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hensoldt wetzlar binoculars

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Old Warhors View Drop Down
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    Posted: January/15/2015 at 13:38
I am appealing to the collective brains here;  Can anyone give me an assessment of the Hensoldt/Wetzlar surplus binoculars that are showing up.  I need a compact pair of binoculars for hunting, these have a certain appeal.  Does anyone have knowledge of their optical quality?  Are these at least on a par with the medium Vortex and Sightron offerings?  Here's hoping for some of the gurus here, Klamath?  Maybe even Koshkin (thanks for the rifle scope reviews and advice, my SWFA 5 x 20 was a match for my son's Nightforce, he now took the SWFA, I'll need another one soon.)
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Klamath View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Klamath Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/16/2015 at 18:07
First off welcome to OT Big Smile.

I don't have any of the post war Hensholt/Wetzlar binoculars so I'm not going to be a lot of help.  I do have some post war Zeiss Jenna binoculars and the assumption here is that they are likely very similar.  While the Zeiss Jenna are a bit outdated, the offer still usable by modern standards views. 

Depending on what you are looking for my advice may vary.  One sees these pre war models in various guises, usually in 6x and 8x.  Sometimes with Individual focus, sometimes center focus.  I am not a fan of individual focus in short focal length glass.

I can just about guarantee a superior binocular by going to a Leupold Yosemite in either 6x or 8x30 or the Vortex Raptor in 6.5x or 8.5x32 guises.  While my later Zeiss Jenna mult-icoated model is good, it is not as good as either the Leupold or Vortex models.  To frost the cake, you get top line warranty service on those.  Service on a Hensolt or a Zeiss of that era may cost as much or more that the binocular.

Anyhow your request is a bit vague.  Fill in some blanks and you can get better advice than what I just gave Big Smile



Steve
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote anweis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/20/2015 at 19:57
I have used the Hensoldt 8x30 rubber armored individual focus military surplus binoculars from the west German Army. The one i used had no reticle and no laser filter inside, they were refurbished. 
I can tell you that they are awesome. As in better than a Leica Trinovid awesome, beter than anything East Germany has ever had awesome, better than anything Steiner has ever made in 8x30 awesome, as good as my Svarovski EL 8x32 awesome. 
Only one other small military binocular is equal to these, and that is the Russian 7x30. 
But, i really need central focusing for my use and at my age. If you are still south of 40, you can focus them at about 70 yards and you would probably not need to adjust them after that. If you get the model with reticle inside, it will also have some sort of laser filter, and they will be slightly less bright in dim light. 
They never made that binocular with center focus, shame on you Hensoldt.  

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Old Warhors Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/24/2015 at 01:03
Klamath, I have a further inquiry.  I have the chance to acquire either a pair of Steiner 8 x 42 predators or a pair of Hawke 8 x 42 Sapphire binos.  These will be used for bow hinting and some general use.  I have heard the Hawke's are now reasonably well regarded by others here.

With best regards,
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Klamath Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/26/2015 at 11:03
I guess that depends on which Steiner Predator you mean.  I would not recommend one of the individual focus Porro prism Predators for anything.  Had one to prove that to myself.  Those and the early roof prism Predators have a very violent pink tinge supposedly tweaked to pop earth tones out of the image.  Personally I don't like it much.  The older style without the pink tinge are OK.  I have not see a Hawke Sapphire, so I can't comment on those.
Steve
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Old Warhors Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/27/2015 at 00:38
Thanks for the information, I have about $400 to burn for a tough pair of 8 x 42 hunting binos, they will not be treated gently, the old G.I. in me just can't treat gear too gently.  I appreciate your expertise and I'll review your recommendations on the boards.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gumball Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/16/2015 at 21:59
I have used several Hensoldt-Wetzlar binoculars from the WW2 era and later.  I have found them to be  excellent, very compact and light.  Their optical quality is on par with E.Leitz-Wetzlar and Zeiss of the same era.
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