History of Riflescopes from Carl Zeiss

How it started

Since 1904 Carl Zeiss has been a pioneer for riflescopes for hunting and has secured its leading position due to its innovations and high standards of quality in hunting optics. Milestones established by the company include two hunting riflescopes with variable magnification in 1922: the ZEISS Zielmulti and Zielmultar – and the ZEISS Zielacht, the first riflescope featuring high magnification and maximum twilight performance. The new inner ZEISS mounting rail in 1990 was a revolution for easy and fast mounting. In 1998 the Victoy Varipoint system entered the market with a red dot for day and night, which was one of the most successful stories in the riflescope business. With the VICTORY HT in 2012 an extreme light transmission of more than 95% could realized within riflescopes too. Today Carl Zeiss offers a wide range of riflescopes, for hunting and long range shooting, from 1.1x magnification with wide field of view until 24x magnification and 72 mm objective diameter for long range and low light.

1892

Carl Zeiss builds the first telescopic sight (based on Beaulieu-Marconnay design) for sniper rifles and machine guns.

1900

Prism sight for rifles.

1902

M. Hensoldt & Söhne  presents "Solar," the first riflescope with prism erecting system.

1907

Zeiss builds its first pancratic telescopic sights with variable magnification for the military.

1920

The first refracting telescopic sight from Zeiss: Zielvier, Zielsechs and, for the first time, two models with adjustable magnification: Zieldovier and Zieldosechs.

1922

Two hunting telescopic sights with variable magnification: Zeiss Zielmulti and Zielmultar. First telescopic sight featuring high magnification and maximum twilight performance: Zeiss Zielacht.

1936

Zeiss feather-light models 4x31 and 6x42 made from solid light metal for the first time with milled assembly rail.

1954

The Diavari riflescope with variable magnification enters the market.

1998

The new Zeiss Diavari riflescopes are considerably lighter (up to 30%) and shorter, and provide larger fields of view (up to 35%) and extended eye relief (up to 12%) than predecessor models.

2001

The ZEISS Conquest riflescopes primarily intended for American hunting conditions presented. Powerful, light, compact, leading values for transmission and top quality – at an attractive price.

2003

The top-of-the-line model of the Varipoint series (3–12 x 56) enters the market. With the powerful Diavari V 6–24 x 56 tele riflescope, Carl Zeiss offers targeting optics for precision shots at long range.

 
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