The Elite Custom 7 x 26 - Model 62-0726, is fully rubber armored with twist up eye cups and was successor to the Custom Compact 7 x 26 - Model 12-0726. Bushnell's Model 12-0726 had a polycarbonate body and partial rubber armor on the top and sides only, with soft roll down rubber eye cups. This version was made from 1993 to 2004 as the Bausch & Lomb Custom Compact - Model 61-0726, and from 2004 until 2008, as the identical Bushnell Custom Compact - Model 12-0726, when the Elite Custom replaced it. There has been only one model of Elite Custom 7 x 26 made, and it is still the one in production, Model 62-0726. It says Elite on the left body side and Elite Custom in the center of the focus wheel and has a round inset logo on top of the right body that says Bushnell Birding Series. It is said these are magnesium bodied under the rubber armor, but I can't tell by comparing my Elite Custom to my polycarbonate body B&L one. They look awfully similar just peering inside!
The 1993 and earlier Custom Compacts were metal & leatherette bodied, the final one being marked as Bausch & Lomb, model 61-7261, and this last metal one had green multi-coating (my 1993 one is as bright as my newest Elite one). The earlier metal ones had blue coatings and were marked as Bushnell, model 10-7261. There are several minor variations of the old metal ones as well. These are as sharp as the newest B&L metal ones, but they are not as bright. The later Bushnell 1980's thru the Bausch & Lomb 1993 metal ones had improved eyepieces and diopter adjustment, and can focus a bit closer than older original Bushnell 1960's thru 1970's vintage ones. These are the later ones with neck strap eyelets on the outer sides of the body rather than the inner sides of the body in the middle of the eyepieces. This version began as Bushnell marked but was changed in the last few years of production to the Bausch & Lomb with better coatings before the 1994 complete (and unfortunate) polycarbonate re-vamp.
Mike V.
Okay guys. I finally got a series of photos up on a web hosting site and can put some photos together to show the various Custom Compact models over the years.
Let's start with the classic metal and leatherette Custom Compacts. There are four main variations with a few additional marking changes. There are three eyepiece/ocular designs.
Version One Metal Bodied Custom Compact, "The Project Gemini" model:
Here is the earliest Custom Compact I own and am aware of. I bought my first ones in 1972, for the then princely sum of $129- a lot to a high school senior in those days. Work it out to today's dollars and it is lot more than Elites sell for now. These have served me faithfully for decades, still clear and sharp as a tack. The original style eyepiece and ocular adjustment is a column shaped ocular housing with adjustment on the left side and the markings are visible in a little window. Adjustment is by turning the rubber eye cup. It is friction lock only and tends to drift if handled, so I often use a little square of black electrical tape to hold it where I want it. Close focus on this design was to 16 feet. The eye cups are thick heavy rubber that lasts well. Main issue with these early ones is the black paint on the back plate will come off if you look at it funny. Early on, I had an otherwise mint binocular with a beat up brassy chipped back plate, which really bugged me. Being a model builder, I whipped out my airbrush, masked off the back plate and sprayed it with black epoxy paint. Problem solved, still good thirty years later, but a bit too glossy black!) I recently acquired a mint in box copy of this version, which is higher numbered than my first. I suspect this as mid to late 1970's production. Same binocular, same box, same paperwork but the box and carry case have a little double circle logo added. The black back plate finish looks more durable, so Bushnell changed it along the way. The neck strap on both of these is a thin shoelace style strap, permanently attached to heavy metal lugs located beneath the prism housing, close to the hinge. The clear inset on the focus wheel is often missing on beat up examples of this version.
My first 1972 7x26:
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My slightly newer, mint in box, recent acquisition, same as my first but a bit higher serial numbered. Back plate has better finish than the less durable one my first 1972 one had. I estimate it is from mid to late 1970's production. The slight flared ends of the eye cups are the result of having sat in the box for decades in folded down position, resulting in a permanent set. They should be column shaped, but the flare did not harm them and actually is a nicer shape. Note the OO logo added to the mid/late 1970 version's case:
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Version Two Metal Bodied Custom Compact. The "Push-Pull" model:
I acquired this one recently and it is very minty. It has the second design ocular housing and eye cup style. I call it the Push-Pull. The eye cup is polyurethane plastic, not rubber, so no deterioration concerns. The eye cups pull out or push in for eye relief adjustment. There are two variations of the Push-Pull. One has the neck strap attached to the front hinge screw cap, which is enlarged and can be unscrewed allowing removal of the strap. The other has the same neck strap with central under body lugs like the version one has. I don't know which came first, or if there was switching back and forth on this strap style by Bushnell. Ocular lens is wider and close focus is now 8 feet. Adjustment is still on left side, with a larger window than version one. There is a lug on the left eye cup for adjusting, and while still friction locked, it is tighter than version one.
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Version Three Metal Bodied Custom Compact - The Micrometer model:
This is the final physical variation of the Bushnell metal Custom Compact.
The eye cups are now flared and roll down. They are less durable than those on version one. If found in rolled down condition, they are usually shot, and no longer replaceable as the parts are unavailable. (Shame on Bushnell.) Close focus is 8 feet (although several of mine will go to seven feet). The focus adjustment is now on the right ocular housing and is a micrometer twist ring with very fine click stops. The last batches of these, before the Custom Compact was re-branded as Bausch & Lomb, have metal embossed Bushnell brand name logos on the right housing, like the later B&L ones do, as well as the National Audubon Society marking. They also have a stylized Bushnell B on the front hinge screw cap. These were 1980's production until the switch to B&L, which I believe was early 1990's. The neck strap lugs are now on the outer edge of the prism housings, and this is the final location on the metal Custom Compacts
Last Bushnell version (left) alongside the metal Bausch & Lomb version of 1993 (right):
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The Bushnell Version Three with the Bausch & Lomb metal version. All Bushnell metal Custom Compact's have blue coatings. The B&L has green coatings. The B&L has the gold triangle logo on the hinge screw cover:
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Last Bushnell production of version three had embossed logo:
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Version Four Metal Bodied Custom Compact, The Bausch & Lomb model:
This was the ultimate metal bodied Custom Compact, and was changed in 1993 to the polycarbonate bodied B&L version. In physical layout, the body and ocular design is carried over from previous Bushnell marked production. Focus is to 8 feet, mine will do a bit better. The main difference from the prior Bushnell version is the lens coatings, which are now green. My metal B&L's were purchased new in early 1994 and have remained in NIB condition since. They are as sharp as any of my others, including the latest Elite, and are noticeably brighter than the Bushnell metal bodied ones with blue coatings. They are as bright as the polycarbonate B&L version that followed them from 1994 to 2004, and I am unable to detect any real difference between the later version B&L. Even the newest Elites do not seem to have any real edge I can detect. They are the only metal bodied ones I have that came with four lens covers. These are my personal favorites of my Custom Compact collection.
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The final B&L metal version with the polycarbonate B&L successor:
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The coatings on the metal B&L and the polycarb B&L are very similar:
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The Polycarbonate Bausch & Lomb Custom Compact. "The Plastic Fantastic" model:
I purchased this one new in 1994. It is optically the equal of the metal B&L I purchased earlier that year. It feels a tiny bit bigger in the hand and it is more bulky than the metal ones. I personally prefer the feel of the metal ones in the hand, but it's a personal preference. It is less bulky than the newest Elites. These were made from 1994 until 2007, but the brand logo was changed in 2004 to Bushnell when B&L lifted it's licensing rights to the name. The Elites succeeded this version.
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The latest Elite version. The Elite Custom 7x26:
Take careful note. It is labelled Elite Custom, not Elite Custom COMPACT! It has grown a bit tubby over the years, has it not? The optics however, are impeccable. I have two pair of these, and they are identical. I bought one a few years back and, one was purchased a few months ago. The only change is the serial number. They are still (as all have been) made in Japan. The eye-cups screw up and down, so no deterioration issues. The only change I see on the newest one is a smaller box and the carry case has been simplified and improved by removing the goofy magnetic catch and flap in addition to the zipper. The size and bulk of these cases are approaching silly when compared to the trim little zipper cases the earlier ones came with. My only complaint is the bulk of the cases, in addition to not adding waterproofing to them.
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The neck strap seems a bit more than is really needed here:
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Latest case is on the right:
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Plastic Fantastic and the Elite:
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http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a...0130822232855015.JPG/ps=50/r=0/rx=720/ry=480/
You can get a sense of how much more trim in the hand the metal version is here:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a...0130822232912332.JPG/ps=50/r=0/rx=720/ry=480/
The three main generations of Custom Compacts, metal, polycarb and Elite:
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http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a...0130822232824291.JPG/ps=50/r=0/rx=720/ry=480/
There you have it folks. I have many big flashy binoculars to play with, but the little Custom Compacts have a special place in my heart I cannot explain. No other compact rivals their view and clarity. They are not fussy and hard to deal with, like my Swaro 8x20 compact roofs, which are so tiny, I can't hold them steady enough or get the double hinged pupils lined up, let alone focus. The exit pupil is big enough to not drive you crazy and the eye relief is good enough that I do not need to roll down the eye cups with glasses on. They always deliver, and at a reasonable price. Hope you enjoy the photos.