Just a few weeks ago, the company ZEISS presented the new Victory Harpia during the most important orni-tradeshow, the Birdfair. The new premium spotting scope is available in two variants: With a front lens of 85mm or 95mm. The eyepiece has a zoom eyepiece of 22-65x for the 85mm and 23-70x for the 95mm model. Both models are also available in a Set with eyepiece. Since most spotting scopes are purchased with oblique viewing position, ZEISS has omitted the straight view.

This newly developed spotting scope differs considerably from its predecessors of the Victory Diascope series, simply in the way it is operated. The most significant points are the changes that have been made to the zoom adjustment and the focusing. Both control elements are now integrated in the spotting scope body in form of a well palpable ring, allowing for quick magnification changes and immediate sharpness correction. The big focus ring adapts the Dual-Speed-Focus-System from its predecessor. When turning the focus ring slowly, one is in the fine focusing mode at first: After zooming in on an object, one can smoothly readjust the sharpness to the point. Coarse focusing starts when turning further, where you can quickly change the viewing distance from close to far, and then make fine corrections.

The fact that the optical zoom is no longer located in the eyepiece but in the lens is called the lens-zoom concept. This has two advantages. Firstly, this does not cause “tunnel vision” when increasing the magnification. Secondly, it allows a more compact design of the eyepiece, which considerably enhances the comfort, particularly for users with a narrow inter-pupilar distance or a bigger nose. In addition, the eyepiece is secured against loss.

The third advantage of this new design is the very high and, most importantly, constant field of view!

This scope provides an apparent field of view of 72° over the entire range of the zoom eyepiece. Combined with the new 3x wide angle zoom, spotting birds is eased considerably after changing from binoculars to the spotting scope. The max. field of view is almost 63.2 metres for the 85mm and 58.8 metres for the 95mm, both over a distance of 1000 metres. This large viewing angle in combination with the short close focus limit of 3.5 or 4.5 metres makes this spotting scope the perfect companion for observations in forests. Moreover, it also allows the observation of insects, fungi or plants over the shortest possible distances. The wide field of view facilitates the important work of nature conservationists when counting sea birds or swarms.

Since Digiscoping is a subject that continuously gains in importance, ZEISS also offers suitable solutions for this subject. For quite some time, ZEISS has offered the ExoLens Bracket Smartphone holders for the Apple iPhone 6 or 6s and the Samsung Galaxy S6/S6 edge. An eyepiece adapter ring for the Harpia will obviously also be available. If you do not want to do without the quality of a digital camera, ZEISS will offer an adapter for the filter thread 49, 52 or 58 mm. This adapter will match DSLR, system or compact cameras with a filter thread. For compact cameras without a filter thread, the Quick-Camera adapter II is still available. A Stay-on-Case will also be available for the Harpia models. Once we have more information, we will also offer these products in our shop.

The new Deluxe Spotting Scope from ZEISS will be available for delivery starting in January 2018. We recommend placing your order already now. We initially expect to receive only small delivery quantities.

P.S.: If you own a product of the previous Diascope Series and are still looking for accessories, act now! Eyepieces and other accessories will no longer be produced!