MKinHK
Mike Kilburn
Just about to send my APO 77 back to replace the thread which was stripped out for the second time in 5 years (both times when I was leading a tour in China! Since the mountains of China are a little short of optical technicians, replacing the thread is not really an option in the field! Imagine how unimpressed my clients would have been if they had no scope of their own?
Having read about thread stripping/replacement elsewhere in this forum I was interested to learn about the specialist quick release plate which stopped the scope twisting - such things have never made it to Hong Kong. Do they still exist?
I have seen that the new Swarovski 80mm offering disappears the problem by fitting straight onto the Manfrotto 128 head. After the first thread-stripping which resulted into a fall onto concrete I hoped for input from Leica on how to avod such problems in the future - nothing!
This time I have been told to write direct to Leica if I want an answer and will post results on this forum.
Also, the zoom lens has always unscrewed itself when I zoom out - does this happen to others of you? This finally resulted in more impact-related damage when it twisted out and fell, although my scope would have remained usable (and optically fine) if the thread had not been ripped outsoon afterwards!
Tempted to rule Leica out as a scope to rely on for prolonged trips. Am I justified?
If so it would be a real shame when the optics remain superb, and are a joy to use!
I'd appreciate any insights or advice.
Mike
Having read about thread stripping/replacement elsewhere in this forum I was interested to learn about the specialist quick release plate which stopped the scope twisting - such things have never made it to Hong Kong. Do they still exist?
I have seen that the new Swarovski 80mm offering disappears the problem by fitting straight onto the Manfrotto 128 head. After the first thread-stripping which resulted into a fall onto concrete I hoped for input from Leica on how to avod such problems in the future - nothing!
This time I have been told to write direct to Leica if I want an answer and will post results on this forum.
Also, the zoom lens has always unscrewed itself when I zoom out - does this happen to others of you? This finally resulted in more impact-related damage when it twisted out and fell, although my scope would have remained usable (and optically fine) if the thread had not been ripped outsoon afterwards!
Tempted to rule Leica out as a scope to rely on for prolonged trips. Am I justified?
If so it would be a real shame when the optics remain superb, and are a joy to use!
I'd appreciate any insights or advice.
Mike
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