Zeiss Diascope vs …

[grizz19]

How do the older zeiss diascopes compare to some of todays modern glass? For example the razor gen ll, Leupold gold ring or santiam, the mavens, the swaro st? Looking for some info on them, thanks.

 

[Gatorgrizz27]

Been following this. I bought one this year as they seem to be better than most others in the (used) price range. From what I’ve heard they are slightly better than the original Japanese Razor HD’s, which are a step above the current ones. Just what I’ve read, never looked through a Razor.

 

[grizz19]

Been following this. I bought one this year as they seem to be better than most others in the (used) price range. From what I’ve heard they are slightly better than the original Japanese Razor HD’s, which are a step above the current ones. Just what I’ve read, never looked through a Razor.

That’s what I have found and read as well. I actually called zeiss and talked to them about it. Said it’s still good glass and would be significantly better than the glass used in the razor, which of course they would say, but it is German glass compared to the China glass in vortex so I tend to believe them. I just purchased an older used one on here that I should be receiving in a little over a week. Will be able to tell for sure then.

 

[strongarm]

I have an 85mm Zeiss Diascope. I can’t speak to the comparison to the exact glass you’re mentioning in the original post. From other glass I’ve either looked at in store testing and others’ glass at the range…don’t hesitate on the Zeiss.

Excellent clarity and light transmission. Good design overall with built in hood. Reasonable eye relief and quick to acquire.

Last year a hunting partner…who had been reliant on my Zeiss prior, showed up to elk camp with a mid-range Vortex (I forget the model) he got and was proud to show it off. We did some side-by-sides at Basecamp to distant peaks and some dark timber glassing. His excitement of a new toy turned into regret.

Zeiss was light years better with clarity across field of view, eye relief, and light transmission. Was hard to believe we were looking at the same stuff.

Make the story shorter…pony up for the Zeiss, at least compared to Vortex. If you’re spending any amount of time looking through any glass, get the best you can afford and add a little more. It’s worth it, especially the German pedigree. I’m so glad I sucked it up vs. get what, at a glance, seems like the same. It’s not.

 

[grizz19]

I have an 85mm Zeiss Diascope. I can’t speak to the comparison to the exact glass you’re mentioning in the original post. From other glass I’ve either looked at in store testing and others’ glass at the range…don’t hesitate on the Zeiss.

Excellent clarity and light transmission. Good design overall with built in hood. Reasonable eye relief and quick to acquire.

Last year a hunting partner…who had been reliant on my Zeiss prior, showed up to elk camp with a mid-range Vortex (I forget the model) he got and was proud to show it off. We did some side-by-sides at Basecamp to distant peaks and some dark timber glassing. His excitement of a new toy turned into regret.

Zeiss was light years better with clarity across field of view, eye relief, and light transmission. Was hard to believe we were looking at the same stuff.

Make the story shorter…pony up for the Zeiss, at least compared to Vortex. If you’re spending any amount of time looking through any glass, get the best you can afford and add a little more. It’s worth it, especially the German pedigree. I’m so glad I sucked it up vs. get what, at a glance, seems like the same. It’s not.

I ended up pulling the trigger and am super glad I did. I forgot to get back on and share my results but I had it side by side with a gen ll razor and both my hunting buddy and I noticed a definite difference in quality between the 2 scopes. The Zeus’s to your point was brighter, more clear, and showed noticeably more detail and clarity at max power compared to the razor. This kinda surprise me and kinda didn’t at the same time. I know the quality of Zeus’s glass but at the same time I expected a 15-17 year old spotter to maybe not stack up to the newer spotter but it did and outshined it. All in all I’m a happy camper

 

[strongarm]

Thanks for sharing back for benefit of others. You, too, experienced what I did as well.

Vortex is all the rage by many. Twice now I decided ahead of time I was absolutely going to go Vortex (once with spotting scope, a second time with riflescope) and driven to a retailer fully expecting to come home with their products each time. That lasted until I spent some time behind them when compared to others that were equal based on stated specs. I was just underwhelmed, which is hard to accept after all the lead-up research.

I’m not strongly brand loyal here so not a fanboy of any one brand (I heavily use Leupold, Steiner, and Zeiss optics). Vortex just doesn’t have the quality in my very insular opinion.

If you back it up a bit and look at what Vortex hangs their hat on, it’s unquestioned warranty…not optical quality. I’m sure their products are fine, but in comparison to others of equal or slightly more cost, they can fall short. Nothing was even more stark than what I shared above about spending a day beside a hunter partner and his Vortex compared to my Zeiss. A distant sheep was most telling. Through the Vortex of equivalent objective size and magnification the sheep looked like a fuzzy white blob. Through the Zeiss we could see definition and features of the sheep clearly.

 

[Steve O]

I’d take a 20 year old Diascope over anything you listed. I sold mine to purchase and ATX/BTX system. The only thing the Swaro does better is versatility. The are excellent spotters.

 

[strongarm]

I’d take a 20 year old Diascope over anything you listed. I sold mine to purchase and ATX/BTX system. The only thing the Swaro does better is versatility. The are excellent spotters.

Couldn’t be happier with my Zeiss Diascope and protect it almost like a child, right down to a stay-on Zeiss Cordura cover and inside a Marsupial Gear angled padded case (for others, the Diascope’s need the Marsupial Gear 95mm case due to the top focusing knob)

Swarovski is likely better optical quality across entire field of view and less chromatic aberration, etc, but hard to imagine a lot better than the Zeiss. Spot on!

 

[Hatchet Jack]

I had a silver Diascope 85mm for a couple years. Recently sold it. Maybe I got a lemon but I was not super impressed with it. It was better than the razor 85 I compared it with but had a very yellow tint to it. My Kowa 66 was better in every way other than FOV even in low light. Nice scope if you can get a deal, build quality and focus was great quality I just wasn’t crazy about the color and soft view through it. I still think I just got a bad one.

 

[strongarm]

Wow, that stinks. Definitely sounds like something was off. Did you ever contact Zeiss, as they do have a transferable lifetime warranty? Glad the Kowa is working out. Unsure the size of your Zeiss, but I’ll admit I do sometimes wish I had a 60-something mm spotter after many miles of uphill climbing. The pain goes away when settled in behind the glass, however!


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[grizz19]

I’d take a 20 year old Diascope over anything you listed. I sold mine to purchase and ATX/BTX system. The only thing the Swaro does better is versatility. The are excellent spotters.

I love that diascope so far. I have zero complaints about it. My buddy has an atx 85mm and it’s in a class of its own. But with a new dad budget the diascope was an affordable upgrade for the time being haha

 

[grizz19]

Thanks for sharing back for benefit of others. You, too, experienced what I did as well.

Vortex is all the rage by many. Twice now I decided ahead of time I was absolutely going to go Vortex (once with spotting scope, a second time with riflescope) and driven to a retailer fully expecting to come home with their products each time. That lasted until I spent some time behind them when compared to others that were equal based on stated specs. I was just underwhelmed, which is hard to accept after all the lead-up research.

I’m not strongly brand loyal here so not a fanboy of any one brand (I heavily use Leupold, Steiner, and Zeiss optics). Vortex just doesn’t have the quality in my very insular opinion.

If you back it up a bit and look at what Vortex hangs their hat on, it’s unquestioned warranty…not optical quality. I’m sure their products are fine, but in comparison to others of equal or slightly more cost, they can fall short. Nothing was even more stark than what I shared above about spending a day beside a hunter partner and his Vortex compared to my Zeiss. A distant sheep was most telling. Through the Vortex of equivalent objective size and magnification the sheep looked like a fuzzy white blob. Through the Zeiss we could see definition and features of the sheep clearly.

I couldn’t agree more. The brand was pushed hard by a bunch of the influencer/hunter crowd and is all the craze. Props to vortex thought they have done a great job marketing their product and I jumped on the band wagon at first just because I didn’t know any better. But as I’ve advanced and started wanting and needing more out of my optics it became apparent I needed to upgrade. That zeiss diascope is definitely an upgrade despite being older glass. Could not be happier with it for the time being.

 

[Freelance]

What would be a reasonable price range for a straight 85T*FL with the 20-60x eyepiece in "perfect condition"?

 

[strongarm]

What would be a reasonable price range for a straight 85T*FL with the 20-60x eyepiece in "perfect condition"?

@Freelance These 85mm's seem to be hanging around $1,200-$1,400 (+/-) of late. Anything in there I would consider pretty reasonable for what you are getting. Sometimes a little higher, $1,500-$1,800 if equipped with anything extra (UV filter, tripod head, case, etc.), or "perfect condition" if true. Sometimes you see them with other non-Zeiss eyepieces and in those cases it seems like a bit cheaper.

 

[Freelance]

Good to know, thank you. Were there different iterations with that model number or were the bodies all the same throughout production?

 

[strongarm]

I’m not sure. I’ve had mine for a while and dug deeper at that time so used to be a little more versed on nuances. I think overall build of the T*FL Diascopes are the same, but there were some options or changes in finish along the way. They are fairly distinct with the top focusing knob. I believe the equivalent newer iterations of Diascopes are the Diascope Victory series, where there were some changes, but without some review can’t outline differences this second.


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[Detect]

I just put my Zeiss Victory Diascope 85 in the optics classfieds here if anyone is interested.

 

[Freelance]

@strongarm thanks for the information. I went to see it today and bought it for less than the range you mentioned. Paid the asking price as it was a good deal. A couple of small paint chips in the body but the glass is perfect. Came with a tripod and neoprene cover for the scope and the Zeiss 20x-60x eyepiece. I was surprised to see "Made in Czech Republic" and wonder if Zeiss had these made by Meopta, or do they produce there as well? Also says "Made by Carl Zeiss". The image quality is excellent.

 

[strongarm]

@Freelance
Great! On the Czech-made, interesting and not sure. Hopefully no appreciable difference if made and kept to specs. Sounds like you got a good value and you had opportunity to check out and here’s to you enjoying some higher quality glass. It’s never a thing you “need” yet once you have don’t know how you loved without it. Well, after it’s off your back, that is. Enjoy and you’ll be happy yo have a new buddy named Carl in your quiver.


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[Freelance]

I just put my Zeiss Victory Diascope 85 in the optics classfieds here if anyone is interested.

That's a beauty and seems like a very nice deal. Did you do astronomical observation with all of those extra goodies?