Re: [Paddlewise] Binoculars

Courtney,

There are only a few name brand binoculars (and often only a model or two
within each brand) advertised as waterproof.  These include Leica BA,
Swarovsky, Bausch and Lomb Elite (new model), Pentax DCF WP, and
Celestron (can't remember which model).  The Pentax and Celestron run
about $400, the B&L about $800, and the Leica and Swarovsky about
$900-$1000.  I've heard complaints about the Celestrons leaking moisture,
and about the B&L not focusing to infinity.  The others enjoy excellent
reputations and are top-notch binoculars for any purpose.  I'm a
birdwatcher and have used them all.

I did a survey on the Birdchat mailing list and found 6 of 6 Leica users
satisfied with theirs.  Swarovsky and Bausch & Lomb had a handful of
dissatisfied users.  Swarovskys need too much focus wheel turning to get
from infinity to near focus, and the older ones gave a decidedly yellow
tint to your view.  Leicas give a blueish tint.  B&L image quality, build
quality, and repair service got complaints.  Zeiss, while not advertised
as waterproof, seemed to have no complainers about leakage, and had
slightly better customer satisfaction than Swarovsky or B&L.  Pentaxes
were too new for ratings.  Celestrons had fogging problems and their
optics aren't that good.  Nikon Superior Es got good ratings but they
aren't waterproof.  Nikon's Venture? or Voyager? new waterproof models
were too new for ratings, but I'm not impressed with Nikon's past record
of supporting their binoculars.  

I own Leica BA and Pentax DCF WP 10X42s, plus B&L Custom 10X40s
(non-waterproof).  The B&Ls fogged on me in Costa Rica and I've focused
on waterproofness since.  I've paddled with my Leicas but not with my
Pentax binocs.  The Leicas have been dipped in pooled salt and fresh
water in my spray skirt and have been subjected to their fair share of
salt spray without problems.  The center focusing wheel cracked on mine
and they're currently being repaired.  My B&Ls are back in the shop for
the third time in two years (am I hard on binoculars?), thus my current
Pentax ownership.  For the record, the first time was for the fogging and
prisms knocked out of alignment when I dropped them.  Second time was for
cracked prisms (another drop?).  This time it's for B&L's crummy repair
as the binocs came back collimated incorrectly.  I could rant about
several other poor B&L repair and service problems I've personally
encountered.  

Oh yes, I'm satisfied with my Pentax binoculars so far.  And I would
avoid off-brand binoculars like West Marine and Brunton.  They're not
quality optics - at least not of the quality desired by birdwatchers.  

Darrell Lee
Alameda, CA
snorkler_at_juno.com
---------------------------------------------------
On Wed, 19 Jul 2000 11:14:20 -0700 (PDT) Courtney <sudnlycord_at_excite.com>
writes:
> I'm interested in getting good quality water-proof/resistant 
> binoculars. I
> don't need anything too fancy. I'm going to go to REI to try them 
> out but
> would love to go there with some information. Can anyone help? I 
> can't find
> the past thread on the Paddlewise archives. Thanks.
> 
> Courtney
> 

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