Zeiss' new Terra line

HullinPhx · Jan 30, 2013

I know Doug wrote about these new items in his SHOT revoew I am just wondering what everybody else thinks.

I would hope that Zeiss would not put their name on some inferior product but the price is very very comparable to eveybody else...

http://www.cameralandny.com/optics/zeiss.pl?page=zeiss_524205

I personally want to try them as soon as they come out

John

broomd · Jan 30, 2013

LAST EDITED ON Jan-30-13 AT 01:27PM (MST)[p]John, I asked Doug on another forum about the terra line.
He was posting on the SHOT show goods he had to offer.

My question was actually a follow-up to someone else's, specifically: "Where is the 'terra line' manufactured?"
I like Doug, deal with him frequently with stuff I buy, and I don't want to throw him under the bus, but it seems to me he completely avoided answering my question. He never did post further.

I didn't post further either, as I didn't want to hijack his Shot show thread; what I did do was email Richard Moncrief head of product training at Zeiss and I asked him where the line was made.

He promptly emailed me back stating that unbelievably HE DID NOT KNOW and that he DID KNOW that it wasn't Germany or the U.S.

I'm thinking CHINA or possibly Mexico to avoid the China name connection.
I really like Zeiss products, but I hope they didn't compromise quality with this line to save a few bucks.

I guess time will tell if enough guys ask about production origin.

lundellhunting7 · Jan 30, 2013

I heard they are making them in Japan

Fortis · Jan 31, 2013

There's no denying that Cameraland has great service and a great variety of products. He owns a business, and it's his job to sell his wares, and that's OK, but it is very apparent to me, that Doug is first and foremost a salesaman, not a hunter, and not an optical expert at all.

HullinPhx · Jan 31, 2013

To avoid a lot of the "hunting bias" that most of these sites seem to have in my opinion when it comes to optics reviews I have had the best of luck checking out the bird view forums. I do not know 100% but there is a lot of talk about these being made in Zeiss' Hungrey (SP?) plant. The rumors are that the glass is Zeiss but the outer coating and the fact that they are not hand made in Germany is the reason for the lower price.

Like I said before I really want to try them out

John

broomd · Jan 31, 2013

Thanks for the insights.

SteveC · Feb 4, 2013

LAST EDITED ON Feb-04-13 AT 09:39PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Feb-04-13 AT 09:33?PM (MST)

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=2651096#post2651096

This is a Zeiss Terra HD thread on Bird Forum. Lots of information there, including information that current "Made in Germany" , laws allow the MIG to mean only 10% of the product need be German. I confess that was news to me, but some Google searching backed that up.

Read post 255 from Zeiss representative Stephen Ingraham. Some may remember him for his review days at his "Better View Desired" review site. He pretty clearly stated the Terra will use Schott ED glass and manufacture/assembly will be outsourced to China. Keep in mind Schott is a worldwide company with factories in over a dozen countries, including China. Mr Ingraham does NOT say in that post just which Schott plant will produce the glass. He is probably limited to some extent by what Zeiss will allow him to say too.

I'm making no blank statement here, but that thread is worth the read.

broomd · Feb 5, 2013

Great stuff, Steve.
I figured CHINA and unfortunately I was right.
You nailed it with the 10% scenario. Ingraham was clearly cryptic in his answer. No doubt his hands are tied.

This glass may be very nice. It's probably worth a peek, I just hate to see one more F*&*^in' product heading to the Chinese.

I was thinking very seriously on a terra 32mm riflescope, but I couldn't get an answer on the darn weight of the thing.
I ended up picking up a used Zeiss conquest 2.5-8 X 32mm very reasonably last week.

Willametteriveroutlaw · Feb 11, 2013

Zeiss is moving into mid range optics, hoping to bank on their reputation. Swarovski and Leica are beating them in sales and quality at the high end water mark right now.

broomd · Feb 11, 2013

LAST EDITED ON Feb-11-13 AT 03:17PM (MST)[p]I don't get that at all.

After using a newer pair of 10X42 T *FL Victorys, I'd say that Zeiss *still* has some fabulous high end glass.

Willametteriveroutlaw · Feb 11, 2013

They still have very nice high end glass, they are just moving a different direction and diluting their brand. Look at the conquests, they are no where near the quality of even a trinovid. I was very dissappointed with the glass quality when I looked at them as far as zeiss goes.

CabelasOutfitter · Feb 11, 2013

I am not sure if anyone has seen the front cover of the Cabela's spring great outdoor days flyer yet but I would keep an eye out for a once in a lifetime deal on a Zeiss conquest riflescope...3-9x40 for $299.99 the 2012 version. One day door buster deal for retail and then the sale hits the web for a one day deal Monday February 18th. We have a bunch but at this price we expect to sell them fast. I would reccomend you go early and pick one of these up as it is one of the best values in a riflescope you will ever see.

broomd · Feb 12, 2013

>They still have very nice high
>end glass, they are just
>moving a different direction and
>diluting their brand. Look at
>the conquests, they are no
>where near the quality of
>even a trinovid. I was
>very dissappointed with the glass
>quality when I looked at
>them as far as zeiss
>goes.

Okay, I understand.
And I agree regarding the conquest binc line.
Sometimes a quality line needs to keep its distance from the cheap end products. Time and glass-time will tell if the terra line is a cheap-a$$ Zeiss gimmick or real lower-to-mid-range priced quality.

I don't understand Zeiss's thinking...the new alpha HT line of bincs are no doubt unreal glass but right from the start the cosmetic look of the binc is totally bland. The FL line was tough and had a great, tactical look about it. And why no hunter/OD green for the HT? Anyone with half a brain knows most hunters like the green optics.
Swaro, leica, vortex, stiener, pentax...they all offer green rubber optics. It's a no brainer.
For $2-3000 bucks they should be as nice to look <at> as through!

Opportunity is wasted on the wrong engineers.

Willametteriveroutlaw · Feb 13, 2013

Your point is exactly why Zeiss is diluting their line. Their products don't compete well with Swarovski and Leica. When you are dealing with top end glass, you move on the secondary considerations like Ergonomics and appearance and they just don't compete in those categories well. They have lost so much market share over the last 5 years that had to make a change. Thei rangefinding binoculars are great as far as quality, but are a boat anchor to hold in your hand..

BPKHunter · Feb 13, 2013

I agree on bino's, but the Conquest rifle scopes are in my mind the best optics for your dollar out there.

broomd · Feb 13, 2013

Yes, absolutely agreed.

For the money they are great glass.

copple2 · May 3, 2013

These new binocs are manufactured in China with German glass, made to Zeiss specs. Same glass at a great price.

copple2

Timberbuck · May 4, 2013

Sounds like a lot of opinions on Zeiss from you guys come from no personal experience with their optics.

Zeiss optics have not taken a back seat to anybody in the last 10 years.

The Victory FL was the best bino on the market all things considered when it first came out in 2005, first with Flourite glass (HD), and brightest with the most efficient prism design.

Not until Swarovski upgraded to the Swarovision EL and SLC HD did their designs equal the FL Zeiss.

The new Victory HT Zeiss is the brightest binocular again on the market, period. The Conquest HD competes with or exceeds any $1000 glass out there. Its great there are so many options IMO.

If I had to rank current binoculars you would have the Victory HT and Swarovski Swarovision and SLC HD at the top of the heap.

The Nikon EDG 2 would be next. Great glass but not quite as bright.

The Leica Ultravid HD is lacking behind the others in areas of brightness and CA control.

THe Zeiss terra line will be similiar in quality of optics to other $500 Japan and China ED glass. Whats wrong with Zeiss getting some of this market share?

NMboltripper · May 20, 2013

Maybe I missed it, but anybody know the release date on these??

These look to be a good addition to my 2013 hunting gear.

broomd · May 22, 2013

>Sounds like a lot of opinions
>on Zeiss from you guys
>come from no personal experience
>with their optics.
>
>Zeiss optics have not taken a
>back seat to anybody in
>the last 10 years.
>
>The Victory FL was the best
>bino on the market all
>things considered when it first
>came out in 2005, first
>with Flourite glass (HD), and
>brightest with the most efficient
>prism design.
>
>Not until Swarovski upgraded to the
>Swarovision EL and SLC HD
>did their designs equal the
>FL Zeiss.
>
>The new Victory HT Zeiss is
>the brightest binocular again on
>the market, period. The Conquest
>HD competes with or exceeds
>any $1000 glass out there.
>Its great there are so
>many options IMO.
>
>If I had to rank current
>binoculars you would have the
>Victory HT and Swarovski Swarovision
>and SLC HD at the
>top of the heap.
>
>The Nikon EDG 2 would be
>next. Great glass but not
>quite as bright.
>
>The Leica Ultravid HD is lacking
>behind the others in areas
>of brightness and CA control.
>
>
>THe Zeiss terra line will be
>similiar in quality of optics
>to other $500 Japan and
>China ED glass. Whats wrong
>with Zeiss getting some of
>this market share?

I'm a big Zeiss fan and I have no less than six Zeiss products between three bincs (two FLs, one RF) two conquest scopes, and a 65mm diascope. Where you get off saying we don't own the products is nuts.

My thoughts are based solely on my experience with Zeiss products.
The HTs are indeed the brightest out there, and fortunately Zeiss just now FINALLY released an 8X version. But they aren't Zeiss's answer to be a top tier sporting optics leader. They will find their way into U.K. birders hearts to be sure. At $2400 most of us U.S. hunters will not bite.
I personally still regard the 10X42 Victory FL as the best glass out there for the money. Findable at about $1200 it kicks @ss across the line. Nothing brighter other than the HT line--and no 'rolling ball' for some of us that the SV offers.

Its obvious to many of us that Zeiss has shifted it's game-plan to sell many more <cheap> optics rather than fewer uber-quality optics.

The terra line may view wonderfully, we shall see. I have my doubts.

And your statement about Leica HDs lacking is nuts as well. Still a very relevant glass, the 8X32HD has quite a following amongst mountain hunters with its lightweight frame and stunning optics.

broomd · May 22, 2013

>>
>>The Nikon EDG 2 would be
>>next. Great glass but not
>>quite as bright.
>>
>>The Leica Ultravid HD is lacking
>>behind the others in areas
>>of brightness and CA control.
>>
>>

A couple more things...

The Nikon EDG line is a great line of glass. Nikon really pulled out all of the stops with this line up. Unfortunately, the line was/is astronomically priced, and the original EDG I was plagued with quality control issues: Faulty diopter wheels, bubbling rubber armor...it ultimately cost them market share with guys bailing on the line altogether before experiencing the stellar EDG II optic.
The top tier Nikon glass quality has never been in question and is really stunning, but putting it before any Leica HD seems a stretch.
While Nikon's warranty program is arguably better than Leica's, from strictly an optical standpoint, Leica still offers some of the finest glass on the planet.

fatrooster · May 23, 2013

Great post. I'm learning a few things about Zeiss from you guys. Zeiss glass is in many cameras and camcorders nowadays. I would think that they would not have to make a cheaper line of optics made in China in order to stay competitive. Maybe there jusy expanding and looking for a larger market. Nevertheless, I like Zeiss glass and hope that this move does not hurt them in any way. fatrooster.