Steve C
Well-known member
Steve,
I think you can depend on the markings. It will almost certainly say "multi-coated" on the binocular if there are any multi-coated surfaces at all. Of course, there won't be any multi-coating on any of these made before the mid to late 1980's. What you have to worry about in these old binoculars is no coating at all on the interior surfaces. You can be sure if they are marked "coated" that some, probably most, surfaces are uncoated.
Here's what the "Japanese Export Inspection Standard for Prism Binoculars" required the coating marks on binoculars of this vintage to mean, from J.W. Seyfied "Choosing, Using & Repairing Binoculars", p. 147:
"1) In the case of binoculars marked COATED, at least the inside or outside surface of the objective or the inside or outside surface of the eyepiece shall be subjected to anti-reflective treatment. 2) In the case of binoculars marked FULLY COATED, all air-to-glass surfaces of all lenses or prisms shall be subjected to anti-reflective treatment."
Henry
Thanks for the information Henry. I ordered that book too.
I called Bushnell the other day and asked about some things, and on eBay were a probably a 1980's vintage Explorer, and another Banner 7x35 11* binoculars that both looked new. They both should have been, and probably were multi coated, but the excellent pictures did not indicate the fact, or show any serial numbers the tech could use. The Bushnell catalogs said they were Bak-4 and Multi coated. The Bushnell tech got online and looked at the binoculars while we were on the phone. I should have bought one, but both were the "Insta-Focus" rocker arm arrangement which I really don't like all that much, and I had bids on other stuff right then.
But I usually ask the seller what it says about coatings if I am interested and they have unclear pictures. I try to stay with fully coated. So far none I have bid on have indicated multi coated, but do clearly indicate coated or fully coated. The last one I bought shows Bak-4 but I can't see too much more in the picture.