Titanium would be more rust resistant. I remember seeing some Trinovids from Coastal areas that the strap lugs on the sides showed a little rust. Sea air is bad news.
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Discolouration and rusty hinges on Zeiss SF (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter HighNorth
- Start date
If you got a new pair it would probably just do it again anyway.
The-Wanderer
Well-known member
Dissimilar metals?
Sagittarius
Well-known member
Ultravid does have a titanium hinge.
It's the best in the industry and completely rust proof.
If Leica's glass and coatings were equal to the other members of the Big 4, I would not consider another brand.
It's the best in the industry and completely rust proof.
If Leica's glass and coatings were equal to the other members of the Big 4, I would not consider another brand.
Troubador
Moderator
Kammerdiner
Well-known member
I didn't see the "No stains" remark. I know what he means about finger marks though. I have had several binoculars that are prone to that.
Troubador
Moderator
Actually, I am saying just the opposite. Mine has had plenty of sweaty handling these last couple hot AZ summer months and no stains on mine.
brocknroller
porromaniac
Dwever,
Almost every new consumer product has "bugs," which is why despite Microsoft offering a free upgrade to Windows 10, I'm not biting. I had enough problems trying to tame Windows 8.1.
You're never going to find open bridge roof prism binoculars that are as indestructible as your IF EP Zeiss B/GA (or as good a defensive weapon in a pinch). The B/GA's porro design is simple by comparison, it doesn't have 11 or 12 glass elements, or twist-up, click stop eyecups, or internal focusing elements near the objectives, or a single front open hinge, which is the bin's weakest link.
OTOH, Pete Dunne threw the open bridge Nikon EDG I about 20 ft? and it landed eyecups down into the dirt like HN's hit the concrete from only 3 ft. with no force but gravity, and other than digging dirt out of the eyecups, the EDG was undamaged. Not sure if means the EDG I's frame was stronger than the SFs or it was just a matter of good luck for Pete and bad luck for Hagar.
The closest you could come is the 42mm Conquest HD. Did you see the video where it was run over by a truck tire, dragged down a dirt road from a rope tied to the truck bumper, and then shot with buckshot, once at a distance, once at close range, and it still functioned fine? The view is supposed to be near alpha, too, so you could save yourself $1600 and get a pair of more robust binoculars to boot if that's what's most important to you.
But if you want to step up to alpha quality optics and still get a robust design, I recommend you try a Swaro SLC. Hunters swear by them, and they get dragged through the Mud the Blood and the Beer and keep ticking for decades. Steve (mooreorless) replaced his 7x30 SLC after 20 years, and his 8x30SLCnew's will probably function w/out problems for 20 years, too.
The full sized (8x and 10x42) SLCs run about $1,800, and the view is superb, IMO, the 10x42 is sharp almost to the edge. You save $800 and get a more robust bin.
Brock
brocknroller
porromaniac
1976? No wonder they rusted! They were made in the Iron Age.
I was born in the Chalcolithic Period, so no worries about rusting, but we did get struck by lighting a lot. :smoke:
<B>
Right Brock. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H64FCbtKKqs. The Conquest HD is one tough SOB (B for Bin)
The Leica Trinovid also looks solidly built as does the Ultravid HD, but will they take this kind of abuse and survive? Doubt it.
Rathaus
Well-known member
Interesting stuff all this.
Steel-
I know people say there's no such thing as true stainless steel but I have a few dive watches Ive use for surfing over the decades..a few are vintage from the 60s and 70s...the best such steel is usually regarded as 904L, and the far more commonly used and cheaper 316L (most dive watches) grade. With some I've gone years without rinsing or washing off anything intentionally. No rust. No stains. Is that a true stainless steel...if a salt water exposed steel hasn't rusted or marked since the late 60s?
That zeiss hinge area looks a teeny bit rough I must say...do they all look like that?...could it just be early series production teething issues? It is a radical design shift for zeiss. They do seem to be phasing this bino out in a very slow manner, so perhaps the early adopters are indeed the QC for what will become a brilliant product!
Steel-
I know people say there's no such thing as true stainless steel but I have a few dive watches Ive use for surfing over the decades..a few are vintage from the 60s and 70s...the best such steel is usually regarded as 904L, and the far more commonly used and cheaper 316L (most dive watches) grade. With some I've gone years without rinsing or washing off anything intentionally. No rust. No stains. Is that a true stainless steel...if a salt water exposed steel hasn't rusted or marked since the late 60s?
That zeiss hinge area looks a teeny bit rough I must say...do they all look like that?...could it just be early series production teething issues? It is a radical design shift for zeiss. They do seem to be phasing this bino out in a very slow manner, so perhaps the early adopters are indeed the QC for what will become a brilliant product!
perterra
Well-known member
My understanding (an I may be wrong, so anyone feel free to correct me)
The term rusting is used very loosely, corrosion is probably the better term. 316 will corrode given the right conditions. I have seen a bunch of 316 duct work corrode due to elevated temps and corrosive gases. If I recall 312 has better hi temp corrosion resistance than 316 so you have to pick your metal for the environment.
Galvanic corrosion of two dissimilar metals is probably the one that would be of concern with the binoculars. Something like a 904L thrust washer would probably lead to the magnesium binocular body corroding instead of the thrust washer. The thrust washer is sacrificial in this case, as was the hinge pin on the Leicas Lee mentioned.
Like I said, anyone feel free to correct me. This is all just conjecture on my part.
winwinbino
Well-known member
My house main gate is made of stainless steel and of course. I think it isn't a high grade steel like those used for watches or similars.
After some 20 years usage, there is no hints of any rust or corrosion. It has been experienced enough weathering.
After some 20 years usage, there is no hints of any rust or corrosion. It has been experienced enough weathering.
perterra
Well-known member
Sounds like they should have used what ever your gate is made of as a bearing surface then.:t:
perterra
Well-known member
perterra
Well-known member
It's a different horses for different courses thing. I'm far from knowledgable on metallurgy but I'm in the welding supply biz and have dealt with a bunch of plant maintenance guys dealing in corrosive environments.
