Zeiss Oberkochen 8x30
Mfr: Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany
Date: circa 1950's (made from 1954-1971)
AFOV: ~68 degrees
TFOV: 150m at 1000m (~8.5 degrees)
Eye Relief: ~9mm
Prisms: high index porro
Serial Number: 533200
This Zeiss 8x30 was one of the first commerical binoculars produced by the West German Zeiss firm after the second world war. It uses a tele or spaced objective for a fast f/ ratio and a very compact body. According to a diagram in a Zeiss brochure, the eyepiece has a 2-1-1-2 element configuration.
This 8x30 is very well baffled with minimal light leaks. The optical image is very well corrected though it has short eye relief. I have compared it with other wide angle 8x30 models and its edge sharpness is among the best. It does have some lateral color and pincushion distortion. With its combination of performance and small size, this is a good binocular for birding and other outdoor activities, if you don't need to use it with eyeglasses.