268 replies to this topic

[KennyJ]

Whatever the quality, at least in my opinion the switch to black is a huge improvement over the grey/blue combination.

 

I just couldn't bring myself to buy any binoculars in that original two-tone color scheme regardless of anything else.

 

Kenny

[Erik Bakker]

Thank you for the additional info Neil.

 

I am with Kenny on the new black colorscheme. Looks like a better fit into the traditional Zeiss colors

 

Sad to see production has now been moved away from Japan, with it’s great manufacturing history in binoculars.

[astroneil]

Hello Erik,

 

You're welcome.

 

Btw: I don't think Zeiss were out to deceive or confuse customers. It's a big company so some decisions may not have been made known/ or known to some employees.

 

The black coloured model looks real nice, but I'm satisfied with the original colour scheme. 

 

Neil.

[NDfarmer]

Thank you for the additional info Neil.

 

I am with Kenny on the new black colorscheme. Looks like a better fit into the traditional Zeiss colors

 

Sad to see production has now been moved away from Japan, with it’s great manufacturing history in binoculars.

This development of the Terra 8x25 now being made in China is very disappointing.  I will now appreciate my

made in Japan model even more now.

[Nikon ED65]

Hello again,

 

 

I received a phone call from the Zeiss marketing team this afternoon.

 

The Zeiss Terra pocket models have now switched to China but they reassured me that the quality is identical to the earlier Japanese models with the same packaging and warranty as the older models.

 

I may test drive the new Chinese-made black model against the original grey and blue Japanese model and report back in due course.

 

Sincerely,

 

Neil English.

Sorry but I dont believe that for second and Im surprised a company such as Zeiss believe that too. I have seen this numerous times where manufacturing and tooling is moved to China and initial samples meet the required quality but once there is no risk of moving back the quality diminishes as the cost cutting set in. I remember how one model Japanese car tire had a stellar reputation and 18 months later it was mud and traced to the winding back of quality in the Chinese factory. I have seen a comprehensive article written by an American instrument maker who had his standards met initially and then slowly they wound things back and he was caught between a rock and a hard place unable to re-start manufacturing back in the USA. I saw it back in the Tasco telescope days when manufacturing shifted even in the lower end optics market at the time when you wouldn't think it would make a difference. The 8x25 was always a standard in the Terra line where the rest got mediocre reviews. That was, until now the only one made in Japan.

[astroneil]

Sorry but I dont believe that for second and Im surprised a company such as Zeiss believe that too. I have seen this numerous times where manufacturing and tooling is moved to China and initial samples meet the required quality but once there is no risk of moving back the quality diminishes as the cost cutting set in. I remember how one model Japanese car tire had a stellar reputation and 18 months later it was mud and traced to the winding back of quality in the Chinese factory. I have seen a comprehensive article written by an American instrument maker who had his standards met initially and then slowly they wound things back and he was caught between a rock and a hard place unable to re-start manufacturing back in the USA. I saw it back in the Tasco telescope days when manufacturing shifted even in the lower end optics market at the time when you wouldn't think it would make a difference. The 8x25 was always a standard in the Terra line where the rest got mediocre reviews. That was, until now the only one made in Japan.

Then take your tirade up with them, not me. 

 

Thanks,

 

Neil.

[Nikon ED65]

Then take your tirade up with them, not me. 

 

Thanks,

 

Neil.

There is no tirade and certainly nothing aimed at you. I was responding however to the forever false claims by varying manufacturers that production quality is always maintained on the high road to China. Thank you instead for getting them to retract their earlier made in Japan statement.

[astroneil]

There is no tirade and certainly nothing aimed at you. I was responding however to the forever false claims by varying manufacturers that production quality is always maintained on the high road to China. Thank you instead for getting them to retract their earlier made in Japan statement.

No worries Sir.

 

Regards,

 

Neil.

[astroneil]

Hello again,

 

I got another email from Zeiss customer service this afternoon, which hopefully clarifies everything concerning the entire Zeiss Terra line;

 

Dear Mr. English,

 

Unfortunately, I was not aware of a change which was done in Summer 2019. Somehow, I missed this information:

Like many other companies, we partner with qualified and trustworthy suppliers around the world to manufacture our optics. For business reasons, we’ve relocated our production facility for ZEISS Terra ED Pocket binoculars from Japan to China. This will have no impact whatsoever on product quality: we take extensive quality control measures to guarantee that all ZEISS products live up to our exceptionally high quality standards.

 

So, today all ZEISS Terra binoculars are manufactured in China.

 

I apologize for any confusion my wrong reply to you may have caused.

 

Mit freundlichen Grüßen / Best Regards,
Klaus Felgenhauer
__________

Dipl.-Ing. Klaus Felgenhauer
Leiter Trainingsakademie
ZEISS Consumer Products

Carl Zeiss AG
Carl-Zeiss-Straße 22
73447 Oberkochen, Deutschland

Tel: +49 7364 204 4572
Mobil: +49 151 5433 5250
klaus.felgenhauer@zeiss.com
www.zeiss.com

__________
Carl Zeiss AG
Headquarters: Oberkochen, Germany
Chairman of the Supervisory Board: Dr. Dieter Kurz
Board of Management: Dr. Karl Lamprecht (President & CEO),
Dr. Matthias Metz, Dr. Ludwin Monz, Dr. Christian Müller, Dr. Jochen Peter
Commercial register Ulm, HRB 501 555, VAT REG No: DE 811 119 940

[Erik Bakker]

So it is now safe to conclude that all current Zeiss Terra's are now made in China.

 

Let's leave it at that and get this thread on the original topic again.

 

Thank you all.

[N1ck]

Has anyone been able to compare the Chinese version to the Japanese ones yet?
If anyone has any experience that they could share on the new version I’d be most appreciative as I was all geared up to get these until I discovered their recent switch.

[freestar8n]

Sorry to confuse matters but I just received Zeiss 8x25 via amazon USA and they are black and made in Japan. They seem very good and will be a compact binoc to go with my canon 15x50 IS.

Japan is written on the white sticker and on the binocs.

Frank

[Erik Bakker]

Sorry to confuse matters but I just received Zeiss 8x25 via amazon USA and they are black and made in Japan. They seem very good and will be a compact binoc to go with my canon 15x50 IS.

Japan is written on the white sticker and on the binocs.

Frank

It seems the proof of the pudding is in eating it, not marketing 

 

Enjoy your wonderful black Zeiss 8x25 Frank!

[ihf]

It seems the proof of the pudding is in eating it, not marketing 

Are you suggesting each of us does the quality control for the giant pudding factory?

[Bob Myler]

I shared this thread with an Engineer who deals with Chinese outsourcing everyday.

His reply follows....

 

"This is typically what happens from China.   The initial quality is highly regulated and checked,

with very high allowance for scrap.   Unfortunately, the never-ending drive to lower costs comes

back into play as preventative measures are often not taken to maintain that quality and - should

the business relationship begin to falter - they will sometimes start shipping out cheaper clones

at a blistering pace.  

 

It should be said, this isn’t just a Chinese problem, however it’s continues to be a HUGE hurdle

for those foreign companies who are unable or unwilling to adequately control such out-sourced

manufacturing processes from a distance...."

[j.gardavsky]

I shared this thread with an Engineer who deals with Chinese outsourcing everyday.

His reply follows....

 

"This is typically what happens from China.   The initial quality is highly regulated and checked,

with very high allowance for scrap.   Unfortunately, the never-ending drive to lower costs comes

back into play as preventative measures are often not taken to maintain that quality and - should

the business relationship begin to falter - they will sometimes start shipping out cheaper clones

at a blistering pace.  

 

It should be said, this isn’t just a Chinese problem, however it’s continues to be a HUGE hurdle

for those foreign companies who are unable or unwilling to adequately control such out-sourced

manufacturing processes from a distance...."

It is unfortunately the case.

 

And even if you get some optics with "JAPAN" engraved, you won't be sure, where the substantial manufacturings have been made, and who signs for the quality control.

 

Best,

JG

[edwincjones]

it is we the consumer who keep demanding and buying cheaper service and goods

 

   

 

 

edj

Edited by edwincjones, 23 June 2020 - 05:21 AM.

[freestar8n]

In my case I wasn't concerned where they were made or how they were labeled - but I was curious since I happened to order them when I noticed this thread and discussions of origin.

 

I just had a nice beach side walk in Melbourne and enjoyed diving gannets, oystercatchers, and many other sights with a lightweight binocular I could carry in my pocket - which was the goal.

 

My favorite binocs were bauch and lomb elite 8x42 purchased years ago - but I gave them away when I got canon 15x50 IS.  Those have been great but they are quite heavy and I have to decide when to take them.  And the batteries go out.

 

With the Zeiss 8x25 the view is extremely sharp and the feel is very good.  A big drawback of the Canon is a fairly long min focus distance - so being able to focus near my feet is a big treat for close objects.  I wear glasses and the eye relief is fine.  The eyeguards have a very good feel for pulling them out for people with no glasses - but I won't use them.

 

So the 8x25's are more jiggly and I do miss the IS - but since the power is 8 instead of 15 it isn't a big deal.  I'm extremely pleased with them.

 

The case is compact but still more bulky than I think it needs to be - so I will probably just carry them in a small soft bag that fits better in a pocket.

 

A nice touch is that the carboard box they came in has a magnetic edge so it closes with a good feel.  Kinda overkill but pleasant.

 

Frank

[Binomania.it]

Hi to all.

I'm going back to an interesting topic to write you that I've been using the Victory 8x25 and the Zeiss Terra since October. Next week I should publish the review of the Terra 8x25, while I have already published the video of the more expensive Victory 8x25. As always if you want to use automatic subtitle translation, find the various topics here:

Unboxing Victory and Terra https://www.youtube....h?v=HbMg6BK9Y5g

Reportage with Zeiss Victory Pocket 8x25 https://www.youtube....MjyX3h2JY&t=39s

 

For now I can tell you that there are some differences between the Terra and the Victory but not as many as the price might suggest. As soon as the review is ready, I will notify you. Thanks for your attention!
Clear Skies from Italy

Piergiovanni