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Chinese made vs. Japanese made

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8Runner View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 8Runner Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Chinese made vs. Japanese made
    Posted: August/12/2006 at 13:32

Hi,

 

I have been reading the posts daily here in on this forum and noticed there are a bunch of helpful knowledgable guys.  As such, I joined.  Maybe you can help decipher this:

 

I own a Bausch Lomb Legacy Porro 7x35 MADE IN CHINA that claims to be Nitrogen purged and O-ring sealed.  Well after a year of being in it's case, I took it out and noticed there are mold-like stains on the inside part of the 35mm objective lens.  This binoculars is 8 years old and was fortunate enough not to see rain or water as I have very rarely used it.  So what is this?  Can I trust Chinese made products?

 

Which continues to my next question:

 

I'm a Porro guy, and obviously I need to replace my Legacy so I was looking at the Bushnell Legend Porro 8x42 which has the Nitrogen, O-ring, waterproof/fogproof etc.  The catch is...I read it is made in China.  If true, then can I trust this Chinese made binocular?

 

My budget is below $200.  I know a quality porro under $200 is far superior than a roof in the same price range.

 

Why is the Bushnell Legend Roof Binos made in Japan?

Thank you in advance,

Sean

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anweis View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote anweis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/13/2006 at 11:03

Sean, if a binocular model has external focusing - moving ocular lenses, it is not waterproof no matter what the label says. The only exception is Swarovski Traditional.

As of late, there are a few porro prism binoculars that have internal focusing and they should be waterproof: Leupold Green Ring Cascades porro binoculars cost $300, Minox has something at $400.

The only porro binocular for less than $200 that are 100% waterproof (internal focusing) are Pentax PCF WP II 8x40 - about $150. Excellent glass, narow field of view for my taste.

 

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Roy Finn View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/13/2006 at 11:31
I think you should amend that statement somewhat. Steiner bino's have some, if not the highest waterproofing standards that I am aware of on their porro models and I can assure you they are waterproof.
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anweis View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote anweis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/13/2006 at 13:29
i should have included the disclaimer: center focus models.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bird Watcher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/30/2006 at 11:47
[QUOTE=8Runner]

Hi,


 


I have been reading the posts daily here in on this forum and noticed there are a bunch of helpful knowledgable guys.  As such, I joined.  Maybe you can help decipher this:

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bird Watcher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/30/2006 at 12:35
Some major optics manufacturers are splitting their products between made in China & made in Japan. This is their way of keeping prices down. The Japanese make excellent binoculars. Myself I prefer buying optics from Japan but these items are usually higher in price. (I still believe that you get what you pay for.) My suggestion to you is that you not limit yourself to binoculars under $200 but instead save up an extra $100. There is a larger selection of excellent binoculars priced around $300.

I believe that you can trust the made in China binoculars as long as they are from 'major' optics companies who back their products with a sound warranty. However, the higher the price the better the product. Leupold, for example, has products made in both countries.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote nksmfamjp Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/08/2006 at 19:36

Originally posted by Roy Finn Roy Finn wrote:

I think you should amend that statement somewhat. Steiner bino's have some, if not the highest waterproofing standards that I am aware of on their porro models and I can assure you they are waterproof.

 

Acttually, I spoke to Steiner about this yesterday.  In the 10 yr warranty binocular, they are guaranteed not to leak from some 3 directional spray test.  They are not submergible.  I think this is less than many waterproof binos, but I'm not sure.  The trouble with spray testing is that seal areas can be protected from direct spray and seem waterproof, but they cannot be dropped in water.  This is similar to how you car is waterproofed.

 

 

In addition:  I sttringly prefer optics made in locations in this order:

1.  USA

2.  Germany

3.  Japan

4.  Other Europe

.

.

.

.

.

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10.  China

 

Simmons and Pentax to name a couple are great for this.  Make a $300 optic in Japan for a year, throw it around the press. . .then ship it to china without changing the name or price.  It happened to my dad.  He paid like $20 for his binos than my old ones, but they were $150 less bino.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/08/2006 at 19:51
Just curious as to which bino's you are referring to that are USA made. I am only aware of one, that is the new Leupold Gold Ring bino. You are correct regarding the Steiner 10 yr. warranty bino's and the "pocket" type bino's they offer. I shouldn't have made a blanket statement. All of the 30 yr models are fully waterproof.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote FrankD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/09/2006 at 08:05

I am aware of several porro prism binoculars in the price range suggested which are advertised as waterproof and which are of the external focus design. The key here is determining what the manufacturer means by "waterproof". Not everyone, and in fact most companies, do not list the JIS class rating for a binocular. As such some are listed as waterproof but not submersible.

 

It was my understanding that many external focus porro prism binoculars advertised as waterproof use an O-ring style seal to prevent water/moisture from entering the binoculars as they are being focused. They are advertised as Nitrogen purged but not nitrogen filled. This O-ring seal serves its purpose for a time but eventually wears out because of use and environmental conditions. That would explain the potential presence of mold in your binocular. In my opinion it would not have anything to do with being "Chinese made".

 

I do believe that the internal focus porro design found on the new Leupolds and Minoxs is really the next step in the porro prism's evolution. If they could improve the field of view though then I would be more interested in them. To me the combination of a narrow field of view with the porro prism design gives me an extreme tunnel effect.

 

I would suggest checking out the Nikon Action EX series. They offer very good optical quality for the price though they tend to be a bit large and heavy. I own the 7x35 model and find it quite good in terms of build and optical quality.

Frank
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote nksmfamjp Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/09/2006 at 11:16

Originally posted by Roy Finn Roy Finn wrote:

Just curious as to which bino's you are referring to that are USA made. 

 

It was a general optics statment, but yes the Leupold Golder Ring stuff is still US made as far as I know.

 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/09/2006 at 20:36
Originally posted by nksmfamjp nksmfamjp wrote:

Originally posted by Roy Finn Roy Finn wrote:

Just curious as to which bino's you are referring to that are USA made. 

 

It was a general optics statment, but yes the Leupold Golder Ring stuff is still US made as far as I know.

 



The only optics company that fully makes its products in the US is US Optics (which does not make binoculars). 

Leupold Gold Ring products are assembled in US with the components, for the most part, made elsewhere.  Gold Ring binoculars have Japanese glass.

ILya
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