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Message: <blockquote data-quote="elkcub" data-source="post: 1242417" data-attributes="member: 14473">I guess binoculars have been no less subject to mass production influences than any other consumer product.  Optical design is probably good/excellent in many cases, but quality control, reliability, and durability have been sacrificed to reduce cost and maximize profit.  The maxim I've developed for myself in recent years is not to buy anything that's not worth repairing.  For example, if the manufacturer would rather replace than repair I'll have no part of the product.  Why?  Because then I'd just be getting another random sample from a poor quality control distribution.  More important, by virtue of the replacement policy the instrument was probably not designed for repair in the first place, i.e., effectively making it a throw-away.  The choice, therefore, is between outrageously expensive "new" products, and repairable older products of good quality.  More and more I opt for the latter, knowing the the former will eventually become the latter.  In buying used products I always establish a price limit based on the assumption that an overhaul will be needed.  Ed</blockquote>