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Message: <blockquote data-quote="WJC" data-source="post: 3311084" data-attributes="member: 25191">An absolute long shot solution for you might be to get one of the great bang for yer buck, love/hate Swift 8.5x44 ED porro's which I have found to have slightly superior CA control to the Zen, and then if Bill is ammenable! (sorry!) pack it off to him for some serious "hot-rodding". She'll need to be opened up, have all the crudola specks cleaned out, internally finished and blackened, and fitted out with custom baffles to ameliorate the at times woeful glare performance of this little gem. Then a nicely secured custom re-skin in perforated leather to embeautify it. If the planets really align for you, Bill could fashion some better quality, more luxurious eyecups ..... and if Miracles occur, the sourced, uncoated glass could be upgraded to HT and Ultra-FL spec, and packed off to Swarovski for full multicoating to current uber spec ...... that's if Bill is ammenable that is!! ..... (I figure the results would be so good, that Bill would be out of retirement, and into the "Alpha"-slaying business before he knows it!)Chosun Hi Chosun:You, too, have been very kind. And, I guess I should change my Avatar to read “Has Been,” for I am not prepared to do any of the work to which you have alluded. At the 45-year mark, I had to hang up my guns, and just say it was a glorious ride. Late last year, Captain’s sold out after a 118-year run and, this year, I moved to Idaho. Few people want an experienced tech to work on their goods. So many want to buy a bino for the cost of a couple of fast food meals and then brag about how it is better that those made by some leader of the industry for 120 years. And, of course, if I address the matter with how I really feel, I will again be accused of talking DOWN to some. It should be known, however, that when a person spends many times more time talking about certain aspects of optics and the optics industry than they spend researching the topics they address, it is hard to discuss the basics of optical realities WITHOUT them feeling they are being talked down to. Really, though, if that research time were to be spent, they would not feel as they do. The forum would shrink 50% overnight while the importance of the posts—from the standpoint of education—would probably increase by about 200%! For those who say they come here to learn, that would be a great thing and would push the bar of understanding up a notch or two. For repairs and modifications, I can only suggest Cory. I’ve always said that he is the best in the business . . . at least until I hang out my shingle, again, after which time he goes back to being optical dog meat! Thinking that just a few years ago, I had two bronze clad Mk 5 collimators sitting side by side—in the way—in my basement, I could just cry. The reality is, I could hang out 5 shingles and Cory would still be top drawer. Like the “Opticalman” generation before us, Cory could build a 747 with a sharp rock and a bent nail. I know much optical nerd stuff Cory doesn’t. However, he knows everything he needs to know about fixing REAL optics in the REAL world. Getting him back into optics is one of the few major contributions I have made to the craft.I talked to the wretch just yesterday—it was his birthday. He said: “Billy, have all the optics repair shops in America closed? I’ve got a hundred binos sitting on my incoming shelves. You need to bring your screwdriver and get down here!” I had to say, “Thanks, but no thanks.”Chief Stagg told him he would always be eating my dust. Well, my guns are on the wall, and he has years ahead. On the nerd side, I have had the pleasure of knowing some of the biggest and have had the opportunity to exchange pleasantries and Christmas cards for years. When I bought Zemax, it came on one 3.5-inch floppy and cost less than $1,000. And, I was responsible for 2 or 3 of the routines therein. I have always waited for scraps from table of the greats. My immaturity refused to allow me to realize that I was so mathematically impaired, I could really never be a professional optical engineer. So, I have treasured the few checks I have received, and kidded myself into believing there might be more.But, the reality is I was just a screw turner. And now, without a collimator and lacking the desire to build one, I have defer all to Cory. :cat:Bill  PS the Audubon 8.5x44 was what I was using out to the time I got my 8x32 SEs . . . which I will take to my grave.</blockquote>

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