Kahles 8×42

Specifications:

Objective diameter:  42 mm
Magnification:  8 x
Exit pupil: 5.25 mm
Eye relief (acc. to spec): 19 mm
Usable eye rlief (measured from rim of eyecup): 15 mm
IPD:  59 –  74mm
RFOV:  6.3  degrees = 110 m
AFOV (measured, rounded): 52 degrees
Minimum focus distance (measured): 2.1 m
Focus type: CF (direction of rotation from close to infinity: < anticlockwise)
Degrees of rotation of focus wheel from 3 m to infinity (measured): 255 degrees
Range of diopter adjustment (estimate): +/- 4 dpt*
Excess travel of focus wheel beyond infinity position (estimate): 4 dpt*
Prism system:  Schmidt-Pechan
Waterproof: yes
Weight (measured, with eyepiece cover and strap): 737 g
Made in: Austria
*range of diopter adjustment not affected by position of focus wheel

Remarks:

Between about 2000 and 2015, Kahles produced 4 models of binoculars, simply named after their configuration: 8×42, 10×42, 8×32 (see separate post https://binocular.ch/kahles-8×32/), and 10×32. They were well finished, but relatively expensive, mechanically solid, optically middle class – they did not impress with their rather modest field of view -, and sold mainly by hunting shops. Kahles had been around since 1898 and has been known since then primarily for their riflescopes (Kahles made a number of inventions in this field); their latest scopes still compete sucessfully with those of more famous producers such as Swarovski or Zeiss. In fact, originally a family company, Kahles was taken over in the 1960s by Swarovski Optik and still is a 100% subsidiary of Swarovski. – Production of the 8×42 binocular presented here, and of the other x42 and x32 models, was stopped in 2015 (or before?) and was replaced in 2016 by the new Helia line (see separate post “Kahles Helia 8×42”, https://binocular.ch/kahles-helia-8×42/).

Ratings:

Review:

A brief 2013 review (in German) can be found here:
https://www.juelich-bonn.com/jForum/read.php?9,421456,421497#msg-421497