[jaymoynihan]

hello,
I am totally unfamilar with Opticron binos & scopes.
Which lines are their top quality one?
Where are they manufactured?
Where are the optics made?
Re the top of the line models, which Asian/German brands/models would you say the quality is comparable to?

Thank you

jay

[pete_gamby]

Jay - I can answer some of this but not all:

In 8x42/10x42 configuration the Aurora BGA is the top model in our range followed by the DBA Oasis, Imagic BGA SE, Verano HD, HR WP, Countryman BGA, Traveller, Imagic TGA, Discovery WP, Trailfinder 3 and Oregon

In compacts, the DBA Oasis is at the top followed by the BGA T PC, Verano, Aspheric LE, HR WP, Taiga, Imia, Savanna 54, Trailfinder 3, Adventurer and Vega.

In scopes, the top of the line is the HR series (HR 80 and HR 66) followed by ES 80 and ES 100, GS 665 and GS 52, IS 60 ED, IS 60, MM2 52 ED and MM2 52.

In eyepieces the SDL v2 is our best and is tuned optically to match the HR scopes. Best selling and one step down from SDL are the HDF range followed by HR and then IS.

Our products are manufactured in either China or Japan. In binos, more or less everything over $250 retail is Japan made i.e. Discovery, Trailfinder and Oregon are China-made, all others are Japan-made. The scopes are all Japan made except for the IS models which are Japan-designed, China made.

The optical systems typically all come from either Japanese factories or are designed by our Japanese optical engineering partners and made in China.

I can't really comment objectively on your last question so will leave others to pass judgement :-)

Cheers, Pete

[FrankD]

Pete,

Are there any US retailers that carry the Opticron line?

[Chris Galvin]

FrankD,

We are attending a number of Birding Festivals around the US and the next one will be the Midwest Birding Symposium 15-18th Sept, Pete and I will be on site for the weekend. Pete has visited a number of US retailers. I'll leave it to him to say which retailers he has visited and who will be stocking in the very near future.

Chris Galvin
Opticron

[pete_gamby]

FrankD - we are still working out terms etc with the guys that we've been speaking to so at present none have stock but I'm happy to supply any that want to order :-)

The list is very short today as we are really in the very early stages of setting everything up and our plan is to work with a very small number of specialist retailers.

The following are those that have expressed some interest in continuing discussions with us - hope none of them will be offended at the mentions - Optics4Birding, One Good Tern, Fat Robin, Cape May Bird Obs, The Audubon Shop.

Only a few but then we've only visited San Diego and Cape May so far. Hope to have more news in the coming weeks.

Cheers, Pete

[FrankD]

Pete, Chris,

Sorry for not getting back to your responses. That is great news. I will be attending the MBS and look forward to meeting you both.

[jaymoynihan]

Thanks for the input folks

[Chris Galvin]

FrankD,

Be sure to come on over to our booth and introduce yourself.

I am also going to to be leading folks on walks around the Marblehead Lighthouse so the MBS participants can field test a number of Opticron binoculars.

Look forward to meeting you Frank

Chris Galvin
Opticron