some good vintage binos?

[Karhumies]

Since i got some great suggestions on scopes so far i figure il give this one a shot as well.

what are some good old spotting binoculars to ad to the collection?

mind you i use a meopta 7x50 and dont feel like i need an upgrade, its more a fun/something to give guests thing.

I dont generally let people touch my 7x50 binos (mutch less my drilling ofcourse) But i do sometimes get family and "students" (i Make some side cash teaching knife smithing, tracking, general nordic outdoor skills).

Id like a second bino to hand them (and use myself if the fancy strikes me) but i dont really know mutch about all the old makers besides The companies that also made my scopes, and iam not throwing 300 euro at vintage scopes that might be carried around by a child from time to time)

Any lesser known binoculars to look out for? for spotting moose in the moonlight on the snow for instance. Not nessesarily top of the line but "capable"

 

[Zio65]

Pentax

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Seeadler 9x63s

 

[Stover Rover]

The old Zeiss 7x42 Dialyt, lovely bright image but hold their value so expect to pay >£600 for a good example.

 

[Karhumies]

The old Zeiss 7x42 Dialyt, lovely bright image but hold their value so expect to pay >£600 for a good example.

yea bit over budget for the application. Ended up getting a 30 euro Porst spezial nacht 7x50 wich could possibly be zeiss jena but who knows. Still looking for more binos tho, but more in the 100 euro range, hence the request for lesser known vintage gems. With the old glass name sells but doesnt exclude other quality makers that have been eclipsed.

 

[Freeforester]

Zeiss Jena jenoptem 8/30 or 7/50. Lots made, Absolutely great glass, especially good when they have been cared for, and it should be possible to find a decent pair for not too much.

A good pair Zeiss West Germany Classic 7/42 BGAT*P* would relegate your existing Meopta pair.
Edit: I see you have found something to suit

 

[Karhumies]

Zeiss Jena jenoptem 8/30 or 7/50. Lots made, Absolutely great glass, especially good when they have been cared for, and it should be possible to find a decent pair for not too much.

A good pair Zeiss West Germany Classic 7/42 BGAT*P* would relegate your existing Meopta pair.
Edit: I see you have found something to suit

7x42 might be slightly less suitable for moonligt viewing, but if you hsve followed my posts in general you know i love anything old Zeiss. So if i run into those i may jump anyway if only to collect. Did they make an 8x56 or even bigger binocular? i know 7x50 is out there.

 

[MilesW]

Pentax

Yes to Pentax. Also Nikon, Ricoh, Canon and even some of the lesser known brands. A lot of them came out of very good contract manufacturers. If it has made in Japan on it, it is worth taking a look. Many of these from the 80's and 90's sell for around $50.00 or less.

 

[Freeforester]

7x42 might be slightly less suitable for moonligt viewing, but if you hsve followed my posts in general you know i love anything old Zeiss. So if i run into those i may jump anyway if only to collect. Did they make an 8x56 or even bigger binocular? i know 7x50 is out there.

Zeiss (Jena) made 7/50 and 10/50, both were pretty good in full moon in snowy conditions.

Zeiss (Wetzlar, West) made the Classic models in 7/42 and 8/56, the latter being the ‘Cat’s Meow’ of their line up until they began producing their Night Owl range; they were far heavier, though.

I used to swap between my dad’s Swarovski Habicht SLC 8/56 and my Zeiss Classic 8/56 when spotting roe deer at very last light from a vantage point offering an extensive view ( - until it was simply too dark to sex them accurately or make out the antlers) in the spring dusk, and both performed equally well. The Swaro’s were bulkier and a bit heavier, though, and the glass coatings gave a ‘punchier than true life’ type of image when compared to the more natural type of image afforded by the Zeiss T*P* Classics, this did not make them any the better at very last light, just a little different by comparison swapping second by second in the field.

After I had my first pair of 8/56 Classics stolen for a second time, I replaced them with a brand new pair, but only used them very sparingly, and only really in December and January (57° North) when they had a distinct advantage over my 7/42’s of same type (BGAT*P*). I even made leather insert dust covers for the protection of the objective lenses. I’ve never gotten around to parting with them, so they still form part of my collection.
They may appear in the classified adverts one of these days!

 

[maximus otter]

7x42 might be slightly less suitable for moonligt viewing, but if you hsve followed my posts in general you know i love anything old Zeiss. So if i run into those i may jump anyway if only to collect. Did they make an 8x56 or even bigger binocular? i know 7x50 is out there.

Yes, there’s an 8x56 Dialyt.

maximus otter

 

[Heym SR20]

7x42 might be slightly less suitable for moonligt viewing, but if you hsve followed my posts in general you know i love anything old Zeiss. So if i run into those i may jump anyway if only to collect. Did they make an 8x56 or even bigger binocular? i know 7x50 is out there.

I would disagree. Zeiss 7x42 BGAT * P* are extremely good under the moonlight. You can see far more than with the naked eye. And when I have tried them alongside their 8x56 could see no difference other than a lot more weight and bulk.

 

[Freeforester]

Seeadler 9x63s

A pal had these back in the day, I had a chance to use but they were a poor relation when compared to the Zeiss Classic 8/56 and felt like the body was made of lead rather than magnesium! Both collimation and resolution was less than ideal, especially the latter, the former being repairable ( his were new, though) and the image was somewhat unnaturally bluish in colour from the coatings.

 

[HonestJohn]

The old Zeiss 7x42 Dialyt, lovely bright image but hold their value so expect to pay >£600 for a good example.

How dare you call them vintage! Still use them as my only binoculars

There’s another old fart on here who does too

 

[HonestJohn]

Yes, there’s an 8x56 Dialyt.

maximus otter

All you gain is weight. The 7x42 is likely the best binocular made in history

 

[Karhumies]

Zeiss (Jena) made 7/50 and 10/50, both were pretty good in full moon in snowy conditions.

Zeiss (Wetzlar, West) made the Classic models in 7/42 and 8/56, the latter being the ‘Cat’s Meow’ of their line up until they began producing their Night Owl range; they were far heavier, though.

I used to swap between my dad’s Swarovski Habicht SLC 8/56 and my Zeiss Classic 8/56 when spotting roe deer at very last light from a vantage point offering an extensive view ( - until it was simply too dark to sex them accurately or make out the antlers) in the spring dusk, and both performed equally well. The Swaro’s were bulkier and a bit heavier, though, and the glass coatings gave a ‘punchier than true life’ type of image when compared to the more natural type of image afforded by the Zeiss T*P* Classics, this did not make them any the better at very last light, just a little different by comparison swapping second by second in the field.

After I had my first pair of 8/56 Classics stolen for a second time, I replaced them with a brand new pair, but only used them very sparingly, and only really in December and January (57° North) when they had a distinct advantage over my 7/42’s of same type (BGAT*P*). I even made leather insert dust covers for the protection of the objective lenses. I’ve never gotten around to parting with them, so they still form part of my collection.
They may appear in the classified adverts one of these days!

those zeiss T* of any kind always seem to beat the competition to my eyes when it comes to looking natural. Lots of good suggestions here. quite curious to see what those porst look like when i get then in. Maybe some detail on them will betray the maker.

 

[Freeforester]

Yes, there’s an 8x56 Dialyt.

maximus otter

The old Hensoldt 8/56 binos as mentioned in the review link were a superb glass in their ‘pre coatings’ day, felt absolutely fantastic in terms of balance and form, and were lighter in weight than the Zeiss Classics, but alas were outperformed by the markedly superior coatings of the then new Zeiss offering.

 

[Freeforester]

All you gain is weight. The 7x42 is likely the best binocular made in history

They are indeed a classic, but don’t try them against Swaro’s NL Pure 10/32, or there’ll be tears!

 

[HonestJohn]

They are indeed a classic, but don’t try them against Swaro’s NL Pure 10/32, or there’ll be tears!

I think the price tag would be the tear jerker

 

[Freeforester]

The old Leitz (pre Leica) Trinovid 7/35 are an absolute gem if you can find a good example, lighter in weight than the later Leica’s and possessing that magical combination of balance and form which makes them a joy to use; sorry to go off topic, I’m sure they’re not what is needed under moonlight conditions, but for early mornings and summer evenings they are great. Although a little more heavy, they were also available in olive rubber armour coating too.

 

[j500app]

Zeiss night owl 10 x 56,the last of the lead crystal lenses made 40 years ago and have never been bettered,superb light gathering although a bit heavy.