Carl Zeiss stops scope and binoc production 2026

[PerH]

Wetzlar: Carl Zeiss Sports Optics will Fertigung einstellen

Die Produktion von Optiken für Jagd und Naturbeobachtung in Wetzlar steht absehbar vor dem Aus. Das kündigt die Carl Zeiss Sports Optics GmbH an. Betroffen sind 70 Mitarbeiter.

www.mittelhessen.de

Zeiss will next year stop producing scopes and binocs and similar as the article say .

English translation here

Wetzlar: Carl Zeiss Sports Optics will Fertigung einstellen

Die Produktion von Optiken für Jagd und Naturbeobachtung in Wetzlar steht absehbar vor dem Aus. Das kündigt die Carl Zeiss Sports Optics GmbH an. Betroffen sind 70 Mitarbeiter.

www.mittelhessen.de

 

[Horbs]

That's what happens when you give Green politicians power in a country like Germany. It's truly shocking how Germany has been run down in just a few years. This affects many other sectors there as well. I hope that people abroad will always use Germany as a warning example of how not to do things. Still, it's a shame about this great, traditional company.

 

[mdwest]

Their decision is similar to Nikons… they are deciding to refocus their efforts on the business lines that are much more profitable for them… they are huge producers of lens for smartphones and other devices…

They started outsourcing repairs on most products back in 2023… dropping less productive and profitable product lines was inevitable…

They’ve been in a strange market position for a long time with binos and optics… they are considered to be a premium provider, but haven’t been able to grab the same market share as swaro, or even some of the US providers like US Optics, Nightforce, etc.. they tried pretty hard to grab some market share in the middle with their conquest and terra lines, but leupold and others continue to nudge them out…

Which is unfortunate.. I’m a huge Zeiss fan… I’ve got Zeiss optics on several of my rifles, and have got a set of Zeiss binos in my pack as well..I actually just picked up another conquest optic to mount on my 300 prc last week… whenever I’m looking to put some European glass on a rifle, Zeiss is typically the first place I look…

 

[Muskox]

Yeah I have a V8, 1.4-14 or something. Amazing.

My dealer told me they were doing this a during Jagd and Hund. Same reasons.

 

[Angelo_orygun]

I worked for ZEISS in the sport optics group for 2.5 years, this is sad to see as they had amazing capabilities. They always had an issue hitting the mark with products for the US, though, as mdwest mentioned.

For example - their first FFP scope was not launched untill 2021, and they put a lot of emphasis on Binoculars. While they make amazing products, Binos only go so far. When I started they only had SFO MOA scopes with chunky reticle, a hard sell!.

The emphasis they put on the medical field was much more apparent, and LARGLY more profitable so I see the logic. There was always a fear of impacting those medical sales with some scary gun products, so the writing was on the wall.

Feel bad for all my friends still there, some really talented folks.

Edit - per the article - “Carl Zeiss Sports Optics GmbH will discontinue production in Wetzlar until the end of 2026.” Wetzlar is a small part of their production, 70 people according to the article, so it seems this is not a full-stop…

 

[Hogpatrol]

That's unfortunate. They had some really good LR scopes. At my gun club, I hear guys say "My Arken, Athlon, Vortex, etc., etc., is just as clear as a high end Nightforce, Trijicon, or Leupold, I don't argue with them but that's today's buying public.

 

[uplander01]

One of the big 3 had to go, everything is getting to expensive and less people willing to spend that kind of money. Zeiss had been struggling for a long time in the US market, at least 15 + years. Leica is solidly the premier camera company, binos and scopes being supplementary, all with better pricing, and swaro is, well, swaro the king of optics companies. My guess would be it’s not the last big name we see now out of our industry in the next year or two.

 

[mdwest]

Swaro, Leica, and most other premium European optics companies rely on Zeiss… without Zeiss existing and being profitable, they are screwed…

Zeiss own A.B. Schott

A.B. Schott is the glass manufacturer that all the premium optics companies get their glass from…

So, in a way, they’re still in the business…

They’re just going to be a critical node in the supply chain for everyone else now, rather than a critical node and a direct competitor…

 

[Luvthunt]

Bought my first pair of Zeiss Brnos in the late 80s from Cabelas. They have been”around” and need some service work, guess that may not happen now.
Excellent glass.

 

[PerH]

@Muskox , how is Noblex , are they fully made in Jena at factory made there . Since their earlier name was Docter ( Zeiss Jena the og scope and optic maker )

 

[Angelo_orygun]

Perhaps not as bad as it seems:

 

[reinwood]

Hello, the article states that they will stop the production in Wetzlar Germany, but does not say they will stop all binoculars and riflescope production.
Hopefully it is only about stopping production in that specific high cost location.

 

[HankBuck]

Their decision is similar to Nikons… they are deciding to refocus their efforts on the business lines that are much more profitable for them… they are huge producers of lens for smartphones and other devices…

They started outsourcing repairs on most products back in 2023… dropping less productive and profitable product lines was inevitable…

They’ve been in a strange market position for a long time with binos and optics… they are considered to be a premium provider, but haven’t been able to grab the same market share as swaro, or even some of the US providers like US Optics, Nightforce, etc.. they tried pretty hard to grab some market share in the middle with their conquest and terra lines, but leupold and others continue to nudge them out…

Which is unfortunate.. I’m a huge Zeiss fan… I’ve got Zeiss optics on several of my rifles, and have got a set of Zeiss binos in my pack as well..I actually just picked up another conquest optic to mount on my 300 prc last week… whenever I’m looking to put some European glass on a rifle, Zeiss is typically the first place I look…

@mdwest - Question: Does anyone think that the younger or Next Generation of Hunters does Not care about High quality optics as much as those over 50 do? Similar to the trend towards “black guns” semi autos, suppressors vs. nice wood stocks, beautiful blued metal, engraving, and other “Aesthetics” Has the market changed? - with the focus now on Thermal & Night Vision scopes or to highly technical “Long Range Scopes” —- is that where the most growth opportunities are and is that where Hunters are Now willing to spend their Big Bucks?
For me, I have “good scopes” but Not the very best made, I own Zeiss, Swaro, Leupold vari 3. Lately, when I’ve thought of Upgrading a few scopes - I ended up spending that money for Thermal Optics because I wanted to do more Night Hunting and Thermal really improved the results dramatically. A great scope offers an improvement over a good scope but it’s Not dramatic.
I really have no idea what the business reasons are for Zeiss to get away from Scopes, I suspect it is because they feel they can make more profit by focusing their efforts on other products — I am interested in thoughts from others on AH. I still like some tradition: Nice wood, blued metal, No need for Suppressor for most hunting, but I’ve mixed in some Thermal this year so even I am “evolving”.

 

[PARA45]

What a shame, I’m also a huge fan and I own several of their scopes.

 

[Muskox]

@Muskox , how is Noblex , are they fully made in Jena at factory made there . Since their earlier name was Docter ( Zeiss Jena the og scope and optic maker )

https://www.optics-trade.eu/en/noblex-nz8-2-5-20x50-inception.html. To me this is really interesting, but I don't have a local dealer for them.

I will ask my dealer when I get back from Slovenia. I have to pick up a couple of Mauser66's I bought from him.

 

[mdwest]

@mdwest - Question: Does anyone think that the younger or Next Generation of Hunters does Not care about High quality optics as much as those over 50 do? Similar to the trend towards “black guns” semi autos, suppressors vs. nice wood stocks, beautiful blued metal, engraving, and other “Aesthetics” Has the market changed? - with the focus now on Thermal & Night Vision scopes or to highly technical “Long Range Scopes”

I honestly dont know..

But some facts that I’m sure are driving the market would be:

The millennial generation is far less material than older generations. To them a car is just a car vs gen x where a car is part of an identity.. they tend to make purchases based on needs and don’t upgrade to “wants” very frequently… so I’d guess lines like Vortex and Athalon are much more appealing to them than Swaro, Zeiss, etc…

The number of hunters in the world is shrinking.. there are less global purchasers every year as older generations are either dying off or have already procured all the guns/optics/etc they need and fewer and fewer young people are entering the sport to replace the older generations..

The tacticool mindset is driving the entire firearms and optics industry.. less and less people are interested in bolt actions with traditional optics on top, etc… many of those that are entering the hunting world want to do it with their MSR platform, topped with some sort of wazoo target optic… this is true even of older generations… a guy at my wife’s work just bought his first firearm.. he’s in his mid 40’s… we went straight for a Glock 19x with an extended and threaded barrel, elevated sights (not understanding the threads and tall sights are for suppressor use), coyote tan cerakote, and a vortex venom red dot mounted… what drove his decision was “doesn’t it look cool???””… he now wants to buy an AR15 so he can start “hunting”…

Another guy, in his late 40’s that works with one of my deer hunting buddies has decided he wants to start hunting… he at least bought a bolt action, a 6.5 creedmore Christianson Arms Ridgeline (that the gunshop guy told him was the perfect Texas deer rifle)… and promptly topped it with a 5-25x sig Sauer tactical scope.. because the gun shop guy told him it could now double as his hunting rifle and his 10000 yard target rifle…

When Gen X dies off, I’m not sure how much of a market is going to be left for traditional rifles and traditional optics of any quality…

 

[Muskox]

When Gen X dies off, I’m not sure how much of a market is going to be left for traditional rifles and traditional optics of any quality…

I think there is already a generational shift happening.

Those so collectible 80% pre-War Winchester m70's, 94's, 71's, and 86's sit a long time on dealer shelves before they move. If they move at all.

Here in Europe, there are thousands and thousands of classic built 98's from top house names in Germany and Austria fully engraved for $1500. They don't move.

Damn near new Mauser 66, Sauer 90, 80, and whatever else just sits.

New millennial younger hunters want the cheapest gun they can buy, they prefer if it is a Mauser, Sauer or at least a European company. But they buy the lowest price point optic they can get away with that is still European. They are only buying 1 rifle, probably a 308 or 8x57, rarely a 30-06 it will be supressed.

Everything is now silencer land.

I get it, they want a turn key $2500 out the door optic, rifle silencer combo that they can get ammo for.

No one cares about 6,5x68 or 5,6x57 or the 7x66 Vom Hoff.

It will be a 308.

 

[sgt_zim]

I honestly dont know..

But some facts that I’m sure are driving the market would be:

The millennial generation is far less material than older generations. To them a car is just a car vs gen x where a car is part of an identity.. they tend to make purchases based on needs and don’t upgrade to “wants” very frequently… so I’d guess lines like Vortex and Athalon are much more appealing to them than Swaro, Zeiss, etc…

The number of hunters in the world is shrinking.. there are less global purchasers every year as older generations are either dying off or have already procured all the guns/optics/etc they need and fewer and fewer young people are entering the sport to replace the older generations..

The tacticool mindset is driving the entire firearms and optics industry.. less and less people are interested in bolt actions with traditional optics on top, etc… many of those that are entering the hunting world want to do it with their MSR platform, topped with some sort of wazoo target optic… this is true even of older generations… a guy at my wife’s work just bought his first firearm.. he’s in his mid 40’s… we went straight for a Glock 19x with an extended and threaded barrel, elevated sights (not understanding the threads and tall sights are for suppressor use), coyote tan cerakote, and a vortex venom red dot mounted… what drove his decision was “doesn’t it look cool???””… he now wants to buy an AR15 so he can start “hunting”…

Another guy, in his late 40’s that works with one of my deer hunting buddies has decided he wants to start hunting… he at least bought a bolt action, a 6.5 creedmore Christianson Arms Ridgeline (that the gunshop guy told him was the perfect Texas deer rifle)… and promptly topped it with a 5-25x sig Sauer tactical scope.. because the gun shop guy told him it could now double as his hunting rifle and his 10000 yard target rifle…

When Gen X dies off, I’m not sure how much of a market is going to be left for traditional rifles and traditional optics of any quality…

Not unique to millennials. My best friend (born in '66) bought a 375 Ruger 4 or 5 years ago, and initially topped it with a Sig 4 - 16 x whatever. He bought it for moose hunting in AK. And I was like WTF??? I don't recall what he replaced it with, but I did get him to replace it.

 

[HankBuck]

I think there is already a generational shift happening.

Those so collectible 80% pre-War Winchester m70's, 94's, 71's, and 86's sit a long time on dealer shelves before they move. If they move at all.

Here in Europe, there are thousands and thousands of classic built 98's from top house names in Germany and Austria fully engraved for $1500. They don't move.

Damn near new Mauser 66, Sauer 90, 80, and whatever else just sits.

New millennial younger hunters want the cheapest gun they can buy, they prefer if it is a Mauser, Sauer or at least a European company. But they buy the lowest price point optic they can get away with that is still European. They are only buying 1 rifle, probably a 308 or 8x57, rarely a 30-06 it will be supressed.

Everything is now silencer land.

I get it, they want a turn key $2500 out the door optic, rifle silencer combo that they can get ammo for.

No one cares about 6,5x68 or 5,6x57 or the 7x66 Vom Hoff.

It will be a 308.

@Muskox - so you are implying that if I can “just live to 100” I’m gonna get some good buys on CLASSIC quality firearms: matched pair of H&H Royal 12 bore for $600.? Makes me want to stay healthy - knowing that someday I’ll finally be able to afford a Holland & Holland….and be buried with it !!

 

[Russ16]

I think there is already a generational shift happening.

Those so collectible 80% pre-War Winchester m70's, 94's, 71's, and 86's sit a long time on dealer shelves before they move. If they move at all.

Here in Europe, there are thousands and thousands of classic built 98's from top house names in Germany and Austria fully engraved for $1500. They don't move.

Damn near new Mauser 66, Sauer 90, 80, and whatever else just sits.

New millennial younger hunters want the cheapest gun they can buy, they prefer if it is a Mauser, Sauer or at least a European company. But they buy the lowest price point optic they can get away with that is still European. They are only buying 1 rifle, probably a 308 or 8x57, rarely a 30-06 it will be supressed.

Everything is now silencer land.

I get it, they want a turn key $2500 out the door optic, rifle silencer combo that they can get ammo for.

No one cares about 6,5x68 or 5,6x57 or the 7x66 Vom Hoff.

It will be a 308.

It has definitely happened. High condition vintage guns especially double shotguns are still in demand by serious collectors. But I’ve seen the “shooter” quality guns stagnate in price. Essentially they are the same price they were 15 years ago which means they are cheaper due to inflation.