The civil version with individual focusing was called Septar, the civil version with central focusing Septarem. von Breitenbuch pointed out that the porro II design offers a distinct mass dislocation which really decreases image shake. Even more amazing is the ergonomics - none of these glasses can be held steadily with such ease. With that in mind the view is quite amazingly sharp and bright. The one in the middle of the first image, a Carl Zeiss DF 7x50H, is more than 80 years old and uncoated.
![carl zeiss jena binoculars 3097708 carl zeiss jena binoculars 3097708](https://www.allbinos.com/upload2/172176_jen+del.jpg)
This article is by no means a review as the binoculars are way too different in age and clarity of the lens systems, but collects a few impressions and facts about some great and beautiful binoculars from the past. So let´s have a look at some of his specimen samples. Quite a remarkable beginning for a lifelong fascination for these optics and a career as an engineer, albeit in the auto industry. 10 year old Börries got that destroyed binocular, a Zeiss 7x50, and disassembled it, having a close look at prisms and lenses. Locals were under the threat of death penalty not allowed to own or use binoculars in the demilitarized British zone. When they tried to light the oven in the forester´s lodge the chimney was blocked - because a binocular had been hidden inside it by Breitenbuch´s predecessor. There are too many specimen copies in that cupboard.Īfter the war the Breitenbuch family moved to Lower Saxony where the father started his new job as forester. Most wives will probably not agree, though. I also resent the idea of collecting, so this seems a very reasonable approach. His son seems to have taken that to his heart because he insists he is not collecting binoculars but securing "specimen copies". He used to say that "hunters and gatherers are a primitive state in the development of mankind".
![carl zeiss jena binoculars 3097708 carl zeiss jena binoculars 3097708](https://www.picclickimg.com/d/l400/pict/133983859234_/Carl-Zeiss-Jena-DDR-Jenoptem-10x50-W-Binoculars.jpg)
#Carl zeiss jena binoculars 3097708 how to
because von Breitenbuch knew how to shoot, being a forester and experienced hunter. Had Hitler not issued that directive before Eberhard von Breitenbuch arrived in Berghof. Secondly, Eberhard von Breitenbuch definitely had no contact with Stauffenberg - they were in different heeres groups and the conspiration was well shielded also internally, so von Breitenbuch came out of it unharmed. Firstly, the date of the issue of that directive is unknown to him, but it was definitely the first time his father was not allowed in the briefings. Börries von Breitenbuch made some corrections to that text source. But Breitenbuch was denied entry into the conference because of a fuehrer directive issued earlier that same day prohibiting ADC's from attending fuehrer briefings." (from: ). " On March 11, 1944, armed with a 7.65 mm Browning concealed in his trouser-pocket, aide-de-camp Breitenbuch accompanied Field Marshal Ernst Busch to Hitler's Berghof residence to attend a fuehrer conference. Moreover, to learn about the history of Zeiss, and - quite unexpectedly - about a most thrilling part of German history.īecause von Breitenbuch´s father Eberhard was part of the conspiracy in 1944 to kill Hitler. A great opportunity for me to enjoy some legendary porros for a couple of weeks and profit from his vast knowledge about vintage binoculars. Starting at 2 o´clock, clockwise: CZJ Octarem 8x50, CZJ Septarem 7x40, Zeiss West 10x50, Zeiss West 8x50B, CZJ Nobilem Super 8x50, and in the middle: Zeiss DF 7x50H from Jena, long before Zeiss was torn apart into east and west.īörries von Breitenbuch was so kind to sent me some of his binoculars, mostly 8x50s from Carl Zeiss Jena and Zeiss West (Oberkochen). a look at Vintage 8x50mm binoculars from Carl Zeiss Jena and Oberkochen - and a conversation with their owner, Börries von Breitenbuch. When owning binoculars was forbidden under threat of death, why an attempt to assassinate Hitler failed, and scenes from the history of Zeiss. It took a bit of search to find one in very good condition which I finally found on the European eBay from a seller in Germany.Vintage 8x50s from Carl Zeiss Jena and Oberkochen It also has the relatively wide 7.3* FOV which gives about 128m (great for helping get airplanes in sight at 10x magnification even if the peripheral view isn't sharp - but center is great).
![carl zeiss jena binoculars 3097708 carl zeiss jena binoculars 3097708](https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/skYAAOSwts5goKQz/s-l300.jpg)
So I ended up with a Carl Zeiss Jena 10x50, made in DDR (serial number dates its manufacturing in about 1989, probably not long before the unification of East Germany with West Germany, so no more DDR). After some reading I figured I wanted something that would give me a wide field of view even at a 10x magnification, as well as a larger objective of 50mm to help gather just a little more light when there was less of it.Įventually I figured out what I didn't want and looked for something a little different. Lots of choices with a wide range of prices. So I wanted to get myself a pair of binoculars to look at airplanes in the airport's pattern and wherever else I could spot them.