New German made near alpha quality optic for about $130 (1 Viewer)

[b-lilja]

I am referring to the Docter Optic 8x21 porro monocular.

I absolutely love this little thing. It arrived about a week ago. Everyone should get one. The optical quality is terrific. Build quality is solid - sort of a Meopta gestalt. But the key thing is the size and portability. It is tiny. It seems like a sort of James Bond device. Also, because it folds into a little porro curl for use, you can snug it against your nose and get it at least somewhat stable, which is the deal killer for me with monoculars.

This is a very thorough description and review. http://www.opticsreviewer.com/docter-monocular.html

I notice there aren't many online right now - German ebay has some for a good price.

Do not hesitate. I will have this in my travel bag always.

 

[Binastro]

I am sure the folding 8x21 Docter is great. My most used binocular is a Docter 10x25.

However, the Helios 8x21 Pocket Spy folding monocular costs about a tenth of the Docter, and usually they are pretty good.

I often use it. It has worked fine for years.

Mine is about ten years old. Mostly single coated. One surface multicoated. Prisms probably uncoated. Possibly Japanese. Less than £15.

 

[Dennis Mau]

I am referring to the Docter Optic 8x21 porro monocular.

I absolutely love this little thing. It arrived about a week ago. Everyone should get one. The optical quality is terrific. Build quality is solid - sort of a Meopta gestalt. But the key thing is the size and portability. It is tiny. It seems like a sort of James Bond device. Also, because it folds into a little porro curl for use, you can snug it against your nose and get it at least somewhat stable, which is the deal killer for me with monoculars.

This is a very thorough description and review. http://www.opticsreviewer.com/docter-monocular.html

I notice there aren't many online right now - German ebay has some for a good price.

Do not hesitate. I will have this in my travel bag always.

Where do you get them for $130.00?

 

[b-lilja]

Eurooptic.com has them for $120 plus shipping. I didn't see them on there when I posted - I thought they were out - but now I see them listed.

 

[Rathaus]

Can it be folded into a small periscope for peeking around corners?

 

[EnjoyTheView]

Seems like the standard US price is more than double the reported $130.

Based on a brief search this does not look to be very "new", appears to be at least 6 if not 10-15 years old.

The review is reads more like an advertisement. The video too annoying to watch.

Eurooptic.com has them for $120 plus shipping. I didn't see them on there when I posted - I thought they were out - but now I see them listed.

They show out of stock to me. If they get more at that price it may be interesting, but looking at average prices and the fact that this is not a new device at all, the value is not looking good.

Were did you purchase from? Eurooptic?

 

[Binastro]

. Firstly, the Helios 8×21 pocket spy monocular seems to have been discontinued a few years ago. I think I paid £13.95 when I got mine.

I tested it this morning at 6 AM and just now at 2 PM against the 10x25 Docter roof prism binocular.
The 8×21 monocular acquitted itself well. The image scale is of course smaller. The real field of view, which is marked as 6.5° seems accurate and is a bit larger than the 10×25.
I could not detect any chromatic aberration with the 8×21 looking at a white pillar. There was a small amount of chromatic aberration with the 10x25 binocular.
. There is a small amount of pincushion distortion with the 8×21.
I have little accommodation and the sharp view is about 50% of the field. It is not symmetrical about the centre field. In use I have never had a problem with sharpness.
I use this 8×21 monocular to identify things that cannot be identified with the unaided eyes. I leave the focus near to infinity. Usually these UFOs turn out to be balloons, sometimes with very strange shapes. Sometimes they are kites. I also use the monocular to read road signs at a distance and to see what is in the charity shop window without crossing a busy road.

I would endorse the 8×21 Docter monocular, even though I have never seen it, as I know their products are good.
However, I would query whether any of these small folding monoculars are viable instruments for use for long periods. Even holding both my hands together there is considerable movement. At least with the 10×25 binocular I can brace it against a lamppost or a tree or something else.
The 8×21 that I have is in very good condition despite having been used many times. Some of the printed numerals are beginning to wear off from use. And the surfaces that contact each other when you fold the monocular for use show signs of use. Also, very importantly, when you fold the monocular for use the angle is exactly 90°. With a 5×25 folding Russian monocular, this does not happen as it folds by about 93°. So I have had to scratch two marks in the red paint so I can in line the monocular at exactly 90°. Although this 5 x 25 is larger than the 8×21 it can be held very steadily, being only five times magnification.

One problem I had when testing the 8×21 pocket spy was that the eyepiece focusing was very stiff. This is because I have not used the focuser much. After using the focus a few times it freed up quite well, but I'm not sure it could be used for accurate focus in say one or two seconds. Maybe the Docter 8×21 is better in this respect.

I see that they are selling 8×21 folding monoculars for less than eight dollars. I think these are very cheap knockoffs that seem to fall to pieces. One can always make something cheaper and nastier, which seems to be happening everywhere nowadays, especially with some Chinese goods, especially the fakes.

I have used the pocket spy on numerous occasions and it takes little room in one's pocket. However, nowadays I keep the 10x25 Docter binocular in my pocket as it is a very useful and high quality instrument, which can be used for long periods if necessary.

 

[Binastro]

. Re: post 7.

I managed to hold the 8x21 monocular more steadily. The resolution really is quite high.
Also I cannot see a trace of dust or debris within the monocular. This is pretty good considering how often it has been used.

 

[b-lilja]

Don't get me wrong. These are not a replacement for a good set of binoculars. But I don't take binoculars with me everywhere, and these I could, easily. At the price they're hard to beat.

I got mine from Eurooptics. I note they are available right now on ebay.de.

 

[Gijs van Ginkel]

The Doctor 8x21 foldable monocular was introduced by Zeiss in 1923 as the Zeiss Turmon. After WW-2 production was continued by Zeiss Jena and when Zeiss Jena was bought by Doctor it was produced as a Doctor monocular. With the original Turmon a special stand could be bought, so the tiny instrument could be used as a low magnification microscope. As far as I know Doctor did not change a whole lot to the original construction of the Zeiss Turmon, modern coatings were applied and the color and outside coat was changed.
One can find the original Turmons regularly from collectors and there may be some shown at meetings of the Binocular History Society.
Gijs van Ginkel

 

[EnjoyTheView]

.....I got mine from Eurooptics. I note they are available right now on ebay.de.

With shipping though the ebay seller is not really a good option for US residents as the price is $222 rather than $130. I guess we'll have to wait to see if EuroOptics gets more in stock.

 

[Dennis Mau]

With shipping though the ebay seller is not really a good option for US residents as the price is $222 rather than $130. I guess we'll have to wait to see if EuroOptics gets more in stock.

I picked up a new one on Ebay for $175.00 with free shipping. I will let you know if I like it. They do have good reviews. Is there any way to put a wrist strap lanyard on it so you don't drop it b-lilja?

 

[JerryLogan]

Telescope Express, well regarded German company with much experience selling to USA, GB - under $100 before shipping.

http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop...2591_Docter-8x21-C-Mono-Monokular---grau.html

 

[EnjoyTheView]

Telescope Express, well regarded German company with much experience selling to USA, GB - under $100 before shipping.

http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop...2591_Docter-8x21-C-Mono-Monokular---grau.html

Thanks that looks pretty good. I don't have an account with them, but based on excluding UST and $33 EUR shipping, that would be about $139 US. Unfortunately you need to sign up for an account to purchase, but they do accept Paypal payment. I don't know why most websites that use paypal still force you to setup an account with them. The good side is I make less impulse buys, but I'll wait to see if an easier purchase option appears first as it does look interesting at the right price as i can't find my older one around here anywhere, and the others are a lot bigger.

 

[JerryLogan]

Thanks that looks pretty good. I don't have an account with them, but based on excluding UST and $33 EUR shipping, that would be about $139 US. Unfortunately you need to sign up for an account to purchase, but they do accept Paypal payment. I don't know why most websites that use paypal still force you to setup an account with them. The good side is I make less impulse buys, but I'll wait to see if an easier purchase option appears first as it does look interesting at the right price as i can't find my older one around here anywhere, and the others are a lot bigger.

Don't forget to deduct the 19% vat if you're not EU. Total USA is $110 with shipping.

Best,
Jerry

 

[kkokkolis]

Has anybody tried the additional +1-+16 diopter lenses that alter the close focus and magnification up to 32x for use as a microscope?

 

[etudiant]

Has anybody tried the additional +1-+16 diopter lenses that alter the close focus and magnification up to 32x for use as a microscope?

Owned them once, they work wonderfully, but the depth of field is small, so you need a steadier hand than mine to really take advantage of this little gem's capabilities. Apparently Zeiss offered a stand to solve that problem, but I have no experience with that.
Do note the current Leica Monovid has a macro lens included in the carrying case, so the idea has been copied by others.

 

[kkokkolis]

I have a magnifier with stand I might try to adapt.
Amyway, I'm thinking about +2, +4 and +10, possibly +5 also. +2 keeps 8x and focus goes to Papilio territory anf it should have reasonable depth of focus. +4 at 8x goes down to 25cm, +5 to 20cm at 10x and +10 to 10cm at 20x. That's a good range. I prefer 20x on my Stereomicroscope over greater magnifications (and even that will be impossible unmounted). What I don't know if with +2-+4 it keeps its infinity focus capabilities, or I have to remove the additional lens? Lenses are 17€ each.

 

[tom666]

What's the ER in this monocular?

 

[kkokkolis]

15mm according to this: http://www.opticsreviewer.com/docter-monocular.html

What I can't find is if I will be able to focus at infinity with a diopter lens on (say, +1 or +2).