I have now recieved my new SLC 8x42. Nice little thing! I'm a bit disappointed with the focusing though. It's not as smooth as I want it to be..reminds me about the SLC HD actually. But stiffer! Maybe it's because the bino is new and it will get better/smoother with time. The one I tried on Falsterbo Bird Show in august/september had a smoother focusing. The focus wheel go from 10,5 f to infinity in 1 1/4 turn!!
Kingfisher,
You have demonstrated above what I have been hammering on for quite some time, and getting hammered on back by those who deny the problem out of blind loyalty.
As you pointed out, some Swaro focusers are smooth or at least smooth
er right out of the box, so there's really no "break-in" period required. Some take two fingers to turn. Others turn smoothly, but only in one direction.
There's been much discussion about this issue, with the one-way spring as the possible "culprit," and posts about buyers sending their samples back for focuser repairs, some with happy results, some not.
This is the Achilles Heel of Swaro's otherwise fine instruments, but despite report after report about this issue on bin forums, and despite the introduction of the new SLC with a redesigned focuser, the same problems persist. I guess even after gaining some market share from birders, Swaro still has many more hunter customers, who don't care about the stiff focusers since the are "looking long" and don't have to do a lot of focusing. So it's cheaper for Swaro to do a "fix" on a focuser after a birder sends his sample in for repairs than it is to do a complete redesign that most of its customers won't even notice. That's what I've concluded.
Hopefully, your sample's focuser will get smooth as you want, but if it not, send it back and ask for one with a smoother focuser.
Meanwhile, enjoy the view!
Brock