Reaching the end of my tether .... Swaro NLs (1 Viewer)

[John Cantelo]

Whilst I've always used a rainguard with my binoculars until getting a pair of NLs I've never used objective covers. To be honest, I largely did so with the NLs because having fitted the tethered caps on my binoculars I struggled to get them off. However, although the NLs have well-recessed objectives, I found I liked the additional protection the caps offered when the instruments were not in use (I rarely use a case). Except when viewing sharply downwards from a clifftop, say, they rarely got in the way. Admittedly, at times their gyrating (even in light winds) was mildly annoying but again nothing I couldn't live with. However, last week I noticed that both of the tethers were badly frayed and yesterday one became entirely adrift - this after about 8 months of regular (sometimes daily) use. I assume that the constant buffeting by the wind caused the fraying and that tether thickness is inadequate. Naturally, when I contacted Swarovski they came back to me very quickly and are sending replacements. However, the robustness of the tethers is disappointing and I'm surprised that Swarovski, who are so meticulous about details, haven't devised a means to avoid objective covers flapping (I seem to recall one manufacturer having tethered caps you could fold back &clip onto the barrels).

I must add that this is a very minor problem and the instruments continue to impress.

 

[Maljunulo]

I personally think tethered objective caps are an abomination, and I never put the silly rubber band part of the caps on my EL-SV around the barrels.

One no longer has that option, which I think is a big mistake on the part of Swarovski, but they did not ask for my views.

 

[BabyDov]

I have had the same issue with my Nl objective covers. I also seldom use a case. After having 3 sets of objective covers tear away in 6 weeks, I may have discovered why. Since replacing my last set a month ago, I have been careful never to leave my Nl resting horizontally on the hinges of the objective covers. In the past, I noticed that the covers seemed torn only when being picked up after being left horizontal on a table for a period of time. Perhaps, the weight of the binocular when horizontal on the hinge, causes the hinge to tear against the wire to which it is attached. Now, I am only leaving my binoculars in a vertical position, resting directly on the closed covers and not on the hinge. The hinges, so far, look perfect and have yet to replace another cover. Time will tell if this observation proves true.

 

[GrampaTom]

See my earlier rant on TQM. Often enough, new products need a bit of tweaking to work out small details. Companies get the big stuff, the stuff of the design goals for the new and improved model, pretty much right on day 1, while the folks working on the more mundane details, don't get so much attention, and miss. Good brands, often release a product for marketing reasons, think Els vs SF32 last year. (That had to hurt for Zeiss). But in that haste, things like objective lens covers, that're slightly redesigned from EL to NL don't come out just right.... on day 1. Swaro seems not to have this hinge problem with the ELs, but they've been around and have been thoroughly debugged. The cool thing, the hopeful thing, is with thinking companies, early feedback is heard and things get fixed. Nobody would want to launch a $3000. binocular with superb optics only to have the model fail in the market, for breaking objective cover tethers! In fact if memory serves was it John Roberts who already noted a change in this? Anyway, my prediction... Swaro already knows. And if they don't, we do them a service by reporting here. If they dont know about it they cant fix it

 

[PYRTLE]

What is TQM please?

 

[GrampaTom]

Pat
Ach, sorry. From here:

Swarovski EL W B 8x32 - Flare​

#24 may also be of interest.

TQM = Total Quality Management. This was a named manufacturing scheme from the 1980s or so. It was a system rooted in statistical process control, that underlies, made possible, things like the so-called Toyota System or "Just in Time", manufacturing. Essentially stuff made right the first time through, is the most cost efficient way there is. And when you mess up, as you surely will, with complex products, you need the data to discover the problem and get it fixed, to stop the cost bleed. Allowing bad details, like these tethers, to hang around is costly do to rework costs and loss of sales do to tarnished reputation via complaints like these.

Im long retired. I call it named system from '80s as I no longer know with most mfg offshore, if anyone uses the terminology. But that the principles prevail with companies who lead, seems clear.

 

[PYRTLE]

Thank you GT. Everything else in your post was fully written and easy to follow. Perhaps I'm watching too much Euro 2020 football.

 

[wllmspd]

I have an recently purchased optical device with a tethered objective cap and the manufacturer cleverly added a little metal plate inside and a magnet nearby so when not in place the cap is held in an inoffensive position. So shouldn’t get lost or get in the way.

Peter

 

[pm42]

Now, I am only leaving my binoculars in a vertical position, resting directly on the closed covers and not on the hinge. The hinges, so far, look perfect and have yet to replace another cover. Time will tell if this observation proves true.

Let us know. My 8x42 are ok but the hinges are damaged on my more recent 8x32 and I store them both vertically.

 

[BabyDov]

Let us know. My 8x42 are ok but the hinges are damaged on my more recent 8x32 and I store them both vertically.

Be sure the covers are closed, even when the binoculars are resting on a hard surface in a vertical position. In any event, these attachments are too fragile. We shouldn't have to baby them. I hope Swarovski improves them.