Binoculars review

Carl Zeiss Victory 8x32 T* FL

The Victory T* is the top-end range of Carl Zeiss binoculars. It consists of two compact models (8x20 and 10x25) but also including bigger instruments with the following parameters: 8x32, 10x32, 8x42, 10x42, 8x56 and 10x56. All these devices are roof prism models but the smallest of them – featuring 20-32 mm objective lenses – have prisms set in the Schmidt-Pechan system and the bigger ones – in the Abbe-Koenig system. Starting from the 32 mm objective diameter low-dispersion fluorite glass is used in all binoculars.

The optical diagram of the Victory 8x32 T* FL model, tested here, we present below. The objective lens is a three-piece apochromat construction with fluorite. Then you can find a moving focusing element and then the Schmidt-Pechan prisms. The prisms are phase correction coated and also they feature a reflective surface covered by dielectric layers with high reflection index. Behind the prisms there is a wide-angle eyepiece consisting of five elements.

The producer emphasizes the fact that all air-to-glass surfaces are fully multicoated with patented T* antireflection coatings. The outer lenses are additionally covered by the LotuTech coatings which increase the rate at which the Zeiss Victory FL binoculars shed water, making cleaning dirt and damp easier.

The binoculars’ casing is made of plastics and reinforced with glass fibre. Additionally, it was padded by high quality rubber armour. The binoculars are waterproof up to the depth of 4 meters and nitrogen-filled. They are also climate-proof as they can work in the temperatures ranging from –30 to +60 degrees centigrade.

The buyer gets objective lenses protective caps on stretching rubber rings, joined eyepiece caps (the rainguard) a neoprene strap and a cordura pouch, also with a strap in the product bundle. The binoculars come with a 10-year guarantee.

Manufacturer:
Carl Zeiss
web site

Distribution / Sales:
M.K. Szuster
web site
e-mail
ul. Al. Waszyngtona 38/40
03-910 Warszawa

Results of the review

Real front lens diameter	Left:   32.08+/- 0.05mm Right:  32.12+/- 0.05mm	8/8.0
Real magnification	7.79+/- 0.05x	3/3.0
Transmission	94.6+/- 1.5%	14/15.0
Chromatic aberration	Negligible in the centre, very low on the edge.	9.2/10.0
Astigmatism	Very slight.	8.8/10.0
Distortion	The distance of the first curved line from the field centre compared to the field of vision radius: 56% +/- 5%	6/10.0
Coma	Appears far because only near 70% from the field centre; on the edge it gets to the borderline between low and average	8.5/10.0
Blurring at the edge of the FOV	The blur occurs in the distance of 81% +/- 3% from the field of view centre.	6/10.0
Darkening at the edge the FOV	Difficult to notice.	4.6/5.0
Whiteness of the image	Significant difference in transmission between the middle of the range and both ends.	3.6/5.0
Collimation	Perfect.	5/5.0
Internal reflections	Left: Right: Nice pupils on black background with only few lighter areas.	4.6/5.0
Housing	Very handy, comfortable and rubber-covered. It can be held and look through very conveniently. Nothing sticks out. Comfortable regulated eyecups. Something clatters inside (!?)	7.7/8.0
Focusing	Very big and comfortable central wheel (full turn at 450 degrees). Individual focusing through a click-stop system on the central wheel, Nothing moves outside.	4.7/5.0
Tripod	Optional tripod adapter. In the 8x32 test all binoculars were granted the average value of 1.5 points in this category as a tripod exit in this class of equipment is rarely used.	1.5/3.0
Interpupilary distance	from 52.9 to 74.1mm	5/6.0
Closest focusing distance	1.55 m.	1.5/2.0
Eyepieces FOV	Apparent field of view of 62.6 degrees.	7/10.0
Field of view	Measured by us amounted to 8.04 +/- 0.03 degrees and it was in accordance with the specifications. A large field of view for this class of equippment.	7/8.0
Quality of the interior of the barrels	Inner tubes and bottom black and matt. Blackening inside by and large perfect. Individual specks of dust on prisms. A significant scratch on the right prism.	3.9/5.0
Vignetting	Left: Right: OL: 0.7%, OR: 0.9%	6/8.0
Prisms quality	High quality BaK-4.	8/8.0
Antireflection coatings	Pink-orange on eyepieces, prisms and objective lenses. Low intensity.	5/5.0
Warranty [years]	10	4.5/6.0
Final result		143.1/170 84.2%
Econo result		0pkt.

 

Summary

Pros:

• very solid barrel,
• high transmission,
• chromatic aberration corrected splendidly,
• very low astigmatism,
• slight coma,
• low brightness loss on the edge of the field,
• nice exit pupils on black background,
• perfect blackening inside the tubes,
• splendid T* antireflection coatings,
• high quality of prisms.

Cons:

• slightly egg-shaped pupils.

A practically flawless pair of binoculars. It features everything you can dream of in this class of parameters and the result in our test confirms it in full. Even the distortion, which was a major complaint in the 10x42 model (and that set still managed to win our big test of binoculars of that segment, mind you) was corrected well here and is no longer a problem.

Once again the Zeiss defeats its eternal rivals on the binoculars market, Leica and Swarovski, being even a bit cheaper than them. What’s interesting, not those instruments from reputable companies but the binoculars from Japan so the Nikon HG and the huge Leupold 8x32 were the Zeiss’s fiercest competitors here.

To sum up if you have a figure of about 1500 Euro to spend and you wish to buy a handy pair of 8x32 binoculars, the Zeiss Victory seems to be your perfect choice.