[Swissboy]

I have owned a compact 10x25 Ultravid model for years. However, it's basically taken along as a back-up, and it thus sees little actual use. Nevertheless, it's been along on many longer trips, either in a side pocket of a backpack, or in a jacket of some sort. This time, as I was about to clean it and thus took it out of a flimsy self-made pouch, I rather unexpectedly got a second piece coming out. The central cover with the red Leica dot had come off. I placed it next to the exposed part in the picture.

Not sure what had happened. But I suspect that at some point there must have been too much pressure on to the center of the cover. Possibly, the localisation of that pressure may have been enhanced by the fact that the pouch has a button in that area.

I'll have to send it for repairs, but I thought a warning and a bit of insight into the construction was in order. That cover, as it seems, is simply glued in place.

[NDhunter]

It looks like to me, you could fix this yourself, if the edge of the cover is not
broken. Just clean off all the old glue, and use a nice all purpose cement, and
glue it back on.
Just do a neat and tidy job.

Jerry

[ceasar]

A picture of it's "flimsy self-made pouch" might also be a lesson to us all! FWIW.

Bob

[fugl]

I guess superglue has its advantages over the beautifully machined little screws Leica would have used in the old days but your photo still comes as a shock. The old gods fail one by one. . ..

[Brigadier]

Originally Posted by fugl

I guess superglue has its advantages over the beautifully machined little screws Leica would have used in the old days but your photo still comes as a shock. The old gods fail one by one...

I once had a compact Trinny that suffered similar problems. It rather put me off Leicas, despite their optical excellence.

You expect more from such a prestige brand.

[marinemaster]

I looked at the pic a good 5 to 10 minutes. I am not surprised, is just a cover and covers do come off after some time, especially if glue was used. My European watch rubber strap completely disintegrated after a couple of years of use. I guess all man made stuff is designed with service-ability in mind, so the cover needs to come off to be serviceable. I guess some special glue was used to connect the cover to the body. Most glue will dry rot in time. I would say don't use superglue because in case it needs repair the cover may not come off. I would use some kind of a glue that stays in place but be able to remove the cover if needed. Unless of course Leica will fix it.

[garymh]

Superglue is not the ideal fix and is not what was originally used. Look carefully and you should see traces of a black "rubbery" adhesive left on some surfaces.

It needs to be a special adhesive which will go all the way around the cover to maintain the waterproof seal - you do not want water entering and affecting the focus mechanism.

Doing it yourself also carries the risk of adhesive getting into the focus mechanism.

[Parker]

I'm not surprised this has happened. I noticed, on my partners bins, that the bins are a very tight fit into the case & so every time you take them out the force is pulling on that section of the bins.
I doubt I'll ever buy Leica again.

[Swissboy]

Originally Posted by Parker

I'm not surprised this has happened. I noticed, on my partners bins, that the bins are a very tight fit into the case & so every time you take them out the force is pulling on that section of the bins.
I doubt I'll ever buy Leica again.

I think you are over-reacting here a bit.

In fact, I think the cover may show kind of an indentation in the area of the red dot. Could someone who has the same model (or a 8x20 Ultravid) please check. Is the area of the red dot a bit recessed or should there be a straight surface?

At any rate, I'm certainly not going to try to fix this myself. I want it to be waterproof again.

But thanks anyway to garymh for the warning! You are correct regarding that black seal. Though it looks like there is so little of that glue that I wonder whether it really was sufficient to make this waterproof. So I wonder whether marinemaster is right regarding the disintegration.

[ibramr]

Originally Posted by Parker

I'm not surprised this has happened. I noticed, on my partners bins, that the bins are a very tight fit into the case & so every time you take them out the force is pulling on that section of the bins.
I doubt I'll ever buy Leica again.

By the way, the very tight fit into the case of this very model is extremely unnecessary annoyance in an otherwise extraordinary pair of binoculars. I always wonder if this feature was done by design. I would appreciate your comments.

[temmie]

Originally Posted by Parker

I doubt I'll ever buy Leica again.

So what are you going to buy next that never fails?

[Surveyor]

Originally Posted by Swissboy

In fact, I think the cover may show kind of an indentation in the area of the red dot. Could someone who has the same model (or a 8x20 Ultravid) please check. Is the area of the red dot a bit recessed or should there be a straight surface?

This one is flush across the red dot and the word Leica is raised a little.

[Swissboy]

Originally Posted by Surveyor

This one is flush across the red dot and the word Leica is raised a little.

Attachment 399236

Thank you very much! Here is my now distorted cover for comparison. Not only is the red dot now "flush" instead of raised. But one can also see that the cover itself is out of shape at the ends. One corner is raised from the flat surface.

[Swissboy]

Originally Posted by ceasar

A picture of it's "flimsy self-made pouch" might also be a lesson to us all! FWIW.

Bob

Yes, I still owe you a picture of the likely culprit.

Notice that the button is right where the major indentation of the cover is. So that center-button model is not to be recommended. I have another sturdier (leather) pouch for a 8x20 Trinovid that has a zipper going around the lid. But that was too tedious to handle. With the result that it always stays open. In part also because it's too tight. So I figured a simpler pouch would be fine. Well, maybe so, but not of the type shown I guess.

[ceasar]

Actually Robert, that is a pretty good looking case!

Maybe if the binocular is reversed when it is put into the case so that the button is between the ocular tubes there wouldn't be as much pressure on the cover?

Bob

[ronh]

I like Leicas don't get me wrong, but would a little screw at each corner be too much to ask? That would have held it together for sure, and if the glue was somwhat pliable, would have maintained the seal.
Ron

[Brigadier]

Originally Posted by ronh

I like Leicas don't get me wrong, but would a little screw at each corner be too much to ask? That would have held it together for sure, and if the glue was somwhat pliable, would have maintained the seal.
Ron

I agree. You expect attention to detail and no corner-cutting in a top brand such as Leica.

But, to be fair, is this method of construction also used in other quality double-hinge compacts such as Nikon and Swarovski?

[Alexis Powell]

It seems Robert will be sending these back to Leica for service, which is the best plan if they are under warranty.

To anyone interested in re-attaching rubber or other coverings to binoculars, scopes, cameras etc, don't use superglue type glues. Although they hold well, they tend to be messy and are hard to reverse, which is sometimes necessary for service. Instead, use an adhesive like that used in the original manufacture. Here's the product you need:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread....ve#post1879965

--AP

[garymh]

A very nice looking product but this is nothing like the adhesive used by Leica to secure this plate to the body.

It will surely not meet the same standards as the adhesive specified for this joint.

This is not rubber armouring you are securing but is in fact a metal on metal joint.

[Swissboy]

Originally Posted by ceasar

....Maybe if the binocular is reversed when it is put into the case so that the button is between the ocular tubes there wouldn't be as much pressure on the cover?

Bob

Yes, that might be what I'll do in the future. I'll also look for an even flatter button.

[Alexis Powell]

Originally Posted by garymh

A very nice looking product but this is nothing like the adhesive used by Leica to secure this plate to the body.

It will surely not meet the same standards as the adhesive specified for this joint.

This is not rubber armouring you are securing but is in fact a metal on metal joint.

OK, I stand corrected. My comment about the similarity wasn't based on examination of the innards of my Ultravid (it remains intact), but rather the many cameras, lenses, and other binoculars that I've seen with loose armor, rubber focus ring sleeves, or other coverings.

As for that mystery adhesive used by Leica, it must be a fearsome material indeed, and I'd love to see how its specs compare to the ones for the VHB tape I posted. I've never encountered a non-curing adhesive (i.e. non epoxy, polyurethane, or cyanoacrylate) with anything close to the strength of this stuff.

As for 3M's VHB adhesive, it makes no difference whether the joint is rubber on metal or metal on metal, and I'm sure that it works better for metal on metal applications than the former. I have a Richard Franiec machined metal grip for my S90 camera which attaches to the metal front of the camera with 3M VHB adhesive (per his instructions), and let me tell you, it is _not_ coming off unintentionally. I've found this stuff ideal for every use I've put it to.

--AP

[tpcollins]

I have a pair of 8x20 Ultravids - I had to go upstairs to check them. Whew!

[Troubador]

Originally Posted by Alexis Powell

OK, I stand corrected. My comment about the similarity wasn't based on examination of the innards of my Ultravid (it remains intact), but rather the many cameras, lenses, and other binoculars that I've seen with loose armor, rubber focus ring sleeves, or other coverings.

As for that mystery adhesive used by Leica, it must be a fearsome material indeed, and I'd love to see how its specs compare to the ones for the VHB tape I posted. I've never encountered a non-curing adhesive (i.e. non epoxy, polyurethane, or cyanoacrylate) with anything close to the strength of this stuff.

As for 3M's VHB adhesive, it makes no difference whether the joint is rubber on metal or metal on metal, and I'm sure that it works better for metal on metal applications than the former. I have a Richard Franiec machined metal grip for my S90 camera which attaches to the metal front of the camera with 3M VHB adhesive (per his instructions), and let me tell you, it is _not_ coming off unintentionally. I've found this stuff ideal for every use I've put it to.

--AP

Hi

I don't know this adhesive but in this case it needs to do more than just stick.

Does it:
Fill gaps?
Is it waterproofing?
Will it allow disassembly at a later date?

Lee

[Alexis Powell]

Originally Posted by Troubador

Does it:
Fill gaps?
Is it waterproofing?
Will it allow disassembly at a later date?

The stuff I have is applied as a film, with peel-away paper on both sides, so it is not designed for filling gaps of irregular depth (as would a liquid-dispensed adhesive), but it does seal the space between parallel planar surfaces. 3M makes other VHB products with an acrylic foam core, which are designed to attach materials with rough or slightly irregular surfaces to one another.

It is designed for exterior applications, is resistant to water and many other solvents, and is specced for use as weather sealing. It may be suitable for some under water uses (see attached PDF, which has more and different details than the PDF I attached previously).

Because it doesn't harden, it allows for disassembly.

--AP

[Swissboy]

Got my repaired binoculars back today. I had only sent them in a week ago. I had let them sit around for a while. The repair was not exactly cheap, though; in the order of 140US$. The new cover was not the problem, but they had to do some adjusting as well.

Anyway, they are like new again.