Zeiss Victory sf 8x42 used (1 Viewer)

[Jorge4884539]

Hi guys, can you guys help me giving me feedback?

I wanna buy a pair of sharp binoculars, they are a bit expensive. I just saw a store has the Zeiss Victory Sf 8x42 for 2000$ which is 1000$ cheaper than the brand news.

Is it worth it to buy them used? is there any warranty still left if something happen to them?
It seem to be a great deal for me.

Thanks a lot.

 

[Fritz73]

Hola Jorge! A warm welcome to Birdforum frpm all the staff and moderators

 

[Scott98]

Yes it's worth it, if they're in new condition. I would ask the shop about the warranty.

 

[Jorge4884539]

Yes it's worth it, if they're in new condition. I would ask the shop about the warranty.

Yes it's worth it, if they're in new condition. I would ask the shop about the warranty.

hi, what they say is those binoculars have marks of use but that’s it. I talk to them tomorrow. Thanks for your help.

 

[Paultricounty]

Id ask them to send pictures of the marks , clarify that the glass coatings are perfect with no scratches or blemishes and is the focuser smooth without any play or rough spots. At two grand things should be in good order. Is this the black or gray version?

Good luck.

 

[Jorge4884539]

Id ask them to send pictures of the marks , clarify that the glass coatings are perfect with no scratches or blemishes and is the focuser smooth without any play or rough spots. At two grand things should be in good order. Is this the black or gray version?

Good luck.

its the gray version

 

[Paultricounty]

its the gray version

Then I would emphasize questions about the focuser and about the eyecups. Although an early gray one I had used was nice , no problems, others have had issues with the eyecups and focuser. There has been a lot of returns and Zeiss repairs in those two areas.

 

[Conndomat]

Is it worth it to buy them used? is there any warranty still left if something happen to them?
It seem to be a great deal for me.

Difficult...

I don't know the warranty periods in Costa Rica, in Europe there is only a 10 year warranty and the first (gray) models were already on the market in 2014.

In addition to the focus and eyecups mentioned by Paul, the gray models also often had problems with the rubber coating, but the optics are identical to the black version.
Zeiss also repairs many binoculars free of charge after the warranty period, but not always. In case of doubt, $2,000 could turn into noticeably more.

Andreas

 

[Jorge4884539]

Then I would emphasize questions about the focuser and about the eyecups. Although an early gray one I had used was nice , no problems, others have had issues with the eyecups and focuser. There has been a lot of returns and Zeiss repairs in those two areas.

Thanks for letting me know, I wasn’t sure if the gray model were the older ones. I was writing to the shop that sells them, they send me pictures and it’s seen pretty good, according to them they were proved is all good.

 

[Jorge4884539]

Difficult...

I don't know the warranty periods in Costa Rica, in Europe there is only a 10 year warranty and the first (gray) models were already on the market in 2014.

In addition to the focus and eyecups mentioned by Paul, the gray models also often had problems with the rubber coating, but the optics are identical to the black version.
Zeiss also repairs many binoculars free of charge after the warranty period, but not always. In case of doubt, $2,000 could turn into noticeably more.

Andreas

Thanks for your help

I’m from Costa Rica, lots of people that uses binoculars, but there’s no place in the country where you can test them before you buy them so whenever something happens to binoculars we gotta send them to USA for the warranty, I had the Nikon monarch 7, after 4 years it was falling apart I send them and they replace them for me.

I’m working as a naturalist, honestly I didn’t know the gray model had those troubles, I saw a lot of videos and reviews everybody said they were good so I bought them, I bought them from a place in USA (B&H VIDEO) online they will shipped them to me.

 

[Jorge4884539]

Thanks for letting me know, I wasn’t sure if the gray model were the older ones. I was writing to the shop that sells them, they send me pictures and it’s seen pretty good, according to them they were proved is all good.

Difficult...

I don't know the warranty periods in Costa Rica, in Europe there is only a 10 year warranty and the first (gray) models were already on the market in 2014.

In addition to the focus and eyecups mentioned by Paul, the gray models also often had problems with the rubber coating, but the optics are identical to the black version.
Zeiss also repairs many binoculars free of charge after the warranty period, but not always. In case of doubt, $2,000 could turn into noticeably more.

Andreas

Thanks for letting me know, I wasn’t sure if the gray model were the older ones. I was writing to the shop that sells them, they send me pictures and it’s seen pretty good, according to them they were proved is all good.

 

[Paultricounty]

They look sweet, optics are phenomenal, one of the best of the best. If the focuser, eyecups and as Conndomat said, the armor is good you will be extremely satisfied. If not you will have no issues returning to B&H. I’ve been dealing with them for over 20 years and they’re one of the best.

 

[Jorge4884539]

They look sweet, optics are phenomenal, one of the best of the best. If the focuser, eyecups and as Conndomat said, the armor is good you will be extremely satisfied. If not you will have no issues returning to B&H. I’ve been dealing with them for over 20 years and they’re one of the best.

Thanks, I’m glad to heard that!
I was getting a bit worried
☺️

 

[Conndomat]

Everything looks good, have fun with the glass!

Andreas

 

[Jorge4884539]

Everything looks good, have fun with the glass!

Andreas

They look sweet, optics are phenomenal, one of the best of the best. If the focuser, eyecups and as Conndomat said, the armor is good you will be extremely satisfied. If not you will have no issues returning to B&H. I’ve been dealing with them for over 20 years and they’re one of the best.

Hi guys, I recently got the Zeiss Victory 8x42 (yesterday) in Costa Rica.

I was testing them today, I don't feel 100% comfortable with them. Both optics are scratched, one of the eyecups is kind stock it doesn't come out easily, it didn't come with any paper or manual just the case I feel a bit worried about the fact whenever I have to send to repair Zeiss would ask for those since is the gray model first released in 2014.

I was thinking perhaps I can return them to the store in NY and ask to them to change them for the Leica Noctivid or Swarovski EL, they have a similar price it'll be brand new ones.


Thanks for your feedback, let me know what you think.

 

[Conndomat]

I was testing them today, I don't feel 100% comfortable with them. Both optics are scratched, one of the eyecups is kind stock it doesn't come out easily, it didn't come with any paper or manual just the case I feel a bit worried about the fact whenever I have to send to repair Zeiss would ask for those since is the gray model first released in 2014.

I was thinking perhaps I can return them to the store in NY and ask to them to change them for the Leica Noctivid or Swarovski EL, they have a similar price it'll be brand new ones.

Hello Jorge,

that doesn't sound good, these defects weren't visible in the pictures!
Replacing the lenses is not cheap, and Zeiss does not provide a guarantee because the cleaning was carried out improperly.
The seller should have stated these defects and not used nice pictures to give the impression that the binoculars are OK. Do the binocular delivered even match the pictures, is the serial number identical?

Be that as it may, if I were you I would return the glass immediately and demand a refund of the amount paid and look for another pair of binoculars but not from this dealer, it seems that the binoculars were not treated properly and then covering up obvious defects, it is untrustworthy.

Andreas

P.S. I looked at the photos again in full size and with a bright screen, there actually seem to be scratches on the left eyepiece, nothing can be seen on the frontlenses, but the seller should have mentioned these scratches anyway, it always depends on the light whether you can see scratches in photos.

 

[Jorge4884539]

Hello Jorge,

that doesn't sound good, these defects weren't visible in the pictures!
Replacing the lenses is not cheap, and Zeiss does not provide a guarantee because the cleaning was carried out improperly.
The seller should have stated these defects and not used nice pictures to give the impression that the binoculars are OK. Do the binocular delivered even match the pictures, is the serial number identical?

Be that as it may, if I were you I would return the glass immediately and demand a refund of the amount paid and look for another pair of binoculars but not from this dealer, it seems that the binoculars were not treated properly and then covering up obvious defects, it is untrustworthy.

Andreas

P.S. I looked at the photos again in full size and with a bright screen, there actually seem to be scratches on the left eyepiece, nothing can be seen on the frontlenses, but the seller should have mentioned these scratches anyway, it always depends on the light whether you can see scratches in photos.

Yes, not good at all.
That's what I thought, those sings weren't visible on the pictures, hopefully I get full refund of this.
Thanks for your help, I was thinking perhaps I can keep them but if the repair of that glass is too expensive I prefer get a pair of brand new binoculars.
I appreciate your feedback.

 

[Paultricounty]

Yes, not good at all.
That's what I thought, those sings weren't visible on the pictures, hopefully I get full refund of this.
Thanks for your help, I was thinking perhaps I can keep them but if the repair of that glass is too expensive I prefer get a pair of brand new binoculars.
I appreciate your feedback.

Are these the ones that you asked the questions on glass, eyecups and function condition? Also are these from B&H? I wouldn’t accept any optics with coating or glass imperfections. Call them, they should supply a prepaid shipping label and get your money back, at least that’s what I would do. New EL’s in my opinion are a bargain in the current alpha market. Noctivids are even nicer, but will be much money.

 

[Scott98]

Hi guys, I recently got the Zeiss Victory 8x42 (yesterday) in Costa Rica.

I was testing them today, I don't feel 100% comfortable with them. Both optics are scratched, one of the eyecups is kind stock it doesn't come out easily, it didn't come with any paper or manual just the case I feel a bit worried about the fact whenever I have to send to repair Zeiss would ask for those since is the gray model first released in 2014.

I was thinking perhaps I can return them to the store in NY and ask to them to change them for the Leica Noctivid or Swarovski EL, they have a similar price it'll be brand new ones.


Thanks for your feedback, let me know what you think.

Jorge, not good, I wouldn't like scratched optics, I would bit the bullet on shipping and send them back. I've got the 8x42 SF and I plan to keep them for many years. Might as well get a clean sample.

 

[Jorge4884539]

Are these the ones that you asked the questions on glass, eyecups and function condition? Also are these from B&H? I wouldn’t accept any optics with coating or glass imperfections. Call them, they should supply a prepaid shipping label and get your money back, at least that’s what I would do. New EL’s in my opinion are a bargain in the current alpha market. Noctivids are even nicer, but will be much money.

Are these the ones that you asked the questions on glass, eyecups and function condition? Also are these from B&H? I wouldn’t accept any optics with coating or glass imperfections. Call them, they should supply a prepaid shipping label and get your money back, at least that’s what I would do. New EL’s in my opinion are a bargain in the current alpha market. Noctivids are even nicer, but will be much money.

Yes, these are the Victory Sf 8x42 from B&H the Gray model. The pictures they send me it seems to be cool but the were scratch and one the eyecups is not coming out easily.

It looks pretty good through the glass, better that my Nikons M7

I send them a email already, just waiting for an answer.