binocs in hot and cold weather...

[nctexasbirder]

i notice in hot weather the focusing and IPD become looser than normal, esp. when left in a hot car....is it safe to leave binocs in a hot car? also in cold weather the focusing and IPD tend to become harder to adjust...is there dos and donts on this subject?

[Curtis Croulet]

What kind of bins? The focus on my Eagle Optics Ranger Platinum Class 8x42 becomes almost immovable if the temp drops into the 40s F. My Zeiss FL has little noticeable change, regardless of temperature.

[JohnnyH]

i notice in hot weather the focusing and IPD become looser than normal, esp. when left in a hot car....is it safe to leave binocs in a hot car? also in cold weather the focusing and IPD tend to become harder to adjust...is there dos and donts on this subject?

Not a good plan to leave your bins in a hot car dude! Bins that use lubricants for the focussing mech will display the symptoms you describe.

[Tero]

If you need to have bins in car at all times, as many of us think we do, a cheap pair of porros, not nitrogen sealed, would stand the heat somewhat. But then there is all the shaking from the road.

[bradshrike]

i notice in hot weather the focusing and IPD become looser than normal, esp. when left in a hot car....is it safe to leave binocs in a hot car? also in cold weather the focusing and IPD tend to become harder to adjust...is there dos and donts on this subject?

The above is EXACTLY why Leica doesn't use lube in the focus gears. Many on this forum compalin that they're "ratchety" or "loose" but I prefer that too a "slippery" focus in hot weather and "stiff" in cold. The Leica's are consistant across a variety of temps.

[statestat]

I ruined as few pair of realtivley ceap binos after leaving them in a car all-day-long back when I lived in Texas. Talk about hot.

Not my idea but I read it here on BF. Use an small ice chest to store the binos in. I use a little cooler left over from the 'kid's formula' days and it seems to help for short term car storage.

[mooreorless]

I ruined as few pair of realtivley ceap binos after leaving them in a car all-day-long back when I lived in Texas. Talk about hot.

Not my idea but I read it here on BF. Use an small ice chest to store the binos in. I use a little cooler left over from the 'kid's formula' days and it seems to help for short term car storage.

Sounds like a good idea using a cooler.:-)
Steve

[brentwood]

I had a opposite problem with a set of B&L 7x42 Discoverer. I had them in the glove box of a motorhome that made them hot. I used them while still hot, the focuser was very stiff, but then something broke and some tiny pieces of plastic fell out, and they havent worked since! Pity, as they were one of my favourites.