https://www.dpreview.com/news/53680...ineering-departments-from-across-the-business
On the camera front the comments have mostly been about Nikon's financial issues lately, but I'm wondering if this move to centralization will help with their optics quality, especially with respect to binoculars. I feel their mid-range stuff has been just OK lately and maybe this will move them up the ladder a bit.
Much has been written in this thread about Nikon quality and, I think, a good bit about their financial strength. I am not nearly as concerned about them centralizing ANYTHING as I am with them stopping the “shuck and jive,” documenting problems that don’t exist, and getting people on the bench who know how to fix the problems that do.
Because of that, I thought I might share a letter I prepared just this morning. The president of the local Audubon Society recommended to a fellow that I have a look at his wife’s binocular. Two or three months ago, I did so. After two unproductive trips to So Cal the bino was again brought to me to check. The letter below is the result.
Bill
*****
170407
Mr. Ruprecht:
Although my birding binocular is a Nikon (8x32 SE), its predecessor was a Nikon (EII), my astronomy binocular is a Nikon (Prostar), and for many years I got excellent and prompt repair service from the company, things began to fall apart for me during the time a certain person—who shall remain nameless—was in charge of west coast binocular repairs. At that time, I was plunged into the world of denial, name-calling, innuendo, and a lack in the ability to perform basic repairs and sometimes failure to even recognize the problem. I would suggest you contact the New York location to see if you might have the work done on the east coast. That, however, MIGHT not buy you much. Some people in Seattle would send their binos back to Wayne, New Jersey to be repaired only to have Fujinon send them to Baker Marine in San Diego.
I know Cory Suddarth of Suddarth Optical Repair in Henryetta, Oklahoma could do the job in his sleep. He worked with me as a Navy Opticalman and for me in the Precision Instruments & Optics department at Captain’s Nautical Supplies in Seattle.
Having sent your Monarch to Los Angeles, twice, I doubt you will get the service you need from them. According to the repair invoice you showed me, they performed various tasks on your instrument including collimation. However, your binocular didn’t NEED most of them, including collimation. Your problem was and IS that the throw on the right telescope is short of coming to a focus by at least 1 or 2 diopters for an emmetropic observer. This indicates the right objective needs to be recessed or (more likely) that the internal focus mechanism on the right side has slipped. This is something that would have jumped out for a 20-year old technician with 2 months at the bench—the first time it was sent back! That told me a great deal about their concern and capabilities. And telling you that you need to “BUY” another new binocular, when the one you have is pristine is considerably more than ludicrous.
“... Bill is not out to protect brands and factories when they continually mislead consumers about their products. Instead, he tells it like it is — straight and honest — even when manufacturers get upset when they hear the truth...”— Alan Hale, co-founder and former president of Celestron
Enjoy your European vacation. If you lose or damage the bino I lent you ... oh, well. Be of good cheer; I’ve got to get rid of several, anyway. :cat:
Bill
William J. Cook, Chief Opticalman, USN Ret.
) but because they are there or thereabouts.
