Zeiss Victory HT 8×54: The New King of the Twilight?

Zeiss Victory HT 8×54

Premise.
Zeiss has always had a predilection for the hunting sector and for helping hunters during twilight hours. This type of observation requires large diameters to allow those who, for work or pleasure, need to ensure perfect visibility and legibility of details. Therefore, it's not necessarily true that only hunters appreciate the "twilight format." Other groups of people can also appreciate it: sailors, photographers, ungulate and deer enthusiasts, forest rangers, volunteer environmentalists, law enforcement, amateur astronomers, and so on.

In fact, the Zeiss catalogue includes five models with 54/56 mm lenses: the Victory HT, the Conquest HD, the Victory T* RF, the legendary Dyalit GA T* and the stabilized one 20×60 T* S.

The binoculars mentioned above obviously differ in terms of their purchase price as well as their performance. I had the opportunity to test the Victory HT 8×54 for a couple of months, which is why I decided to write down my impressions, which also include an interesting comparison with the Zeiss Conquest HD 8×56 and the Swarovski SLC HD 8×56.

Technical characteristics declared by the manufacturer.

Technical features

Enlargement	8 x
Lens diameter	54mm
Exit pupil	6.7 mm
Twilight Factor	20.7
Field of view at 1000m	130m
Apparent field	60 °
Minimum focus	3.5 m
Diopter adjustment	4 + -4 dpt
Interpupillary distance	54 – 76 mm
Pupillary extraction	16 millimeters
Prism system	Abbe-König
Water resistance	500 mbar
Nitrogen filling	Yes
Functional temperature in °C	-30 | +63 ° C
Length	160 mm
Length interpupillary distance at 65 mm	128 mm
Declared weight (g)	1035
Declared price 2014 (Bignami)	2460 EURO (VAT included)

 

 

Zeiss Victory HT 8×54: binoculars without compromise. 
Zeiss promotes these binoculars with a short but powerful slogan: “A revolution with a transmission up to and beyond the 95%”. It is immediately clear that the main aim of the German designers is to provide a high-brightness instrument for the aforementioned operators who live, work and play mainly during the twilight hours.

Their recipe for achieving this transmission is composed of three main ingredients: a handful of glass SCHOTT HT, a pair of prisms Abbe Konig and a multi-layer treatment Carl Zeiss T*. The real innovation consists mainly in the use of a new SCHOTT glass capable of providing greater brightness, especially in the later part of the day, compared to that provided by the FL glass that equips the classic VICTORY FL.

Before starting, I think it is useful to report part of the review of the 42 mm HT, where I described the reasons for using a new SHOTT HT glass.

”The heart of the new Zeiss Victory HT 8×42 It is already noticeable from its acronym which means “HIGH TRANSMISSION”: high transmission. In recent years, enthusiasts have appreciated the extreme brightness of the Victory FL Series binoculars, which possessed a very bright optical scheme. Currently, thanks to SCHOTT(1) AG, a well-known lens manufacturer, a subsidiary of Zeiss (2), well known in the photographic and astronomical sector, it has been possible to use some new lenses , which have a very high light transmission. Obviously this optical system also makes use of a synthetic fluorite lens. This feature is clearly highlighted on the parent company's page (3). I quote part of the text for clarification:” We use HT in the sense of a complete HT concept: binoculars that are based on the FL binoculars but which have extremely high levels of light transmission. VICTORY HT binoculars also have FL and HT lenses.Zeiss guarantees a total brightness equal to the 95%, an incredible value when compared to the characteristics of binoculars sold on the market only 10 years ago.”

Similar to the forty-two millimeter format, the Zeiss Victory HT 8x 54 also uses a chassis called Double-Link-Bridge (double bridge with central hinge) made of magnesium.

Its ergonomics are effective and often essential for anyone unsure whether to buy binoculars with a hinge or a central viewing window. The black rubber coating, in addition to being well-made, is made of different thicknesses, designed to provide a secure grip.

 

Despite the size of its large objectives, these binoculars are decidedly compact and light, the scales showed a weight of just over 1000 g.. Zeiss's aim, in fact, is precisely to provide the brightness of 56 mm binoculars in binoculars as compact as 50 mm.

If any readers are worried about using it in adverse weather conditions, it's also worth confirming that it's water resistant to 500 mbar. It's also nitrogen-filled to prevent mold and condensation from forming inside the optical housing.

Similar to the 42mm series, the Zeiss Victory HT8x 54 also uses a new focusing rotor which is located inside the double bridge. It is therefore very natural to use and allows a good grip on the optical hull.. Although the lenses are larger than the 42mm version, thanks to the greater weight located near the eyepieces, the binoculars are better balanced than their 56mm counterparts. The eyepieces are also very comfortable, as is the adjustment of the lens hoods.

The sample in my possession has smooth and precise focusing., without any play or sticking. Infinity focusing is achieved by rotating the knob clockwise. The diopter compensation is located on the front of the first bridge and features a graduated scale. It has proven to be precise and has proven not to lose its adjustment even during prolonged use.

Compared to the focusing rings located near the eyepiece, the system equipped on the Zeiss HT is not affected by accidental movements; furthermore, I prefer it to integrated ones, which often generate mechanical compromises.

Axial (or longitudinal) chromatic aberration is rarely noticeable and only in classic backlit situations. Lateral chromatic aberration, however, is more noticeable and becomes evident from approximately the 60% away from the center of the field of view., around the outlines of the brightest objects. This aberration is more evident than in the 42mm diameter HT format, most likely also due to the larger diameter of the lenses and all that this entails.

 

Field curvature, on the other hand, is noticeable starting from the 60-65%'s field of view. Looking at infinity and focusing on an object in the center, you have to rotate the knob about 4-5 mm to achieve focus even at the edges. I remind readers that field curvature is accommodated, in part, by the observer's "eye-brain" system, however, this characteristic diminishes with age.

This geometric aberration prevents observers of distant landscapes from appreciating a sharp image across the entire field of view. Conversely, when walking along tree-lined paths or in the woods, this geometric aberration allows the lateral elements in the scene to be focused on, positioned at the focal point by the curvature. This can sometimes create greater immersion in the scene. For this reason, many enthusiasts prefer a slight curvature in their binoculars, while others prefer a completely flat field.

 

I assume that the absence of aspherical elements or field flatteners is an essential choice for obtaining binoculars with very high transmission: fewer optical elements, less dispersion. Moreover, even in broad daylight, observing in a forest, the brightness of the Zeiss Victory HT 8x54 is immediately noticeable, especially when focusing on details in dark areas: bushes, tree holes, hollows in rocks, etc., etc. The same thing is evident when observing birds of prey against the light, as the plumage in shadow is more visible than with the classic 8x32 that many enthusiasts use during the day.

Nonetheless, not satisfied with these impressions, I wanted to try another test, perhaps debatable, but which allowed me to better understand the primary use of these binoculars. Thanks to the collaboration of Bignami and Swarovski Optik Italia I had the opportunity to compare the Victory HT 8×54 with the Zeiss Conquest HD 8×56 and the Swarovski SLC 8×56 (New)

 

 Modus operandi.

The first phase of this test involved fixing the binoculars on three suitable supports to observe, from a suitable distance, a USAF chart. I then used a book to test the distance reading of the micro-characters. Finally, I compared the binoculars "in the field" during daylight and twilight hours. I publish my impressions below.

Color tones. The Zeiss Victory HT 8×54 seemed to me to provide a more neutral rendering than the other contenders which showed a slightly warmer tone.

Chromatic aberration.
In line. All three binoculars are affected, although not to a significant degree. Chromatic aberration is especially noticeable when observing black characters on a white background (USAF Chart) or backlit objects/subjects (pylons, power lines, airplanes, and aircraft).
The Swarovski SLC HD 8×56 was the most accurate, followed by the Zeiss Victory HT54, and last, but not least, the Zeiss Conquest HD 8×56.

Side. In the Swarovski SLC HD 8×56 and the Zeiss Conquest HD 8×56, it is noticeable from the 70% of the field of view, but in the Swarovski it is less invasive. In the Zeiss Victory HT54, lateral color shift begins to gradually become noticeable starting from the 60% of the field of view.

Field Curvature. The Swarovski SLC HD 8×56 is the best, providing excellent images up to about 90% of the field of view. The Zeiss Conquest HD 8×56 reaches 80%, while the Zeiss Victory HT starts to blur from about 60% of the field of view. In the first part, it is simply a matter of field curvature (which can be compensated for with the focus knob), then further geometric aberrations come into play.

Contrast. I'd say the Swarovski SLC 8×56 and the Zeiss Conquest HD 8×56 are comparable, perhaps also thanks to their warmer color tone. The Zeiss Victory HT 8×56 seemed to provide a less pronounced difference between dark and light areas.

Sharpness. Both with the USAF Charts and during the field test, I noticed a slight difference in sharpness between the Zeiss Victory HT54 and the other two competitors. I should point out that this difference is more marked and visible when installed on a photographic head than during normal freehand use. The test with the micro-characters proved very, very useful in dispeling any further doubts. Of the three models tested, the Zeiss Conquest HD 8×56 provided excellent sharpness in the center of the field of view, followed by the Swarovski SLC 8×56 (the differences were minimal). Observing the characters with the Zeiss Victory HT 8×54, I had the feeling that I was having a little difficulty reading the sentences in the book, also due to the focal point, which seemed less unambiguous than the competitors (Snap test).

While it's a bit difficult to control spherical aberration in binoculars with only 8x magnification, I believe the Zeiss Victory HT 54 I tested was slightly affected. It's hard to say whether it's due to the eyepieces or the objectives.

 

 

Moving from minimum focusing distance to infinity. The Zeiss Conquest HD8x56 is excellent and only requires ¾ of a turn, while Swarovski claims just under one turn, followed by the Zeiss Victory 8x54 which requires almost one and a half turns of the knob.

Pincushion distortion. Minimum in the Zeiss Conquest HD 8×56, noticeable from around 80% of the field of view, more evident in the Zeiss Victory HT 8×54 (which allows, in my opinion, good panning) lower than that of the two Zeiss binoculars, but also present in the Swarovski SLC 8×56.

Brightness at dusk. When talking about brightness, beyond the mere light transmission of the binoculars, it's useful to also take into account subjective variables, such as contrast rendering, subjective spectral sensitivity, subjective eye performance at twilight, age, oxygenation, fatigue, and so on. For this reason, the test I conducted is purely subjective.

I observed with all three binoculars for many evenings and each time I noticed that the Zeiss Conquest HD 8×56 was less bright than the other two binoculars. I must admit that in daylight or just after sunset, the three binoculars are equally bright. The differences are more noticeable in late twilight when my pupils begin to adjust to the low light. The real battle was between the Swarovski SLC 8×56 and the Zeiss HT 8×54, as the price would have suggested. I spent a lot of time at twilight observing deer hidden in the tall grass and details of some farmhouses near my house. On some occasions, I thought the Victory HT 8×54 was brighter; on other occasions, I preferred the heavier Swarovski SLC 8×56.

 

Astronomical observation.
The almost flat field of the Swarovski SLC 8×56 provides excellent observations of star fields, the Zeiss Conquest HD 8×56 is no different, as the pleasant field is decidedly wide, the greater degradation at the edges of the field of the Zeiss HT 8×54, in this context, does not help.
Perceiving faint objects was a real struggle. Even in this instance, the Zeiss Conquest HD 8×56 seemed to provide less brightness than the other two instruments. It was difficult for me to decide which binoculars were the brighter, the HT54 or the SLC 56. At times, the Zeiss seemed to provide slightly brighter images of the M31 galaxy. Overall, it was a real battle.

 

In summary.

I consider the Zeiss HT 8x54 to be a very specialized binocular. Its strong point is its brightness combined with its excellent lightness., however, it is not immune to chromatic and geometric aberrations, but it provides good panning performance.
If Zeiss's goal was to provide hunters with binoculars as compact as a 45-50 mm but as bright as the classic “56 mm” I think they have largely succeeded.

Two or five hundred grams less can be a lot, especially for those who are used to walking hundreds of meters at dawn or dusk, perhaps carrying a heavy backpack. Balance and ergonomics are also advantages. In fact, I often left behind my bulky 8x56 Porro prism binoculars to go photographing roe deer with my Zeiss Victory HT 8x54 slung around my neck.

Obviously, I can't confirm whether the spherical aberration I noticed is unique to the tested model. It would be very interesting to repeat this test with other binoculars.

I thank Achille Berti of Handbooks for providing the Zeiss HT 8×54 sample without in any way binding the result of this test.

Disclaimer. This review was published in October 2014. Please note that the impressions of use are entirely personal and given by Binomania testers in complete freedom, without any commercial obligation or relationship, and based on proven experience in using these optical instruments. For any information, updates and/or changes to prices, instrument features, authorized sales points, or other information in general, please contact Binomania directly. Bignami SPA.

 

Notes.

Note 1.
 For further information I recommend visiting this page http://www.us.schott.com/english/news/press.html?NID=369
Note 2.
For more information on the relationship between Zeiss and SCHOTT, I recommend reading page 73 of the following document:
http://www.us.schott.com/english/download/schott-annual_report-2010-2011-english-us.pdf?highlighted_text=Zeiss+HT
Note 3.
For more information: http://sportsoptics.zeiss.com/hunting/en_us/binoculars/victory/ht.html#inpagetabs-4