Zeiss quitting the sport optic market
- Thread starter Scuffy
- Start date
NickJ
Well-Known Member
Packing up making telescopic sights and hunting binos entirely in 2026 from what I gather, post I saw on another forum is here:
www.mittelhessen.de
Wetzlar: Carl Zeiss Sports Optics will Fertigung einstellen
Die Produktion von Optiken für Jagd und Naturbeobachtung in Wetzlar steht absehbar vor dem Aus. Das kündigt die Carl Zeiss Sports Optics GmbH an. Betroffen sind 70 Mitarbeiter.
HonestJohn
Well-Known Member
Emailed them about serving a scope, they said no parts and not going to make any! Only what’s on the shelf
SussexSteve
Well-Known Member
Gone woke a couple of years back so I sold all mine
HonestJohn
Well-Known Member
Lifetime warranty seizes to be applicable when products are made obsolete. They may offer you a credit towards a pair of glasses or for Swarovski, a pair of crystal ear rings
That’s shocking
HonestJohn
Well-Known Member
It was for a particular scope. But I suspect they’ll just run down the parts bins and then start having scopes sent to independent repair shops, and when parts are needed, issue a credit note towards another product
From my reading of the article, producing sport optics in Germany is no longer viable for them, likely due to a combination of factors such as high energy costs and labour expenses. These contribute to higher product prices, which many customers are now unwilling or unable to pay. It seems they will continue manufacturing in other countries though.
WildBoarHunter
Well-Known Member
Shocking news... In 90's they were the leading hunting optics company in the world. I have a Frankonia catalogue from 1995 and their Zeiss Z / ZM line was the most expensive line of riflescopes and about one third more expensive than Swaro and Kahles scopes of the time...
Not really suprised though. The marked beeing flooded with chinese thermovision add ons and scopes for the same price or less than a top Euro conventional hunting scope.
Not really suprised though. The marked beeing flooded with chinese thermovision add ons and scopes for the same price or less than a top Euro conventional hunting scope.
The only scope I ever used of theirs I was not happy with, so have never paid much attention to the brand since, always' stayed with Swarovski.
BC.
BC.
WildBoarHunter
Well-Known Member
I currently have two Zeiss scopes, 1.5-6×42 Classic Diavari and 8×54 Victory HT binos. I love them both, they have the best low light transmission and their picture is the most natural and lifelike of all the scopes I own and I also own Kahles and Swarovski scopes. They're also very well built and 100% reliable. I'm really sad to see a brand like Zeiss go. It's an end of an era for hunting community.
Bavarianbrit
Well-Known Member
Strange because electronic digi/thermal scopes are still under the war weapons ban of Possession in Germany for civilians.
Same for thermal sights in Ireland
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
I do think that Zeiss have rather lost their way in the last few years. If you compare a 1980’s or 90’s Zeiss with S&B or Swarovski, the Zeiss was at the top.
Modern Zeiss are definitely well in third place, with the likes of Vortex catching up if not overtaken.
Swarovski has a US based manufacturing, and S&B is pretty much a military / law enforcement supplier that makes some sports optics on the side. The US is a huge market for optics, and my understanding is that in many parts of the US legal shooting light starts and stops with rise and setting of the sun. And electronics are banned in hunting - including illuminated reticles etc
Modern Zeiss are definitely well in third place, with the likes of Vortex catching up if not overtaken.
Swarovski has a US based manufacturing, and S&B is pretty much a military / law enforcement supplier that makes some sports optics on the side. The US is a huge market for optics, and my understanding is that in many parts of the US legal shooting light starts and stops with rise and setting of the sun. And electronics are banned in hunting - including illuminated reticles etc
Long drag
Well-Known Member
I dont think so.
Overlay
Well-Known Member
Yep I've just the one Zeiss and its a good one, when it goes kaputt its in the bin then its back to s&b and swaro as normal...I'm happy that I have sold all my Zeiss rifle scopes...
Only Kahles, Schmidt & Bender and Swarovski in my house
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