Zeiss Dialyt 8×56 B/GA T

Specifications:

Objective diameter:  56 mm
Magnification:  8 x
Exit pupil: 7.0 mm
Eye relief (acc. to spec): 19 mm
Usable eye relief (measured from rim of eyecup): 13 mm
IPD:  57 – 75 mm
RFOV:  6.3  degrees = 110 m
AFOV (measured, rounded):  51.5 degrees
Minimum focus distance (measured): 7.6 m
Focus type: CF (direction of rotation from close to infinity: > clockwise)
Degrees of rotation of focus wheel from 7.6 m to infinity (measured): 235 degrees
Range of diopter adjustment (acc. to spec.): +/- 4 dpt
Excess travel of focus wheel beyond infinity position (estimate): 6.5 dpt
Prism system:  Abbe König
Waterproof: splashproof
Weight (measured, with eyepiece cover and strap): 1‘123 g
Made in: Germany

Remarks:

When Zeiss came out with their Dialyt 8×56 in 1968, Hensoldt’s same size “Nacht-Dialyt” (see separate post, https://binocular.ch/hensoldt-8×56-nacht-dialyt/) had been on the market for many years. Looking at both, there can be no doubt that the Hensoldt instrument is the “father” of the Zeiss Dialyt. Both share the same “intelligent” design with Abbe-König prisms (total internal reflection, therefore no reflective coating necessary) and a relatively slow focal ratio, resulting in a bright image and a per se more limited chromatic aberration than shorter designs. For many years, hunters in particular appreciated the Dialyt as a powerful tool at twilight. But since the 1960s, technology has moved on, and despite continuous improvements over the years (e.g. new antireflection and phase coatings) – the above is the last version produced by Zeiss -, looking at the Dialyt with today’s eyes, it performs perhaps more at an upper middle class level than at the top of the range, with field of view, edge sharpness and CA correction all found to be wanting (other models of the Dialyt line of binoculars, such as e.g. the 7×42 – see separate post, https://binocular.ch/zeiss-dialyt-7×42-tp/ – perform actually better in this respect). On the other hand, the big Dialyt with its typical slim, elegant shape and very good finish has now become a true collectors’ item.

Ratings: