Why can't Swarovski get a little thing right? NL Objective cover issues. (1 Viewer)

[BabyDov]

While I love my NL 8 x 42 binocular, I am a bit frustrated with the objective covers. I have owned my pair for two months and in that two months, I have had to replace objective covers three times, because they spontaneously tear away. It's strange that they tear close to the bezel surrounding the objectives, and not in the middle of the hinge (I have a habit of laying my binoculars down with objective covers open, on the bottom side in a horizontal position. So perhaps, the weight of the barrels on the cover attachment is causing the tear, but that still shouldn't happen. ) While Swarovski service is happy to replace them, they can provide no clues as to what is going on or what I may doing wrong, if anything. The service representative that I called today advised me that he had the same problem repeatedly with his NL's and recommended that I just use the blanks in place of the objective covers. He said the torn covers will fit with the blanks in place. I don't see that as a viable answer for a top of the line product or calling every few weeks for replacement covers.
Certainly, I can't be the only one on this forum with this problem. Any advice will be welcome. I am very frustrated.

 

[Gijs van Ginkel]

BabyDov, post 1,
Personally I removed the objective covers immediately after receiving the NL, since they do not serve any purpose for me. I do that for every binocular I use, since for me they do not serve any purpose.
Gijs van Ginkel

 

[BabyDov]

Thank uou for responding. Certainly, removing the covers is an option, but isn't the answer if you believe the covers serve as some sort of protection against dust, dirt, scratches on delicate glass. My pont is, if you are provided protective covers for an expensive product, they should be reliable if you choose to use them. Unless I am the exception, or perhaps unknowingly abusing them, Swarovski needs to recognize there is a more pervasive problem with these covers and fix them.

 

[pbjosh]

I don't use mine either, but dislike the attachment system and the little rubber blanks you have to put in. I haven't lost any yet but have now seen 2 pairs of NLs in use in the field with the blanks missing.

I also dislike the ocular covers - they are so tight fitting that they pull up the eye cups most of the times that I take them off. I just birded spring migration fallout in the rain for 3,5 days. I used the ocular covers non-stop, and would guess that I had to re-lower the eye cups 30-40x per day.

The optics are the finest there are, I would say, barely edging out the Zeiss SF. But the field pro system and the ocular and objective covers are all over engineered and non work as well nor as simply as on any other modern mid to high end binocular. Thus far I enjoy using the SF a lot more, despite the excellent view of the NL.

 

[Gijs van Ginkel]

pjosh, post 4,
I fully agree with your comment on the eyepiece/ocular covers. Therefore I decided to look for other ones (since we have many many binoculars investigated in the course of the years we keep quite a lot of accesories, there is always one that fits better and that was also the case for the NL pure. I do not even know the brand of the cover, but it fits nicely, is not tight, a joy to use. I agree that Swarovski could have done a better/more convenient solution here, we have placed the NL cover in our museum of "not usable products".
Gijs van Ginkel

 

[BabyDov]

The optics are the finest there are, I would say, barely edging out the Zeiss SF. But the field pro system and the ocular and objective covers are all over engineered and non work as well nor as simply as on any other modern mid to high end binocular. Thus far I enjoy using the SF a lot more, despite the excellent view of the NL.

I would agree that it's hard to imagine better optics, or ergonomics, along with smooth focusing, which should make using the NL's a pleasure to use. But it is the little things, like worrying about objective covers that you might lose because they spontaneously tear away, or ocular covers that are too tight, that take some joy away from using a great set of optics in the field. While Swarovski has almost all of it right with the NL's, details do matter.

 

[henry link]

Two friends of mine who bought 8x42 NLs in December and January have also had all four of their objective covers rip off at the connection points. I don't use the covers, but I posted earlier about my covers having a beefier attachment connector than their's. Turns out mine were actually made for the 42mm EL SVs. I expect the EL SV covers like mine are more resistant to tearing, but at the cost of intruding a little into the exit pupil and making glare slightly worse.

 

[BabyDov]

Two friends of mine who bought 8x42 NLs in December and January have also had all four of their objective covers rip off at the connection points. I don't use the covers, but I posted earlier about my covers having a beefier attachment connector than their's. Turns out mine were actually made for the 42mm EL SVs. I expect the EL SV covers like mine are more resistant to tearing, but at the cost of intruding a little into the exit pupil and making glare slightly worse.

When I spoke to the service representative yesterday, I asked him if people with the 42EL were having the same problem with their objective covers, and he said that strangely, there weren't. I asked if the covers were different and he said that they were interchangeable and they were the same. Apparently they are not. Since I haven't had any glare issues, perhaps I should ask they send me some 42EL covers. Perhaps, if necessary, and I do get glare, I can use a file to thin down the inside of the cover's attachment point, so it won't intrude on the objective. It seems to be tearing on the outside, where hopefully the beefier El cover attachment won't. At, least it might be worth a try.

 

[henry link]

Here's a link to page 2 of the thread where this was discussed, with photos, part numbers, etc.

NL Pure objective covers

Being surprised by the mentioning of new objective covers for the Pures I asked Swarovski if they could shed some light on this issue. No knowledge anywhere of the existence of such an article. Jan

www.birdforum.net

 

[John A Roberts]

Perhaps a workaround is the way to go:
Just eliminate the problem - and the aggravation - by going to low tech/ old school covers with slip-on attachments!
e.g. as was Swarovski's long used pre-FieldPro standard.

Opticron currently offers three choices for x42’s (M, L and XL) at: https://www.opticron.co.uk/our-products/accessories/rubber-objective-lens-covers
There are also many other cheaper no-brand versions out there. And users may already have what they need from another binocular.
Though leaving any covers permanently attached might risk the black ring staining the green RA, as was a problem on the green skinned Zeiss FL's.


John

 

[Aquaplas]

Cant understand this problems. On my NL 8x42 Pure, the Objektive Covers are so tight that when i like to remove them and use without i have to pull so heavy that iam affraid i damage the Glass. Cant understand why they can get loosen...
The Occular Covers on My NL was when its new so thight that i thought they are to small for this Bino. But now, after 3 Months of daily use they works so smooth on and off with a save seat.
The same is with the Field Pro Release System. When the Binos were new it was hard to change between the String and the Harness. Now, after i think 20 Changes it works vewy smooth in 1 minute.

 

[SebRoques]

While I love my NL 8 x 42 binocular, I am a bit frustrated with the objective covers. I have owned my pair for two months and in that two months, I have had to replace objective covers three times, because they spontaneously tear away. It's strange that they tear close to the bezel surrounding the objectives, and not in the middle of the hinge (I have a habit of laying my binoculars down with objective covers open, on the bottom side in a horizontal position. So perhaps, the weight of the barrels on the cover attachment is causing the tear, but that still shouldn't happen. ) While Swarovski service is happy to replace them, they can provide no clues as to what is going on or what I may doing wrong, if anything. The service representative that I called today advised me that he had the same problem repeatedly with his NL's and recommended that I just use the blanks in place of the objective covers. He said the torn covers will fit with the blanks in place. I don't see that as a viable answer for a top of the line product or calling every few weeks for replacement covers.
Certainly, I can't be the only one on this forum with this problem. Any advice will be welcome. I am very frustrated.

Don't worry, It is not just Swarovski. Same with Leica noctivid. Had to replace it 2 times for the same reason.

 

[SUPPRESSOR]

Oh! How I love reading these tales of woe about these inferior makes. My Zeiss fls are 14, years old used everyday, armour still perfect, no brassing,rainguard still like new AND the objective covers still perfect after 14, years of use and the view through them ,perfect.!!
Pete.

 

[hyberboreus]

I have had NL pure about six months now, I felt also that the objective covers are too tight. If you look inside the lens covers, you can see six knobs: those are the ones which make the covers too tight. I sanded those knobs away using a multitool Dremel 3000, after that the lens covers are perfect! Now they are tight enough but not too tight.

 

[CharleyBird]

I have had NL pure about six months now, I felt also that the objective covers are too tight. If you look inside the lens covers, you can see six knobs: those are the ones which make the covers too tight. I sanded those knobs away using a multitool Dremel 3000, after that the lens covers are perfect! Now they are tight enough but not too tight.

Sage advice for all who ask about buying an NL, electric-sander accessory also needed

 

[pbjosh]

I have considered using a dremel type tool or craft knife to remove the ridges inside the ocular covers on my NLs... I'm a month or so in and they are still so tight that they pull up the eyecups every time I remove them. I will give it another month or two, as there are a few reports that they do break in / loosen up.

I've never had an issue with any ocular covers or strap lugs with my Zeiss or Nikon bins...

 

[PYRTLE]

I have considered using a dremel type tool or craft knife to remove the ridges inside the ocular covers on my NLs... I'm a month or so in and they are still so tight that they pull up the eyecups every time I remove them. I will give it another month or two, as there are a few reports that they do break in / loosen up.

I've never had an issue with any ocular covers or strap lugs with my Zeiss or Nikon bins...

Do you mean the ocular rainguard rather than the front objective covers? If so, then it seems that both these accessories have been over engineered so as not to be loose.... perhaps a step too far given the frequency and amount of complaints.

 

[pbjosh]

Do you mean the ocular rainguard rather than the front objective covers? If so, then it seems that both these accessories have been over engineered so as not to be loose.... perhaps a step too far given the frequency and amount of complaints.

Yes, the ocular rainguard. As mentioned, I've read a couple commentaries that they "break in" so I've not done anything yet. But it's pretty silly to have what I'm sure Swarovski hops is regarded as the best binocular on the market and every time you take the rainguard off, it pulls the eye cups out.

 

[hyberboreus]

I have considered using a dremel type tool or craft knife to remove the ridges inside the ocular covers on my NLs... I'm a month or so in and they are still so tight that they pull up the eyecups every time I remove them. I will give it another month or two, as there are a few reports that they do break in / loosen up.

I've never had an issue with any ocular covers or strap lugs with my Zeiss or Nikon bins...

I removed first two ridges --> no help, still the the eye cups were pulled up. Then I removed two more, waited couple of months if it would settle / loosen up, but no help still. Then I removed them all, now it seems to work so as expected.

 

[CharleyBird]

hyberboreus, this is useful information, especially that you waited months and removed them in stages. I may well do the same as mine are also irritatingly tight, probably using a scalpel.

Andy