercially sensible to fix them unless you do it yourself.
Then we have people who want to multicoat old single coated binoculars.
Why waste your time on futility?
Regards,
B.
