[raymondjohn]

Dear BFs

I rang opticron in England and asked the them who made opticron scopes?

Answer: cheaper scopes china.... more expensive scopes Japan.

but i didn't ask

Question: Who as in which company makes the scopes in Japan?

I did a google search and got nowhere other than a sniff that they may be connected with Nikon.

Does anyone know?

bestwishes

raymondjohn

[Bill Atwood]

God...please...not more of this China vs Japan garbage???

The cost/benefit ratio of researching what "company" made an optic and where the manufacturing facility is located; in order to evaluate whether or not its any good, is pretty stinkin abysmal.

Reading some reviews, asking friends who have them, and, finally, trying them out for yourself provides much better information.

[raymondjohn]

Dear Bill

Thankyou for your kind reply.

I have read all the reviews I can find. Hence my enquiry.

To the best of my knowledge, nobody I have spoken too in bin stores amongst birders or friends has ever heard of the brand, hence you will understand my caution in exploring their origins as I am in the sorry position of having to buy them untried.

bestwishes

raymondjohn

[Richard D]

Originally Posted by raymondjohn

Dear Bill

Thankyou for your kind reply.

I have read all the reviews I can find. Hence my enquiry.

To the best of my knowledge, nobody I have spoken too in bin stores amongst birders or friends has ever heard of the brand, hence you will understand my caution in exploring their origins as I am in the sorry position of having to buy them untried.

bestwishes

raymondjohn

They might be fairly new to Australia, but they've been around in the UK for sometime. They sell products from entry level to reasonably high. Their products are generally regarded as good value for money. I suspect they source their badged products from more than one optics producer, what input they have in the design of the items I don't know. At the end of the day buying any product without trying it or at least having an opportunity to return for a full refund is risky to say the least - it's not just a question of theoretical optical quality.

Richard

[TonyC]

I have Opticron 10 x 42 WA bins and a Opticron Piccolo scope. Both are very good optically and for my eyes were easily the best in the price ranges. Your best bet is to try somewhere like In Focus and compare a range of brands and go for what suits your eyes and wallet !
Even if it is made in Japan - who's to say the components weren't shipped in from China or vice versa ?

[Pie Face]

My first 'proper' scope was an Opticron Piccolo, shape similar to a Bushnell Spacemaster, Both Kowa and Bushnell eyepieces fitted it and everything about it was supiciously Bushnell like. That was 20 years ago when nobody had heard of Swarovski and neither Leica, Zeiss or Nikon made scopes. The only serious scope manufacturers back then were Optolyth, Bushnell, Kowa Baush and Lomb and Opticron. The dearer stuff is top quality with quality close to the big four and the cheaper stuff as good as a cheap Kowa or Bushnell. I'm a Leica owner these days (for three years now) but have had the following in the last twenty years Kowa TSN4 (eight years), Nikon 60ED (2 years) Optolyth TBG80 (2 years) and Opticron Piccolo (5 years). I think the length of ownership shows my particular fondness for the scope. I still get a bit nostalgic when I think of my Piccolo and how hard I saved my pocket money, and the excitement of travelling to Leeds to buy it and feel a bit guilty for trading it in against the crappy Optolyth that kept breaking and gave a horrible blue cast to everything - sniff sniff sniff sniff
I hope it went to a good home.

Mark

[JoeyB]

I was once told it was Kowa who made Opticron scopes - right or not I don't know.

[raymondjohn]

Thankyou guys for your kind replies which have made me decide to err on the side of caution and forget the proposition.(to risky)

I recently bought a zeiss quick camera adaptor without trying it basically on name and have been less than impressed with the value for money.

PS....while googling for opticron I came upon a site called Snipercentral where I learned how to poison varmits and what good targets humans make all in one forum page. I quess it takes all types?

bestwishes

raymondjohn

[medinabrit]

the opticron mighty midget looks identicle to the geoma 52 which is made by vixen

[Johnny1]

Try www.opticron.co.uk plenty of info here. I own an opticron scope and bino's and have never had any problems with them. They are a very well known brand here in the U.K.

[postcardcv]

I also don't know where they are made, or who might make the for Opticron, but am another satisfied customer. Over the years I have three Opticron scopes and two pairs of their bins, they have all been excellent quality and amazing value - I think the ES80 is one of the best value scopes available.
I've never had any problems with any of their kit, I still own a pair of 8x42HR bins (that stay at home for watching birds in the garden), a pair of 8x32 travellers (v.compact bins that go out with me when I'm not birding) and a Might Midget 2 travel scope. I'd happily recommend Opticron kit to anyone.

[scampo]

Originally Posted by Bill Atwood

God...please...not more of this China vs Japan garbage???

Well, generally speaking and from experience, I'd rather buy a Japanese manufacturer's car, computer, camera, etc., rather than a Chinese manufacturer's.

I would say that the reputation of the selling company, rather than where goods are made, is, generally speaking, not a bad guide to quality. In the case of an importer who sources and badges goods, such as Opticron, that does not really count.

[Adey Baker]

Originally Posted by Deja-vu

...That was 20 years ago when nobody had heard of Swarovski and neither ... Zeiss or Nikon made scopes. The only serious scope manufacturers back then were ... Bushnell, Kowa Baush and Lomb and Opticron...

Mark

Everyone's polite these days - nobody's challenged this in over 24 hours

[scampo]

Originally Posted by Adey Baker

Everyone's polite these days...

You should try teaching for a day, Adey - you'll review your theory of politeness then, I'll wager!

(-;

[Adey Baker]

Originally Posted by scampo

You should try teaching for a day, Adey - you'll review your theory of politeness then, I'll wager!

(-;

Morning, Steve - no thanks, I'd get bored with all those long holidays

[matt green]

greetngs all,i am often suprised why opticron havent chose to pursue a more active sales presence in other countries,maybe they have just in another name!.anyway my 7+42 tga porros beat everything else up to £200 and my ancient piccalo scope although looking more like the armourment from a sherman tank is all i need.soon i'll treat it to a new 22 hdf lense and a smart mono pod.allways best to try before you buy first if you can.

wayoulookenffthembirdsborr [ancient norfolk proverb]

[pduxon]

Originally Posted by scampo

You should try teaching for a day, Adey - you'll review your theory of politeness then, I'll wager!

(-;

but you're all doing such a good job. The kids of today are getting better and better grades so you must be doing a good job. Figures doesn't it.

[keithyed]

just bought the opicron ES 80 ed am very pleased with it.
have had my opticron binos for several years 8x42 very good for field work
why pay alot of money just for a name and get the same results for less.
tested against the top names at the birdfair was very little difference between them all
in the 80mm range

[romancitizen]

Originally Posted by keithyed

just bought the opicron ES 80 ed am very pleased with it.
have had my opticron binos for several years 8x42 very good for field work
why pay alot of money just for a name and get the same results for less.
tested against the top names at the birdfair was very little difference between them all
in the 80mm range

Agreed: at the top ot the range there IS a difference, it comes down to whether you are prepared to pay for that difference. Comparing my wife's £100 Nikon sporters with a pair of £1,000 pound bins shows that the expensive pair are better, but £900 better ? not so sure.

[seawatcher]

Originally Posted by raymondjohn

Dear BFs

I rang opticron in England and asked the them who made opticron scopes?

Answer: cheaper scopes china.... more expensive scopes Japan.

but i didn't ask

Question: Who as in which company makes the scopes in Japan?

I did a google search and got nowhere other than a sniff that they may be connected with Nikon.

Does anyone know?

bestwishes

raymondjohn

Hello raymondjohn,

The answer as to which company makes Opticron scopes in Japan is apparently Kamakura. Kamakura make scopes for other companies too, which look very similair to Opticron but not necessarily the same quality and the same acesories / eyepieces.

SW

[raymondjohn]

Dear Seawatcher

Thankyou for the answer to my question. I googled Kamakura and come across an old review from alula by Kimmo on a number of scopes he evaluated. Interestingly he makes specific mention of the limited fov of the zoom lense but indicates the scopes are not bad value for the money.

The way my eyesight is travelling this is the last thing I need!

Thanks again

raymondjohn

[javva]

Fat Birder site says........


"This Czech optics maker is now trying to break into the international market. ... Welcome to the Opticron on-line Catalogue all about Opticron Binoculars"







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