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Where premium quality meets exceptional value. ZEISS Conquest HDX.

Hair inside objective lens - how does this happen? (1 Viewer)

Last year I have bought two new binoculars, a Leica Ultravid 7x42 for myself and a Zeiss SF 8x32 for my wife. Looking down the barrels of both objective lenses on purchase they were perfect. A few months later a visible small white hair/thread appeared in one barrel of the SFs, not on the surface of the objectives but clearly on one of the internal lenses. Now looking at my Leica's today I can see exactly the same thing, it was not present just a few days ago.

Although aesthetically annoying this seemingly doesn't effect the view in any way, so I'm probably not going to send them back (although not great I suppose if I ever resell them). But I am curious how this happens? Would the hair be already inside when the binocular was assembled in the factory and over time has somehow moved into the centre of the barrel and become visible? Or has it somehow entered during use, which would be concerning with regards to how well sealed both binoculars are? I'm surprised this has occurred in two reputable brands and wonder how common an occurrence this is? I've not encountered it in previous binoculars I've owned. How many other people have had this happen?
 
The thread or hair was probably there before but moved or was not noticed.

If it isn't in focus, say on an eyepiece element, then I would suggest ignoring it.

If many hairs or paint chips occur then it may need attention.

I doubt that it got in from outside.

Often when binoculars are sent in for removal of such items, more dust results than before the binocular was sent in and a cycle of annoyance occurs.

Regards,
B.
 
Common? Hardly. Having this in two new bins in the space of a year, perhaps you should look into meteorite insurance.

I wonder what would attract these hairs(?) to a lens surface... static electricity? Could one at least get them to fall off onto the barrel somehow?
 
I can relate to this. My first quality binoculars were a Conquest HD 8x42. I had never invested so much money in binoculars (unlike cameras). And I got this lovely hair...

Conquest842_Defect_01.jpeg

It was very prominent, so I couldn't help noticing it.
Recently I've bought the new Pentax SD 7x32 ED, and it came with a hair as well...

Pentax732_05.jpeg

I only discovered it because there was something odd with the view in general. I doubt this affects the view, but it got me thinking about this, probably just like what happened to Nigel. Then I ordered a second unit of the Pentax... and out of curiosity I looked inside the tubes, only to discover another small hair. So I wonder how many binoculars I don't inspect thoroughly (simply because the view is flawless) actually have some of this defects...
 
only to discover another small hair
Those don't really look like hairs, at least not the first one. Some other debris, or scratch? An early VP 8x25 that I returned had a little curl of metal from machining on the inside of the barrel, just waiting to fall off and become a problem. Would Nigel care to offer similar photos?
 
All this talk about hair inside binoculars is making me wonder. I think Jan has it right, a blonde wife
or a sheepdog on premises.
Jerry
 

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Those don't really look like hairs, at least not the first one. Some other debris, or scratch? An early VP 8x25 that I returned had a little curl of metal from machining on the inside of the barrel, just waiting to fall off and become a problem. Would Nigel care to offer similar photos?
Yes, you are absolutely right. Maybe I used the term "hair" too broadly, not meaning a long human hair, but a long thin object that, as you say, may as well be some sort of debris from the manufacturing process. Surprising, nonetheless.
 

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