Zeiss DTI 3/35 Review
With night vision and thermal imaging devices steadily gaining in popularity, more and more optics manufacturing companies are delving into the world of these modern optical gadgets. Two weeks ago, Zeiss informed us of their brand-new thermal imaging monocular – Zeiss DTI 3/35 was going to be introduced at IWA 2020 (The fair has eventually been postponed to September). Given that they are one of the most established and renowned optics manufacturing companies in the world, much is expected of Zeiss products, regardless of the device launched.
Looking for Zeiss Thermal Monocular?
Zeiss DTI Optical Properties
Only one Zeiss DTI thermal model has been scheduled for release. Zeiss DTI 3/35 features a 384×288 sensor with a 17 μm pixel pitch. The lenses installed are of high quality, made of germanium. The display, which boasts a 1280×960 pixel resolution, is of the LCOS type. Zeiss claims that the range of detection of DTI 3/35 device is around 1250 m. The standard magnification is 2.5x, but you can increase it to 20x with the help of a 4x digital zoom. Furthermore, the magnification on Zeiss DTI can be increased with 0.5 zoom steps, allowing the user to set an optimal setting for detail recognition & reliable identification. The lens measures 35 mm in diameter. The refresh rate is 50 Hz, meaning that the image is fluent even when panning or observing moving objects. The operating temperature range of the DTI 3/35 thermal scope is from –10 °C to 50°C.
DTI 3/35 Battery
DTI 3/35 thermal device is powered by an integrated, non-removable Li-Ion battery which supposedly runs for up to 7 hours. When it runs out of power, it can be charged with the supplied USB-cable which you plug into the USB-C port on the device. You can capture photos and record videos – the files are saved onto the device’s internal storage with 8 Gb of capacity. Even though 7 hours is a generous amount of operational time on a single battery, a removable battery would be a better solution. Now, you’ll have to use a power bank if you wish to use the DTI 3/35 thermal imaging camera for extended periods of time.
Zeiss DTI 3/35 Thermal Monocular Features
Zeiss DTI Thermal Imaging Monocular Design
The shape of the Zeiss DTI thermal imaging camera is similar to other thermal imaging devices on the market – it is the button placement that makes the exterior of DTI 3/35 look unique. The buttons are placed in a triangular manner, a feature that Zeiss refers to as ErgoControl. They can be easily navigated even in complete darkness thanks to the intuitive placement. Furthermore, the left/right buttons are slightly lifted at the sides, adding to the overall ergonomics. The form factor used and the weight of the Zeiss DTI (450 g) allow the users to hold the device singlehandedly without experiencing hand or finger fatigue – this applies to both right- and left-handed users.
Zeiss Hunting App
Zeiss DTI thermal scope can be paired with a Zeiss Hunting App which can be installed on a smartphone with an Android or iOS operating system. This user-friendly application ensures simple download and sharing of pictures and videos, streaming in real-time, manipulating with the device’s functions, etc.
Even though the production doesn’t take place in Germany but in Asia, Zeiss guarantees that the manufacturing process is conducted in accordance with Zeiss’ high-quality standards.
Conclusion
The competition in the thermal imaging market is quite rough, with Pulsar rapidly updating their devices. Zeiss claims that the three strongest points of the DTI 3/35 thermal product compared to its competition are button & shape ergonomics, Streaming and Data-Trasfer simplicity, and 0.5 zoom steps which enable reliable identification. Zeiss uses a slogan that unifies all these features – ‘Handle the Night’. The first revealed price was higher than that of the competitors (3200 €) but they soon announced that a discount of 250 € applies to all who order it until 31. 21. 2020 (the final price is 2950 €). For a device carrying a Zeiss logo, a premium price was, nonetheless, expected. The delivery will commence in August 2020.
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Nice, any idea what the price will be?
Dear Ronald,
at first, we were informed that the price was going to be 3200 €. A few days ago, they told us that a special price of 2950 € will apply for everyone who purchases this device until 31. 12. 2020.