Victory Pocket owners...focus wheel tightness? (1 Viewer)

[chipito]

I've been a very happy owner of the Zeiss Victory Pocket 8x25 for about a year and a half now and just had the diopter knob come off. I am in the states and sent it to their repair facility that's in Kentucky and they immediately sent what seems to be a new pair back to me. However the focus wheel is much tighter to turn than it was on my original pair. I can turn it with one finger but it takes some effort while my old pair glided beautifully.

My question for any other owners out there...could this possibly be a difference in how they are manufacturing them? The serial number on my old pair started with 1114 while this new pair is 4987 so if that's an indicator of manufacture date perhaps something changed in their process?

The diopter knob is much tighter, too, although I regard that as an upgrade because my old one would change its setting every time I took the bins out of my pocket or the case that I use. My memory may be wrong, but I also thought on my old pair that the diopter knob went above the bridge of the bins by a millimeter or two where on this replacement pair it is just about flush with the bridge (if this is indeed a design change then it's also an improvement).

I'm probably going to send these back for a replacement because of the focus wheel tightness but wanted to check first what your experiences may be. One of the joys of the old pair for me was how smooth and easy they were to focus!

 

[Ratal]

Let me go check mine and serial .... as mine are silk smooth and most excellent diopeter.

 

[Ratal]

Nope. Mine are starting digits 515 serial. Focus is smooth, diopter is staying put.

 

[pppppvvvv]

Mine are no longer with me, and I guess an older model in the series. but the diopter was my one criticism, it did drift, and was protruding.
Focus wheel was light and easy.

 

[chipito]

Thanks for the responses! I went ahead and called the repair center today and they told me that 1) serial numbers are randomized and 2) I should wait and see if it gets any better, so I'm going to give it a week. But right now it just feels too tight.

 

[chill6x6]

Thanks for the responses! I went ahead and called the repair center today and they told me that 1) serial numbers are randomized and 2) I should wait and see if it gets any better, so I'm going to give it a week. But right now it just feels too tight.

I agree. When you are watching TV, get the binoculars and run the focus stop to stop for a while for maybe several days. See if that helps

 

[John A Roberts]

. . . I went ahead and called the repair center today and they told me that 1) serial numbers are randomized and 2) I should wait and see if it gets any better . . .

Well that's an interesting comment!
The implication being that Zeiss doesn't want their customers to be able to tell when a product they purchase was manufactured
(and by extension if there's a defect and then an update, from when it was corrected).

However, the person may have been just winging it - especially when considered in conjunction with the medical advice -
just wait and see if the problem cures itself 🤷‍♂️


John

 

[has530]

However, the person may have been just winging it

I firmly believe this to be the case. I happen to have a dealer invoice for some VPs and just checked and they have sequential serial numbers.

 

[Gzoladz74]

My first pair of 8x25s got the diopter know coming off (and another issue with the focus wheel)...these issues developed over time, I sent them back for repair and got a new pair.

A few months later, the new pair developed a different issue...the central hinge (?) became loose and the binocs were opening and closing on their own (I dont know if I am describing this well)...I sent them for repair, got a new pair.

The current pair has not developed any issue yet. I have had them for about 1 year.

 

[has530]

Nope. Mine are starting digits 515 serial. Focus is smooth, diopter is staying put.

Mine also have a very nice focuser and SN 515.

 

[Ted Y.]

Smooth for the focus wheel.
Tight for the diopter wheel.

 

[GrampaTom]

Not sure whether this goes here or there...

Recently returned VP825s to Zeiss/KY for "service." Issue was too soft central hinge that required adjusting IPD every time I brought bino to eyes, while hiking. This was not something that had developed, but there from the get go, when purchased couple years ago, that I finally decided to deal with.

I shipped July 12, 2023. Brand new replacement arrived yesterday July 24! Central hinge better. Believe its gonna be fine. Focuser a bit stiffer but smooth, lovely. Optics great as usual.

In some of the reviews of the various new SFLs there's been concern raised about service do to MIJ. Seems this potentially a non issue based on VPs also MIJ.

 

[Ratal]

Mine also have a very nice focuser and SN 515.

Wonderful binocular, a true keeper.

 

[chipito]

My update is that the focus has loosened up a little over time (though nowhere near the smoothness of my original pair) and I'd rather just deal with it than be without them again hahahaha. Maybe when my folding hinge breaks the replacement will fix the focus knob. New pair is great otherwise. I love these so much.

 

[hopster]

Mine has always had a very smooth focuser with the right amount of resistance. The diopter dial is a little too easy to move by mistake but it doesn't happen very often, the top of the diopter dial is flush with the chassis. S/N starts 5299 and it was bought a few months ago.

This is my 8x day birding/utility/travel binocular and it does this job very well with a sharpness, brightness and FOV that is quite special for such a small optic. Winged rubber eye cups make quite a difference to both ease of use and image quality.

 

[mwhogue]

The VP 8x25 has been one of my most often used bins over the @ last 5 years.Focus function has always been very smooth with just the right amount of resistance, perfectly consistent in either direction and this has not changed over time.

The hinge tension may have loosened up a bit over time but if so, it is still very easy to accurately adjust when needed. Since I carry it on a RYO harness, rather than in a large pocket, the IPD does not usually change unintentionally in use and adjustment is not often necessary. Lately I have been using UV and Trinovid 8x20 quite a bit as well. The Leicas have stiffer dual hinges and it may be I am just noticing the difference between them and the Zeiss VP rather than any real change over time in the hinge tension of the Zeiss.

Mike

 

[chipito]

Just came back to report that the focus wheel did loosen up somewhat over time. But also...the diopter wheel came off on this pair now, too hahahaha. And the diopter setting is messed up on the replacement pair I just received (I wear contacts and the last two pairs were perfect for me right with the neutral setting). I'm sure they will replace but makes me worry about quality control over there!

 

[Anderlfs]

Maybe a silly question, but can't the owner put the knob back? Does It require a special tool, or calibration, which requires to be sent to the repair facility?

Edit: I ask this because I’m interested in this model, but I don’t have a service facility near me, just overseas.

 

[chipito]

Maybe a silly question, but can't the owner put the knob back? Does It require a special tool, or calibration, which requires to be sent to the repair facility?

Edit: I ask this because I’m interested in this model, but I don’t have a service facility near me, just overseas.

As far as I could tell on the two pairs it has happened to me with, no you can’t. I think there is a part of the mechanism that actually breaks. I still love these binoculars despite this happening to me twice, though. Also I’m not rough with these at all. They mainly sit on my desk at home for looking out the window in the back or are out with me in my jacket pocket.

 

[Howard220]

Just came back to report that the focus wheel did loosen up somewhat over time. But also...the diopter wheel came off on this pair now, too hahahaha. And the diopter setting is messed up on the replacement pair I just received (I wear contacts and the last two pairs were perfect for me right with the neutral setting). I'm sure they will replace but makes me worry about quality control over there!

The same thing happened to mine, with the diopter wheel falling off. I sent them to Zeiss for repair in Kentucky, USA. While the diopter wheel was re-affixed, it was set wrong. When adjusted for center detent, the barrels' diopter strengths were way off each other. I sent it back, this time at their expense (for shipping), and they got it right the second time.