Zeiss SFL 8x40 Rubber Coating becomes Bubbled (1 Viewer)

[Aquaplas]

On my SFL 8x40, the inside of the pipes turns the rubber coating into blows. The Bino is now exactly one year old and not needed much or hard. Can another SFL user report the same thing?

The blows don't bother me. I hope they don't grow on the edges where the coating pulls off at the end.

 

[paddyluke]

for what they cost it would bother me especially if only 1yr old

 

[Aquaplas]

for what they cost it would bother me especially if only 1yr old

And look at the rest of the Bino. Is brand new. I keep Care on all my Instruments.

 

[paddyluke]

And look at the rest of the Bino. Is brand new. I keep Care on all my Instruments.

you've paid good money for a premium product, i could never afford that sort of money but all the binos i've had have never had a problem with the armor,most of my binos have been Opticrons etc,

 

[Ratal]

Lordy. Looks like you got a defective unit. That would **** me off royally if they were mine. They would certainly be going back for re-armouring

 

[GrampaTom]

Oh no, Now Zeiss!

 

[Aquaplas]

Oh no, Now Zeiss!

Only on my SFL. My SF 8x42 (black version) is still perfect. And much more used.

 

[Conndomat]

Oh no, Now Zeiss!

armor pandemic...

Andreas

 

[Canip]

Zeiss has been marketing the SFL as lightweight. Since every object in water is subject to buoyancy and in air is subject to lift, the amount of which depends on its volume, your SFL with its tubes increased in size should now be even lighter. Can you verify with your precision scale?
😉

 

[claves_10]

I think that we are going out of proportion with the armour issues.
Good one Conndomat post #8, good one indeed.

 

[GrampaTom]

Ya think?

 

[Paultricounty]

armor pandemic...

Andreas

It definitely didn’t come from the Wuhan lab, probably started in a wet market somewhere. Then affected some rubber plant, then the rubber plant was exported.

 

[Paultricounty]

Dude, send those back to Zeiss!

 

[Swissboy]

Dude, send those back to Zeiss!

Definitely, it's a scary beginning! I had a somewhat similar thing happening on my first FL, many years ago. And I also thought that the "padding" did not bother me. It also stayed that way for quite some time. But then things got worse, and Zeiss had to redo that cover. I have not had any more issues with that FL, and neither have my other FLs got such bubbles. So I think it had really just been a singe issue.
Regarding the SFLs, I hope that is also just a single case.

 

[Blincodave]

I had an early copy of the 8x40 SFL. A really sharp binocular but the focus was very stiff and did not improve and the rubber armouring began to lift very slightly close to both eyepieces. Zeiss exchanged them for a new pair without any fuss. The focus on the replacement pair was delightfully smooth, the armour beyond reproach but, to my eye, they were not as sharp as the first pair unfortunately.

 

[Swissboy]

.................................... but, to my eye, they were not as sharp as the first pair unfortunately.

That is exactly the reason why I don't send in mine. I'd been told, Zeiss could soften the focus, but I'm not sure whether I would not suddenly get another model.

 

[Aquaplas]

That is exactly the reason why I don't send in mine. I'd been told, Zeiss could soften the focus, but I'm not sure whether I would not suddenly get another model.

I called Zeiss, and they says me, they can’t promise me that I get no other Bino. Think they change it.
As I have bought the Bino a Year ago, I looked trough 2 SFL 8x40. I bought mine, because the optical Quality (sharpness) was better on this than on the other one. So, no I‘am afraid that I get a bad Version when they change it. Send in or not?!? Hmm don’t know what I should do.

 

[Ignatius]

It's just the bino shaping to your hands much like those memory foam mattresses.

On a serious note: that is worrying, especially in view of Zeiss' evasive answer. Mine has not done that (yet) but I am now rather more leery of trading my Habicht 8x30 in for a SFL 8x30.

 

[Aquaplas]

I think this is a problem of the material themselve, because I can see this on the eyecups that on the points where there is contact with the skin, the material blows up. The eyecups are not the problem, because I can change them easy and for free, but the rubber coating on the Bino is a problem. And when this is a problem with the material and not the glue, than the question is. Sent in, become a new one, ant what’s with this in one year or so. Comes the problem back? Because of this thing for me it is interesting iam the only one with this problem, or there are other Binos out where the coating fails?!? The SFL is a young Bino, and most people who have it purchased hav not so much use on them I think. Iam be interested what we will see in the future.

 

[Paultricounty]

I called Zeiss, and they says me, they can’t promise me that I get no other Bino. Think they change it.
As I have bought the Bino a Year ago, I looked trough 2 SFL 8x40. I bought mine, because the optical Quality (sharpness) was better on this than on the other one. So, no I‘am afraid that I get a bad Version when they change it. Send in or not?!? Hmm don’t know what I should do.

Think about that, $1800 binoculars, and in the store in minutes one can tell the difference in the optics from just a sample of two. Not to mention the customer is worried if he gets it replaced he’s worried it will be a bad one.

What I’ve done multiple times when sending in optics for repairs is to give or make clear instruction, first with the person on the phone to put in comments in the return system, then in writing and then again after they receive the optics , I contact them and go over it again. My instruction is that if they are going to be replaced that some one tests out the replacement that it should be equal too or better than the one being replaced. I usually have three criteria I ask to be checked. I’ve been able to do this with Zeiss, Kowa, and Leica when the binos we’re being replaced.

You could wait and see if they repair them you have no issues, or you can confirm the replacement is satisfactory and if not send it back. At these prices I take prisoners, if you get my drift.

Good luck

Paul