Looking at some used and NOS Zeiss scopes--What is the difference between Diavari-C, V, Z? And what is meant by T*? Thanks in advance.

I believe T* is an indication of Lotutec coating

I have a 1.5-6 x 42 Diavari M, which indicates it has the rail mount and T* is the Lolutec coatings.

Z is the older diavari’s and can date back a while, until the v series came out,..The c/compact is smaller usually as in their 3x9x36, there is also an mc which was the us model. The V is the victory series and the best Zeiss scopes ever made imo, even compared to today’s v4’s, v6’s, and v8’s. There’s also an ht and lrp. Newer V’s came with Lotutec is just a typical hard coating that doesn’t improve the view, the newer V’s were stamped victory FL for the so called fl glass. T* is basically a trade mark name for their lens coating which is on most all Zeiss products/sports optics.

I also have the Zeiss Victory FL 4-16 x 50 T*. Uses lab made flourite glass.

So v and victory are interchangeable? Is this the model/line of scope you guys are referring to that you like? Thanks.

Out of curiosity what is flourite glass, never heard of such?

Fluoride glass is a class of non-oxide optical glasses composed of fluorides of various metals. They can contain heavy metals such as zirconium, or be combined with lighter elements like aluminum and beryllium. These heavier elements cause the glass to have a transparency range extended into the infrared wavelength.

I bought the ZM/V Diavari 30mm 1.5-6x42 as a deer hunting scope and it was excellent. Then I read that Zeiss removed the lead from the glass and came out with a lighter 30mm Diavari called the VM/V. Since the scope was going on a lighter weight 7mm-08, I sold the Z to my buddy and bought the lighter weight VM/V 1.5-6x42 T*. Other than the weight, optically I couldn't tell any difference.

Ok, so:

Diavari M
-rail mount

Diavari C
-compact
-made in USA (the ones I've seen)

Diavari V
-made in germany (the ones I've seen)
-often regarded among highest quality Zeiss scopes ever made

Diavari Z
-made in germany (the ones I've seen)
-similar to V series

FL=Fluorite lens
T*=LotuTec lens coating

Anything to add? Any appreciable difference in quality between any of these?

T* coating is NOT Lotutec.
Lotutec is a water and dirt repelling coating and it is considerable newer than the T* coating.

The T* coating is the ZEISS brand anti reflex coating that secures the high optical quality of the Zeiss scopes.

I don’t know that Lotutec is a coating but maybe. It’s full name would be lotus technology. As in like the flower water beads up on its microscopic bumpy surface or similar. Seems that would scatter light but must not or it wouldn’t be so popular.

Working in concentrator optics I tried one of the anti soiling, AR coatings on my windshield. Stuff never came off and streaked like crazy but did good at beading up water. We didn’t want to test it on near priceless solar modules so I used my old truck lol. Having purplish red streaks all over windshield for years until I sold it wasn’t ideal.