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..

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