Subject: The Scoop on the Deltrintem Binos-- LONG
Date: Apr 19 18:01:24 1995
From: Tom Foote - footet at elwha.evergreen.edu


Hi, Tweets,

This is about binoculars and long, so delete if you're not interested..


I finally got the binos and tried them. I'm including my original message
for those of you who didn't see it the first time. I'll comment on the
performance at the end of the forwarded message.
If anyone wants anything else from me about this, please contact me
directly so we don't clog up the net.

On Wed, 8 Mar 1995, Tom Foote wrote:

> There seems to be an unusually good deal on binoculars in the recent
issue > of Better View Desired that came in the mail yesterday. > The
short version is they are E. German Zeiss formerly sold > under the name
Aus Jena and currently marketed as Docter. They are 8x30, > porro prism
and called Deltrintems. They are very light 18 ozs (Swift > Audubons are
almost 30 ozs) Excerpts from the review by Stephen Ingraham > follow: >
...was one of the first binoculars to use the sophisticated > wide field
eyepiece designed by Dr. Erfle..Erfle eyepiece is responsible > for the
wide field, and at least in good measure, the excellent optical >
performance of the Swift Audubon 8.5x44s...Detrintem has been updated-it >
now features sophisticated multicoatings-Erfle eyepieces provide an >
extremely wide field of view-450feet at 1000 yds..The deltrintems 8 foot >
close focus places them among the closest on the market (butterfly >
watchers take note!)..they tested well (resolution)-4.2 arc sec.), but >
somewhat short of my expectations. The Celestron 8x32's, the current Best
> Buy in the Reference Set for mid-sized binoculars, for instance, scored
> somewhat higher on the resolution chart-but they could not equal the >
Deltrintem's performance in the field. The Deltrintems simply showed a >
sharper, more detailed image of the bird...the Deltrintems provide a very
> satisfying image in the field-satisfying enough so that I would
certainly > consider carrying them as my full time birding glasses-with
confidence > that I would not be missing much, or indeed any, performance
or pleasure > that larger and heavier glasses might provide. That puts
them, as far as > I am concerned, in very select mid-sized company, with
the Optolyth > Alpins, and, except for waterproofness, with the Swarovski
8x30SLC and > the Leica 8x32 Ultra...exceptional performance and value. >
> here's the ad-- >

>
> CLASSIC ZEISS now DR. OPTIC
> We have been able to obtain a limited quantity of
> on of the finest porroprism binoculars ever produced.
>
> 8X30 Deltrintems
>
> original Carl Zeiss Jena design updated with full
> multicoatings and offered under the Docter label
>
> $150.00 with case
>
> these glasses under the Docter label are being discontinued
> and may never be available again.
>
> Nelson-Halik Optics
>
>
> 2087 Nobleshire Rd.
> Columbus, OH 43229
> Steve 614-882-7006
> Evenings

> Now, you know as much as I do. I have no idea why there's an "evening"
> number to call, and I haven't called myself. I'm seriously contemplating
> a purchase as my 10x40 Zeiss have a narrower field of view and they can't
> get up close like these at 8'...and the price is right..
>
> I guess those of us who are interested will just have to ring up this guy
> Steve and find out what he knows and what the situation is..
>
> Good luck..
>

Okay--Today I went to Capitol Lake with my friend next door who
is a birder. He had with him for comparison the Swift Audubon 8x44 and
the Swift Audubon 8x44 ED glass. We looked at Bonaparte's gulls and a
Caspian tern and various ducks. The Deltrintems were quite satisfying.
The Audubons were maybe just a hair brighter (bigger objective..the D's
are 8x30) and the depth of field a little better. And, the field
of view was a bit wider..For my purposes I'll keep the D's as my tweety
bird binos. I ordinarily use my Zeiss 10x40's, but they don't focus close
like the D's. I could literally look down at a dandelion blossom at my feet
and focus crisply on it. These would be phenomenol for butterfly
enthusiasts, and other close up work. I like the fact they are
light..only 18 oz. I tried them last night at twilight and they do
surprisingly well for having only a 30mm objective. They're a real step
up from my scondary pair--Nikon Travelite 7x20.
I would say, if I were to buy one pair for birding, I might think
seriously about the Swift Audubon 8x44 obtainable from the #800 houses
at $216- (w/ ED glass #400+) But, as a scondary pair for $150 these are
hard to beat..and they're light enough to be back-packing equipage. They
come, by the way, with a black**leather** clam shell case that zips
around three sides..nice touch.
Interestingly enough, neither my friend nor I can distinguish the
difference between the 2 Swift Audubons..the ED glass does not seem to make
a discernible difference..however, the ED model is much more waterproof
w. O rings etc..but it does bear out what Better View Desired pointed
out--that the $216 Audubona are a really good deal..i.e, we probably
can't tell the difference because the lower priced model is so good
(rather than the ED model not measuring up)

Hope this helps..

Tom

> Tom Foote footet at elwha.evergreen.edu
> The Evergreen State College 866-6000 x6118
> Olympia, WA 98505
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