absolut_beethoven
Well-known member
I was fortunate enough to find a new old stock Zeiss 3x12B Monocular model #522012V a few weeks ago. This also doubles as a tripler and comes with the adapter to fit the old Zeiss Victory non-FL binos - 8/10x40 and the 8/10x56.
The latest version is model #490143 with adapter for the FL Victorys and #490142 with adapter for the Classics. Other than the slight difference in adapter diameter I can't see any difference between the old and new versions. All specs are identical for both, but I haven't seen the newest one to confirm if the coatings have been upgraded or not. These older coatings seem to keep colors reasonably neutral, but their lack of efficiency in light transmission makes whites appear quite a bit darker.
FOV is an impressive 220 meters and it weighs in at a very light 54 grams. Focusing is achieved by screwing the front objective out for close objects and in for those further away. It comes with stiff a rubber eyecup which eyeglass wearers need to fold down. Fortunately I don't use eyeglasses with binos
Due to its low magnification and small objective, depth of field is exceptional. Once I have focused on infinity, almost everything else as close as 100 meters is in focus. For my eyes, objects as close as that are only marginally out of focus, and I need to adjust the focus for closer viewing. Depending on your eyesight, it can focus as close as 200mm - a little under 8". its wide focusing range should easily cover most peoples diopter requirements.
As Henry pointed out in his review of this tripler, the magnification changes due to the objective moving in order to focus. See link below.
Pin cushion distortion starts becoming visible around the 60% mark. And even right at the edge at it's worst it's not bad at all. Very mild IMHO.
CA is non-existent up to about 70% of the FOV, and like the pin cushion distortion, is very small even at it's worst. You'll have to look hard under the right circumstances in order to see it.
Both sharpness and light fall off start deteriorating around the same point that CA kicks in. But not so much that the edges are unusable. In fact just the opposite. Although softer and darker, the view is still useful virtually right to the edge, but you wouldn't want to rely on that for fine detail.
Looking as close as is safely possible into the sun about an hour before sunset produced zero flare or ghosting with the Victory adapter on, which acts as a small lens hood. Most impressive indeed. I didn't try this without the adapter because I always leave it on, except when using it as a tripler on my Pentax DCF ED 8x32.
Due to the low magnification and small objective, eye placement is not critical. Viewing the monocular at almost arms length and checking the roundness of the 4mm exit pupil, I can deviate the tube quite far off axis before its roundness is affected.
Stars at night, the few that are bright enough for me to see in my area, are pin point sharp up to about 70% of the FOV, but obviously quite dim.
This monocular is not something that one would rely on for super fine detail and resolution, but IMHO is more than acceptable considering its low magnification and tiny objective.
Highly recommended if you can find one at the right price.
I'll follow up this review in a week or two to report on its use as a tripler and add a few pics too.
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=156158
The latest version is model #490143 with adapter for the FL Victorys and #490142 with adapter for the Classics. Other than the slight difference in adapter diameter I can't see any difference between the old and new versions. All specs are identical for both, but I haven't seen the newest one to confirm if the coatings have been upgraded or not. These older coatings seem to keep colors reasonably neutral, but their lack of efficiency in light transmission makes whites appear quite a bit darker.
FOV is an impressive 220 meters and it weighs in at a very light 54 grams. Focusing is achieved by screwing the front objective out for close objects and in for those further away. It comes with stiff a rubber eyecup which eyeglass wearers need to fold down. Fortunately I don't use eyeglasses with binos
Due to its low magnification and small objective, depth of field is exceptional. Once I have focused on infinity, almost everything else as close as 100 meters is in focus. For my eyes, objects as close as that are only marginally out of focus, and I need to adjust the focus for closer viewing. Depending on your eyesight, it can focus as close as 200mm - a little under 8". its wide focusing range should easily cover most peoples diopter requirements.
As Henry pointed out in his review of this tripler, the magnification changes due to the objective moving in order to focus. See link below.
Pin cushion distortion starts becoming visible around the 60% mark. And even right at the edge at it's worst it's not bad at all. Very mild IMHO.
CA is non-existent up to about 70% of the FOV, and like the pin cushion distortion, is very small even at it's worst. You'll have to look hard under the right circumstances in order to see it.
Both sharpness and light fall off start deteriorating around the same point that CA kicks in. But not so much that the edges are unusable. In fact just the opposite. Although softer and darker, the view is still useful virtually right to the edge, but you wouldn't want to rely on that for fine detail.
Looking as close as is safely possible into the sun about an hour before sunset produced zero flare or ghosting with the Victory adapter on, which acts as a small lens hood. Most impressive indeed. I didn't try this without the adapter because I always leave it on, except when using it as a tripler on my Pentax DCF ED 8x32.
Due to the low magnification and small objective, eye placement is not critical. Viewing the monocular at almost arms length and checking the roundness of the 4mm exit pupil, I can deviate the tube quite far off axis before its roundness is affected.
Stars at night, the few that are bright enough for me to see in my area, are pin point sharp up to about 70% of the FOV, but obviously quite dim.
This monocular is not something that one would rely on for super fine detail and resolution, but IMHO is more than acceptable considering its low magnification and tiny objective.
Highly recommended if you can find one at the right price.
I'll follow up this review in a week or two to report on its use as a tripler and add a few pics too.
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=156158
