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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Vespobuteo" data-source="post: 3426250" data-attributes="member: 120830">For me build quality and durability is not the same thing.Durability is hard to judge from just looking briefly at a pair of bins.You need to do drop tests and sink them in water etc. like allbinos did.And who would have thought that those fine Leicas couldn't keep the water out?Even more relevant would be using them in harsh conditions for many years.And I'm sure the durability of the SLC:s are as good as any.There are anecdotes about bad focusers from all alphas i suppose.One guy returned a pair of SLC:s due to a squeaky focuser I recall.Even put a sound recording up here on bird forum on it.Build quality is perhaps not that clearly defined, and the definition varies over countries and product type. To me it includes the choice of external materials,hinges, eye cups, focuser feel and positioning, weight, the feel in the hands of the bins, balance. But to some extent also the visual impression, color, proportions and the general industrial design work. Is the design well thought out and well executed? A high end product also should appeal to the eye not just function IMO. To me the SLC:s are not quite up to the best* when it comes to look and feel but it's my subjective view of course.*Leica Ultravid HD, Swaro EL SV (pre field-pro), Zeiss HT</blockquote>