Repair or New? B&L Elite (30 years old) (1 Viewer)

[HootiB]

Hello,

i am new to the forum, and hope that this message is in keeping with proper etiquette.

I have a pair of Bausch and Lomb Elite 10x from the early 1990s. They need some work - at the least, an eye cup is torn, the lenses are filthy. However,i also worry that they are out of alignment. (They were once, after i took a header on some rocks, and i took them to Redlich when still in Virginia). If they are just dirty, great, that's easy to fix for a pair i really like. But if they need more, i wonder about the benefits of repair vs. buying new. I haven't shopped for optics since buying these, so i don't know what's happend with the market. Did binoculars of this level get cheaper, so i can get something better for a reasonable price, as has happened with TVs, for instance? Or has the price just gone up, and i'm better off getting these fixed if necessary and reasonable? THanks for any advice.

 

[KC Foggin]

Let's see what others say but I think it's time to treat yourself to a new pair of Bins

Hi there and a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum
We're glad you found us and please join in wherever you like

 

[PYRTLE]

They can be recollimated and serviced if there are....
1. Any specialist repairers left out there in our modern throwaway society.
2. Spares available, eg the rubber eyecups.
It's a shame because , for me, I thought they were as good as the Leica Trinovid BA at the time and easily fell into the "alpha" category, especially your side of The Pond.

The world of sports optics has changed somewhat since then, $2,500 US plus for a modern equivalent and improvement in some ways - mainly a wider field of view, and better ergonomics.
It is the middle tier where there is the most change (imo) with some good models coming out in the $700 US plus range, moreso if manufactured in Japan. ... not that many to be frank.

Really, a question of your budget - bearing in mind you've had use of your binoculars for 30 years and splashed out then. You may though consider something used, such as a Swarovski EL, Zeiss FL or Leica Ultravid HD.

Hope this helps. Cheers

 

[PYRTLE]

Did binoculars of this level get cheaper, so i can get something better for a reasonable price, as has happened with TVs, for instance?

Afraid not,

 

[jring]

Hi,

first of all, welcome to birdforum!

Regarding the bins, the first order of business would be to identify the version of Elites... there were quite a few. Some very old ones might not be phase coated which is a no-no since the 1990s... If yours are pre phase coating, an upgrade will probably bring a benefit. This old thread has a lot of good information or just post images of your bins...

Early Elite's

James, I think we can, with reasonable certainty. As the Browning, being a 99% copy of the B&L 7x35 Classic, has an Uppendahl prism cluster, the 7x35 Classic will have one too. With respect to its twin brother, the 8x42 1st gen. Elite, I would be greatly surprised if B&L would have chosen for a...

www.birdforum.net

Joachim

 

[wllmspd]

Suddarth Optical Repair - Binocular Repair & Binocular Repair Near Me & Binocular Collimation Service & Binocular Cleaning & Binocular Restoration & Fix Double Vision Suddarth Optical Repair gets plenty of good words if you live in the US. If you like to e views then just fix them up. Lots of modern options, but could get costly.

Peter

 

[Foss]

Another thought:
A basic service might run $150-200 including postage. (It might cost more, or less, but probably not half or double).
So one exercise I'd engage in before deciding would be to see what I could buy if I instead applied the repair dollars to a new set, and matched that figure.
Is there a new set of binoculars in the $300 to $400 price range that would outperform a freshened up pair of Elites?

 

[dries1]

Here is one of many available. There are others (more mid range priced glass used) in that price bracket. Parts for the Elite are likely non existent at present (if needed).

Noblex | Docter Optics Vector 8 x 42, Black Roof Prism Binocular 50582 | eBay

 

[HootiB]

thank you to everyone for the responses. It definitely gives me something to think about.

 

[HootiB]

Is there a new set of binoculars in the $300 to $400 price range that would outperform a freshened up pair of Elites?

yeah, that's the issue in a nutshell...

 

[HootiB]

Hi,

first of all, welcome to birdforum!

Regarding the bins, the first order of business would be to identify the version of Elites... there were quite a few. Some very old ones might not be phase coated which is a no-no since the 1990s... If yours are pre phase coating, an upgrade will probably bring a benefit. This old thread has a lot of good information or just post images of your bins...

Early Elite's

James, I think we can, with reasonable certainty. As the Browning, being a 99% copy of the B&L 7x35 Classic, has an Uppendahl prism cluster, the 7x35 Classic will have one too. With respect to its twin brother, the 8x42 1st gen. Elite, I would be greatly surprised if B&L would have chosen for a...

www.birdforum.net

Joachim

thanks - mine are model number 61-1042P, so if i follow correctly, they are phase coated.

 

[Binastro]

Hi HB,

I have the same binocular and use it a lot.

If the repair by a top binocular technician costs less than $200, personally I'd have it done.

If much more than this, maybe not.

Regards,
B.

 

[PanamaRic]

I got the same dilemma, I got a pair of compact B&L Elites, the compact reverse porros 10X 28s. Y used them for spotting birds before training my Nikon Scope on them. The are fine looking and built like tanks, only one eyecup has cracked in 20 years. Colimation is OK. They look almost new on the outside. But the exit lenses had become dull and dirty, (they never had bright images, but they used to have crisp ones,, now they have a slight mist).
My dilemma is, Shall I sell them as they are? Shall I send them to Bushnell for cleaning them up? Since they are Porros they might nof have Nitrogen )gas behind the prism to a local techinician can clean that up?

 

[Rg548]

Opticron do some awesome stuff, and in my view, are probably one of the best 'bang for your buck' optical companies.
Their new top of the range Aurora may be a bit too much for you, but the DBA VHD+, which used to be their top model have been discounted recently.
They are unbelievably good at the price..... easily the best I looked at in that price band.
Great bins, well worth a look.