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Zeiss Delactis Binoculars

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scudeast View Drop Down
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    Posted: July/29/2011 at 07:56
Hi

I was given a pair of old Zeiss "Delactis" Binoculars 8x40 - but they are very old and I think the lenses need a clean.

Is it worth cleaning them or should I just buy a new pair of Binoculars? I think they date from perhaps the 1920's!! so I guess they are very poor for hiking.

I'm looking really to use them for Hiking.

Many thanks.

PS I know nothing about Binoculars but am willing to learn.. I know SWIFT and ZEISS are good makes that's about it :)
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Bitterroot Bulls View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bitterroot Bulls Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/29/2011 at 17:51
If they are for hiking, I would just buy a new pair of binoculars.  Many will perform better than those old Zeiss, and cost less than the cleaning and repair bill.

If they were for collecting, I would say go ahead with a cleaning by a reputable binocular specialist.
-Matt
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etudiant View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote etudiant Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/01/2011 at 13:04
Your glass is a classic old Zeiss, built sometime between 1921 and 1936, so it predates lens coatings.
That means it is a bit less bright than a modern equivalent, but an 8x40 has ample light and to spare.
You can see your glass in the family sequence here:  http://home.europa.com/~telscope/zeissbn2.txt
Note that as an IF design, it is more rugged but less handy than the center focus version.
If you are a collector, it would be worth restoring. I've used Cory Suddarth, in Oklahoma City,
 (  http://www.suddarthoptical.com/)   and he has served me well.
The glass has no big collectible value though, so if you are looking to modernize, something similar in modern dress would be the 8x40 Nikon Action Extreme, waterproof and rubber armored,about $110 on Amazon.
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John H.-S. View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote John H.-S. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/25/2012 at 14:46
Hi Scudeast,
Delactis is bulky and heavy (1.09kg) and I think that you would soon tire of having that hung round your  neck when you are out hiking.
Having said that, it is a classic Carl Zeiss Jena design (current 1921 - 36) and the performance is excellent, with modern coatings to the optics it would be truly outstanding.  It was one of the earliest wide field binoculars and is very easy on the eye in use, due I think to the large 5mm exit pupil which makes it easy to line it up to the eyes.  An 8X30 would be half the weight and much smaller but the smalle exit pupil means that you have to line it up more precisely.
If you are a collector, keep it and enjoy it but if you just want a binocular for when you are out, sell this and buy a new binocular with the proceeds.
I have a Delactis for which I paid £80 sterling on eBay UK, shortly afterwards another one sold on eBay UK for £141.  It is a rare model and collectors value it quite highly.

John H.-S.
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Bitterroot Bulls View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bitterroot Bulls Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/25/2012 at 15:59
Welcome to the OT, John H.-S.
-Matt
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Simon Spiers View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Simon Spiers Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/27/2012 at 05:34
This is a superb Zeiss, but it is heavy and will not have coatings.
The serial number will tell you its age, the first 3 digits of the 7 digit number will do.
Cleaned, optical performance for its day was state of the art, indeed even now they are a wonderful wide angle binocular.
My binoculars My binocular collection
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Tauris View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tauris Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/25/2016 at 11:41
To whom it concerns.
  Sorry for the long delay on this, but I just saw your post today..  Not sure if you even have them still, referring to 8x40binoculars, but if you still do I like to trade or maybe buy them from you. Of course as long as they are not broken,(glass), and have a decent collimation where you see only one image versus seeing two...  I am not an expert, but I have taken apart some binos apart for cleaning, and I would take the chance to do so on these pairs, not knowing just what is involved.. If you still have them, it would be good to take a pic of them, thru the larger lens and eyepiece lens too...
 Let me know how much you are asking for them, I live in Arizona. 86336.  oR a trade for some birding binoculars that I might have for you in trade that would do well...
sincerely Dennis
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