Over the past year I have made several attempts to get a pair of the new 8x30 Diafun roof prism binoculars for testing from Zeiss. One has to wonder just what under-$500 waterproof roofs from a company like Zeiss would look like, and, even more, if the optics could possibly live up to the Zeiss reputation. The Diafuns are, I am told, always out of stock. I was beginning to suspect that Zeiss was reluctant to have the new glass tested. A dealer finally let me take a pair, and really, Zeiss had little to worry about (unless they would have only been satisfied with the kind of rave review which I rarely give any product).
The Diafuns are a departure for Zeiss in more ways than one. They have a high tech, relatively hard, smooth, somewhat plastic feeling body, very sleek and streamlined, very space-age. On the plus side, they are compact, even by 8x30 standards, and very light weight. The shape takes a little getting used to, but, with the exception of the focus wheel, is quite comfortable in the hands. I found the focus, which is set back fairly close to the eyes, just a bit awkward. I always expected to find it further out and had to consciously reach back for it. The knob itself is a bit small for my taste—in keeping with the streamlined look it does not protrude to break the line of the body. It certainly doesn't jump right up under the fingers. It is also somewhat slippery even in bare hands, and the motion is not as smooth as you might expect from Zeiss. The knob might be a real problem in cold weather, with anything less than leather gloves.
Optically the Diafuns offer relatively good eye relief and field of view, and adequate close focus. Contrast is excellent, due to the exceptional Zeiss coating technology. They are not as bright as the 8x32 Leicas and a good deal less bright than the 8x32 Nikon Superior Es, but they are certainly bright enough for most dawn to dusk birding. They would be at there limits in the first hour after dawn and the last hour of dusk, or in the deepest overcast, when you really need a 42-50mm glass, but otherwise they should show you what is there to be seen.
Center field resolution is excellent, with a zone of sharpness that covers about half the field. Outside that zone, the image gets progressively softer toward the edges. Their NEED score, which depends primarily on the center field sharpness, equaled the Leica 8x32s, though, as you can see from the comparison chart, neither compact roof comes close to the 8x32 Superior E.
Overall the image is quite satisfying...sharp, snappy, and detailed.
The question remains: are they everything we might expect from the Zeiss name? That depends on your standard. If you expect the kind of binoculars Zeiss makes and sells for twice the price, then, no, the Diafuns are not them. If you are looking for high quality roof prism binoculars, exceptionally compact and light weight, with excellent optics, at what amounts to a bargain price, with the Zeiss name behind them, then, yes, the Diafuns are them.
Are the Diafuns the ground breaking, earth shaking, killer-product...set to dominate the market for mid-priced quality optics (which is what I am sure Zeiss hoped for)? I don't think so. At the price you would have to consider the new Pentaxs, and certainly the Nikon Superior Es. You would also want to handle the Diafuns before buying to see if you would be happy with them in your hands. For a bit more money, both the Swarovski and Leica roofs would have an edge in optical performance, and what I feel is better handling in the field. The Nikon Superior E porros, at about $100 more than the Zeiss, are still in a class by themselves (see the "Extended Response" on the Superior E's further on). They offer a noticeably better view (a markedly better view), and what I feel is some of the best handling currently available (but without the Diafun's waterproofness, which you may feel you need). Finally, the new phase coated Pentax 8x42 waterproofs (see the review that follows) match the features and price of the Diafuns in a slightly larger package, and you could easily prefer the handling. The Pentaxs also have a slight edge in brightness and resolution. As far as durability and workmanship goes, only time will tell. Zeiss or Pentax?
So, the Diafuns are excellent binoculars, but not spectacularly outstanding. Handle before buying, but definitely, at the price, worth a look. Some people are really going to like them.
Until the Pentaxs, phase coating was the one thing (well, that and nitrogen purging) that separated the $1000 roof prism glasses from the new crop of fully-multicoated waterproof roofs from Bausch and Lomb, Canon, Celestron, Fujinon, Nikon, and Swift. Phase coating makes a difference. Phase coated roofs are slightly brighter and the image appears slightly sharper. A high quality roof with phase coating can come very close to the open, transparent view that exceptional porros provide, while unphase coated roofs always look just a little dim and subdued in direct comparison.
The Pentaxs also bring phase coating into the price range of the best porros.
Pentax included many of the other features of the higher priced roofs as well: pop-up eye cups, excellent rubber armor, close focus, excellent field of view, and an ergonomically shaped body that feels good and handles exceptionally well in the field. They also managed to keep the glasses several ounces lighter in weight than most of the $1000 glasses. With full-waterproofing, they make an impressive package.
The bottom line for me, however, is always going to be the view. I'm impressed. The view through the Pentaxs, without direct side-by-side comparison with a pair of $1000 roofs, is very satisfying. The contrast is excellent. They deliver all the detail you would expect from 8x glasses and a bit more. The view is open and easy, from one edge of the field to the other. Impressive.
Even with direct comparison, the optics in the Pentaxs hold up well. In the NEED test, they score slightly lower than the Nikon Venturer LX and the Bausch and Lomb Elites (the current and immediate past Reference Standards for roof prism binoculars) but significantly higher than unphase coated roofs like the Fujinon or Celestron. They actually outperform both the Leica 8x32 and the Zeiss 8x30 roofs. More than that though, they manage to provide a overall view in the field that is very close indeed to that provided by the best roofs...so close that only the most critical observes are likely to notice it.
Given their excellent, I am going to say their exceptional handling, their excellent optics, their waterproofness, and, of course, their price, the Pentax DCF WPs are the first roof prism glasses that I feel match the value of the best porros. I have always liked waterproof roofs, but I have never been able to justify spending twice as much for a roof as for a porro, especially when I know that the porro provides a noticeably better view. The Pentaxs are the first waterproof roofs that I would consider actually buying.
Yes, you still have to compare them to the Nikon 8x32 Superior Es in the same basic price range. If waterproofing is not an issue then the Es do still provide a significantly better view of the bird. If waterproofing is an issue, however, the Pentax glasses provide an exceptional value, and would give you the kind of performance that will keep you happy in field for years.
The Pentax DCF WPs with phase coating are a definite BVD Best Buy in waterproof roof prism binoculars...and the first an only roof prism glasses that rate a overall Best Buy, regardless of design. Very impressive!
Unfortunately the Fujinon glasses suffer by comparison to the Pentax DCFs. They have many of the same features: waterproofing, excellent armor, excellent handling, pop-up eye cups, good field of view and close focus, etc., but they lack the phase coating, and the lack is immediately evident in a side-by-side comparison. The view is just enough dimmer and softer to make them unsatisfying. Even without direct comparison, an educated eye would suspect that the view is not all it could be.
That is not to say that the Fujinons are not a good value. It is back to "how badly do you need waterproofing?" Any of the $250 porros provide a better view, but if only waterproof binoculars are likely to survive the your daily use, and your budget will not stretch to the Pentaxs or Zeiss, then the Fujinons are worth a look. They are on the heavy side, but the feel is very solid, and the optics are certainly adequate for most birding. If you just want something to bounce around in the bottom of the boat when you are out fishing or canoeing, then the Fujinons might be just what you are after.
Tasco is trying hard to change their image in the birding community. The Rare Bird Collection represents a lot of market research, some very clever marketing design, and a huge investment for Tasco (I am sure the National Audubon endorsement did not come cheaply). If you look at a box (and they are some of the nicest boxes I have ever seen wrapped around binoculars) the Rare Bird is in letters close to two inches high and the Tasco is in letters about an eight of an inch high. The Rare Birds are not featured (or even listed) on the Tasco web site. You have to go to rarebirdbytasco.com to find information on the new line.
Unfortunately, the lower lines, the porros, while apparently well made and definitely designed from the ground up as birding glasses, are noting special. The optics are just average for their price range (though, again, the packaging is excellent...where else do you get a real field bag and a wide neoprene strap, not to mention a neat little field notebook, with $200 binoculars?).
It was with that in mind that I unpacked the flagship model, the Bald Eagle, a multi-coated (but not phase coated) roof prism glass. They got the physical package right. In fact, being of a suspicious nature where "made in Japan" optics are concerned, I have have an inkling that these are the exact same glasses as the Pentaxs above, with some minor cosmetic changes to the exterior, and without the waterproofing and the phase coating on the prisms. I could be wrong (don't quote me on that, as they say) but the two glasses look (feel and perform) an awfully lot alike.
The Bald Eagles have a nicer armor, with some ribbing along the sides for a more positive grip, the same large smooth focus knob, the same close focus and adequate eyerelief, pop-up eyecups, etc.
Optically, the Bald Eagles come just off the mark of the Pentaxs in the NEED test, and they are definitely not quite as bright, but the performance is a clear cut above many of the inexpensive roofs I have seen lately. In fact, if I had not had the Pentax DCFs to test in the same batch, I would have been amazed at the quality of the Bald Eagles. The view in the field is satisfyingly sharp and snappy, with good detail right out to the field edges. I am guessing that they are going to sell for something less than their $500 list, and, if so, they represent a very good value in a roof prism glass (especially if they come in significantly lower than the Pentaxs). You would give up waterproofing, but if you really yearn for roofs, the Bald Eagles provide very good optical performance, exceptional handling, a great strap, and a life-time warrantee. If it weren't for the Pentaxs, I could rate them a Best Buy...and they still might be if the price turns out right.
And, need I say, the most impressive thing about them still may be that they are from Tasco.
I just have to say that the more I use these glasses the more I like them. I enjoy them in the field more than any other binoculars I have ever carried. The view never fails to both satisfy and amaze. As my daughter Emily says, "It is just like walking up close and looking at the bird." (I'd suspect she read something like that in one of her dad's articles, but I don't think she has read any of my articles.) I am especially impressed when I get in a new batch of optics to test. I always compare anything new to the Superior Es and the Es consistently outperform anything in their class and binoculars several sizes bigger! That is certainly impressive.
They have also, by now, survived several hard knocks, most notably two drops to a carpeted floor from about four feet up (I have got to find another shelf to put them on), without showing any image deterioration...something that is hard to equal in any porro glass I am acquainted with. The rubber eyecups are wearing out, and, as several readers have pointed out, the focus is somewhat stiff in cold weather, but I still would not trade them for any other glass currently on the market. I get more positive feed back from readers on this one glass than on all the other optics I have reviewed. It's the view—or rather, I should say, it is the way the birds look through them, the level of detail you can see, the purity and intensity of the color, the living presence of the bird, right there! Its the way they handle in the field, how good they feel in your hands, how they they hang around your neck, how they pack up for a trip. The Superior Es remain simply superior!
So, here's the challenge: who's going to top them?
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Zeiss |
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Diafun |
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DCF WP |
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Rare Bird* |
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Bald Eagle |
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* by Tasco
Field of View in feet at 1000 yards, average street price unless otherwise
noted.
Ý List Price
Lieca, B&L, and Nikon models included for comparison.