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ED50 Stay On Scope Case (1 Viewer)

pete_gamby

pete_gamby

Birds? What Birds?!
Does anyone think there's a demand for such a product in the US? Our friends at In Focus and Cley Spy both offer a case for the Nikon ED50 in the UK but I've not seen anything similar in the US - unless someone knows different?

Do US birders not generally use stay on cases or is it that the ED50 is treated more like a binocular i.e. packed in a soft case when not in use and assumed to be properly waterproof when in use!

Cheers, Pete
 
Greetings Pete,

I have a Nikon ED50 straight scope (in pearl pink no less!) that I bought for a song used off the Bay to replace my Kowa TS9 to use as my hiking/backpacking scope that I now use mainly as my car window scope with a Swarovski window mount. I have occasionally thought of getting the Cley Spy SOC despite the expense of procuring it from Britain for we Colonials but have refrained from doing so because I see it only offering cosmetic protection at best. The scope is already waterproof and the fabric SOC will not protect the scope from it's tendency to separate along the main seam if dropped/knocked/looked at crossly! It's role in my optics arsenal would still be occupied by the extremely rugged Kowa TS9 that I have had for decades if I did not own the full complement of Nikon eyepieces for the other Nikon scopes that I own and which offer much better eye relief and an assortment of magnifications.

I may yet order the Cley Spy case just because I love the way it looks but if I were the owner of a brand new ED50 I definately would want an SOC of some kind. Since my used scope came with a couple of scuffs I don't feel the same urgency I might feel otherwise. If a hard-shell carbon fiber SOC were to be offered that would solve the ED50's tendency to crack open and save the scope from cosmetic damage as well. If the ED50 didn't come with Nikon's USA warranty it's customers would be rightfully rather upset at it's extreme delicacy. That delicacy makes it unsuitable for such uses as an Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike where all your gear takes a pounding. I'm very happy I held onto that bullet-proof TS9!

Good Birding,

Roger
 
Pete,

If I still had one of my ED 50s then I would certainly be looking for a stay on case. After having owned several non-rubber coated scopes I recognize the benefit of a stay on case. Even if it doesn't really protect the scope from a drop it would protect the exterior from scratches and some minor dings. We baby the optical surfaces do much, it is a shame not to give the body similar treatment.
 
For me, the point of the ED50 is simplicity. Those cases are too fiddly, with their zippers and clasps etc, they add bulk, and they really don't provide rain protection. Mine get a Bushwacker front lens cap which also adds some rubber armor to the objective lens cell, and the rest of the body is wrapped in McNett camoform gun wrap which protects it from scuffs. For transport, the scope slips into an Op/Tech neoprene cover for some extra protection.

--AP
 
DocSarvis said:
Greetings Pete,

I have a Nikon ED50 straight scope (in pearl pink no less!) that I bought for a song used off the Bay to replace my Kowa TS9 to use as my hiking/backpacking scope that I now use mainly as my car window scope with a Swarovski window mount. I have occasionally thought of getting the Cley Spy SOC despite the expense of procuring it from Britain for we Colonials but have refrained from doing so because I see it only offering cosmetic protection at best. The scope is already waterproof and the fabric SOC will not protect the scope from it's tendency to separate along the main seam if dropped/knocked/looked at crossly! It's role in my optics arsenal would still be occupied by the extremely rugged Kowa TS9 that I have had for decades if I did not own the full complement of Nikon eyepieces for the other Nikon scopes that I own and which offer much better eye relief and an assortment of magnifications.

I may yet order the Cley Spy case just because I love the way it looks but if I were the owner of a brand new ED50 I definately would want an SOC of some kind. Since my used scope came with a couple of scuffs I don't feel the same urgency I might feel otherwise. If a hard-shell carbon fiber SOC were to be offered that would solve the ED50's tendency to crack open and save the scope from cosmetic damage as well. If the ED50 didn't come with Nikon's USA warranty it's customers would be rightfully rather upset at it's extreme delicacy. That delicacy makes it unsuitable for such uses as an Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike where all your gear takes a pounding. I'm very happy I held onto that bullet-proof TS9!

Good Birding,

Roger
Click to expand...

Roger,

Thanks for the comments. I am surprised to hear that some have the opinion that the ED50 has a delicate body. I have personally seen this scope fall off of a moving tour bus and survive completely. However, I know that anomalies exist, but I have always discussed this scope as one of the toughest I've ever used. It has traveled out of country with me on 6-8 occasions and survived my hard-handling of it. Have a great day!

All the best,
Mike Freiberg
Nikon Birding Market Specialist
 
mikefreiberg said:
Roger,

Thanks for the comments. I am surprised to hear that some have the opinion that the ED50 has a delicate body. I have personally seen this scope fall off of a moving tour bus and survive completely. However, I know that anomalies exist, but I have always discussed this scope as one of the toughest I've ever used. It has traveled out of country with me on 6-8 occasions and survived my hard-handling of it. Have a great day!

All the best,
Mike Freiberg
Nikon Birding Market Specialist
Click to expand...

Mine has been through some jostling (and been dropped while in its case) with no ill effects, but I have seen photos here on Birdforum of several that have split in half along the main seam. IIRC all were dropped or struck, but not with enough force to cause other visible damage. It would be interesting to see their serial numbers; maybe there was a bad batch of glue? I imagine there are limitations to the robustness of a plastic casing, though. It's still a fine product and I'd recommend it to anyone, but I find myself treating it more gingerly than my more robust-seeming binoculars.
 
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