Binoculars Docter ASPECTEM ED 80/500 vario 20-50x80, 2010-2018
The Aspectem, produced until 2018 and now sadly discontinued, was available in three versions: one with a zoom eyepiece with variable magnification from 20x to 50x (like the one described here), the UWA ("Ultra Wide Angle") version with a fixed-focus 12.5 mm eyepiece and 40x magnification, and a version with a standard eyepiece with 30.5x magnification.
The extremely high quality of the zoom eyepiece is surprising, especially considering that, in general, zoom eyepieces tend to offer slightly lower image quality than fixed-focus ones. The Aspectem, however, proves that this compromise is by no means inevitable.
The eyepieces are marked with their respective focal lengths in millimeters (25, 20, 16, 12.5, and 10), which, in relation to the focal length of the objective, correspond to magnifications of 20x, 25x, 30x, 40x, and 50x. Practical click-locks allow for easy and precise selection of the desired magnification.
The discontinuation of the Aspectem marks the end of an era that began many years earlier, with the historic Carl Zeiss Jena, which originally produced this model until German reunification.
The DOCTER Optic Aspectem 80mm ED is a high-performance twin telescope, ideal for hunting, forestry, expeditions, sports, mountain hiking, wildlife observation, ornithology, astronomy, and, more generally, for any situation requiring extended observation of distant objects.
The binoculars feature a lightweight aluminum housing. Analytik Jena specifies that the instrument is resistant to splashes and drops of water, various weather conditions, as well as sand and dust. They are also recommended and guaranteed for professional marine use. Various protections (splashproof, climate resistant, highly weather resistant) are applied to all mechanical components of the binoculars.
Optically, the Aspectem uses two "telephoto" objectives, consisting of air-spaced doublets and equipped with ED (Extra Low Dispersion) glass and SCHOTT glass. The focal ratio is f/6, with a focal length of 500 mm.
The binoculars are in excellent condition, complete with their carrying case, manual, and some keys and tripod accessories. The original tripod also comes with its own carrying case.
Docter Optic History:
Its history traces its origins to a part of the Zeiss company, which was headquartered in East Germany in 1952. In the years that followed, this branch of Zeiss specialized in the construction of precision optics for civilian and industrial use. A year after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the subsidiary, Jenoptik Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH, with approximately 500 employees, was acquired by Bernhard Docter. Until 1995, the company continued to produce optics and electronic equipment, after which it was forced to declare bankruptcy.
In 1997, Analytik Jena GmbH, which had already collaborated with Docter, recognizing its potential, withdrew the core of the company and its 40 employees, whose number tripled in just over a year. Currently, the German company appears to be experiencing continuous expansion and growth; between 2009 and 2010, annual sales increased by 12%, and the company currently employs 800 people.
Technical Specifications:
Objective Lens Diameter: 80 mm
Magnification: 20x – 50x
Exit Pupil: 9-11 mm
Eye Relief (according to specifications): 11 mm
Usable Eye Relief (measured from the edge of the eyepiece): 7.5 mm
Inner Pupillary Interaxis: 56 – 74 mm
RFOV: var.
AFOV: var.
Focus Type: IF
Twilight Factor: 40-63
Field of View at 1000 m: 40-20 m
Minimum Focusing Distance (according to specifications): 32 m
Overfocus Beyond Infinity (estimated): 5 diopters
Prism System: Porro I
Waterproof: Splash-proof
Weight: Approximately 5000 g