Nikon Fieldscope Water Proof? (2 Viewers)

[tallgrass]

Hi
I have just bought a new Fieldscop III, which has now become one of my most prized possessions - but more about that in another thread! While going over the instruction manual/brochure I was a bit surprised to read that although the Fieldscope is waterproof down to something like 2 meters underwater for 5 minutes, you are advised not to use the focusing ring in wet weather!! Any opinions on this one? Seems a bit odd to me! Rather like buying a pair of rubber boots that are good for walking in the rain but not for stepping in puddles!

 

[Kevin Mac]

That's puzzling. If it's nitrogen purged the focusing mechanism would have to be sealed as well. Perhaps the wet weather they were referring to is 2 meters under.

 

[Art Thorn]

Having read many manuals for many products, I have come to believe that the least amount of money possible is spent on developing these things. They seem to cut and paste from one publication to another, sometimes referring to a different, earlier product altogether. This seems to be especially common when translations are required. Technical writing requires good skills and a thorough understanding of the product, something that seems to be lacking far too often.

 

[tallgrass]

Hi Kevin

Here is the actual wording in the Fieldscope instruction sheet:

Water Proof Models:
The Fieldscope III series are waterproof, and can be used underwater at a maximum depth of 2 meters for up to 5 minutes without damaging the optical system.
The Fieldscope III series offers the following advantages:
1. Can be used in conditions of high humidity, dust and rain without risk of damage.
2. Nitrogen-filled design makes them resistant to condensation and mould.
Observe the following when using the Feildscope III series:
1. The unit is not airtight and should not be held under running water.
2. Movable parts (focusing knob, eyepiece, etc) of the Fieldscope III series should not be adjusted in wet conditions.

It is this last sentence that has me puzzled!

 

[scampo]

You have a first class top scope. All manufacturers give the same advice. The Nikon is as waterproof as any other waterproof scope. Like a waterproof watch - they recommend you dont wind it under water. The moving parts are the weakest point, I suppsoe, that is all.

Let us know how you get on with it.

 

[Hermann]

You have a first class top scope. All manufacturers give the same advice. The Nikon is as waterproof as any other waterproof scope. Like a waterproof watch - they recommend you dont wind it under water. The moving parts are the weakest point, I suppsoe, that is all.

I don't agree. I think that from an engineering point of view the Nikon with its wide focussing ring is more difficult to waterproof than the "knob focussing" of the Leica or the Zeiss. I also think this type of focussing is more prone to leaking no matter how good the sealing is, especially after a few years.

That's why I'm a bit more careful with my Nikon EDIIIA in bad weather than I was with my Leica. But some commonsense and a decent stay-on case go a long way IMO. I've used my Nikon in all sorts of weather with no ill effect, but I always make sure the focussing ring doesn't get waterlogged.

BTW, when the EDII came onto the market here, Nikon claimed in their brochure that it was waterproof. It wasn't. My mother's EDII fogged up after a heavy thunderstorm during a seawatch. She didn't have a stay-on case at the time, and it seems like she drew some water into the scope by focussing. Nikon repaired the scope, and shortly afterwards the new brochures had a warning not to use the focussing in wet weather. I used an EDIIA with a home-made stay-on case at the time, and didn't have any problems.

Hermann

 

[scampo]

You seem very sure. Have you spoken to Nikon about this? My understanding is that the earlier model Fieldscopes (EDII and ED78) were said to be "showerproof" and were never guaranteed against immersion. In contrast, the two new models (EDIII and ED82) are guaranteed against immersion and water ingress, this being fully covered under the excellent Nikon warranty. As with all top scopes, both Nikons are sealed with "o" rings and purged with dry nitrogen.
That said, I do think that the precautions you suggest are sensible for any scope, waterproof or not. The Nikon focusing mechanism is similar to that used by Swarovski, and that scope is, similarly, guaranteed waterproof. My Zeiss Diascope has a similar focusing mechanism to the Leica scope, and logic would seem to suggest that this mechanism is less likely to allow water ingress, but I have no doubts whatever about the waterproof qualities of my son's ED82, nor for that matter, the Swarovski we owned previously.

 

[Hermann]

You seem very sure. Have you spoken to Nikon about this? My understanding is that the earlier model Fieldscopes (EDII and ED78) were said to be "showerproof" and were never guaranteed against immersion. In contrast, the two new models (EDIII and ED82) are guaranteed against immersion and water ingress, this being fully covered under the excellent Nikon warranty. As with all top scopes, both Nikons are sealed with "o" rings and purged with dry nitrogen.

The point is that helical focussing may start leaking when the threads become waterlogged and water is sort of "pumped" inside the body. That's probably the reason why Zeiss never called their 7x50BGAT "waterproof". O-rings may improve the situation somewhat, but they don't last forever, especially not when the some dust get on the O-rings.

That said, I think the new Nikon scopes (EDIII and ED82) are very well sealed - but I'd always be a bit more careful with them than with, say, the Leica or the Zeiss. In fact, I used my old EDII for years in all sorts of weather and never had any problems, even though the EDII wasn't as well sealed as the EDIII. The only thing I did was to use some plain commonsense.

Hermann

 

[Graham Osborne]

I have a secondhand EDIIIA (originally dating from 1999) which I consider to be an excellent little scope. However, my instruction manual provides different infromation from Tallgrass's. Under the heading 'Notes on waterproof models' it states:

"Fieldscope III series models are waterproof and airtight. Therefore, they can be used in harsh conditions - blur or growth of mould rarely occurs inside the optical system of these Fieldscopes even if they are exposed to rain or wind, splashed on while on board a boat, or used in a hot, humid or dusty place. However, do not immerse them in water under any circumstances. Any moisture on the lens surface should be wiped off lightly. In addition, we recommend that you have your waterproof-type Fieldscope checked regularly to keep it in optimal condition".

I am afraid that I took this information at face value, and on a recent whale-watching trip, after several hours of fairly persistent rain, I found that both the inside of the objective and one prism surface were heavily misted. Perhaps I should have known better after my experience with a pair of 'waterproof' Swift Audubons, but I really thought that Nikon would be more reliable. Fortunately, I was able to project the sun through the scope the next day, and this got rid of the misting. The scope is now ok except for a minor stain on the prism which I do think effects the optical performance in any way.

What I have learnt is that a 5 year old EDIIIA that has not been serviced cannot be relied upon as being waterproof, and that the custom-made Nikon stay-on cover I have since purchased is an essential piece of kit in wet weather.

The 10-year Limited Warranty on the scope is not transferable, although I am not too worried about this as I got it for a very good price.

Graham

 

[scampo]

The 10-year Limited Warranty on the scope is not transferable, although I am not too worried about this as I got it for a very good price.

Graham

Maybe that's why you got it at a good price... But seriously, how will they know it has been transferred if you don't tell them? No one can really know what that scope has been subjected to during its life (before it was yours), and as has been said, rubber o-rings are limited, whatever the claims. I would send it back to Nikon and say you've lost the warranty card, myself - they'll sort it, I'm sure.

 

[Graham Osborne]

Maybe that's why you got it at a good price... But seriously, how will they know it has been transferred if you don't tell them? No one can really know what that scope has been subjected to during its life (before it was yours), and as has been said, rubber o-rings are limited, whatever the claims. I would send it back to Nikon and say you've lost the warranty card, myself - they'll sort it, I'm sure.

Hi Steve
The scope is entirely satisfactory to use as it is now. If I get the same problem again I will send it to Nikon, but I don't think I would be comfortable with misrepresenting my status as the original owner, whatever I think of the company's claims regarding 'waterproofness' and the limitations of their warranties. If I do need to send it to them I shall quote the information on the instruction manual, in order to point out its apparent inaccuracy and use this to appeal to their sense of customer care. Anyway, this may never happen, and I intend to continue to enjoy the use of an (otherwise) excellent scope, as well as my trusty Nikon HG 8x32 binos (also secondhand and proven waterproof) and my somewhat battered but reliable CP4500.

Graham

 

[scampo]

Hi Steve
The scope is entirely satisfactory to use as it is now. If I get the same problem again I will send it to Nikon, but I don't think I would be comfortable with misrepresenting my status as the original owner, whatever I think of the company's claims regarding 'waterproofness' and the limitations of their warranties. If I do need to send it to them I shall quote the information on the instruction manual, in order to point out its apparent inaccuracy and use this to appeal to their sense of customer care. Anyway, this may never happen, and I intend to continue to enjoy the use of an (otherwise) excellent scope, as well as my trusty Nikon HG 8x32 binos (also secondhand and proven waterproof) and my somewhat battered but reliable CP4500.

Graham

Point taken about honesty, Graham! Good kit, though, for sure.

 

[tav]

Hi
you are advised not to use the focusing ring in wet weather!! Any opinions on this one? !

so the scoop is useless, if you can't turn the focusing ring than you can't use the scoop, so its a useless scoop in my eyes if the information is correct.

 

[Grousemore]

so the scoop is useless, if you can't turn the focusing ring than you can't use the scoop, so its a useless scoop in my eyes if the information is correct.

Within the proviso of wet weather, then your logic is inescapable.

 

[tav]

Within the proviso of wet weather, then your logic is inescapable.

i don't now if you are a birder to,but i can't count the times anymore when i am birding with wet wheather, so my advise is forget this scoop.

 

[scampo]

What an utterly odd three posts at the end of an informative thread about one of the top world birding scopes.

 

[Grousemore]

Nothing odd at all; Tav was making the valid point that a scope such as the one described was useless in wet weather, on the basis that the advice from Nikon was not to use the focussing ring!

 

[Leif]

Nothing odd at all; Tav was making the valid point that a scope such as the one described was useless in wet weather, on the basis that the advice from Nikon was not to use the focussing ring!

The Nikon 8x42 HG is waterproof and yet in the manual it indicates that you should not get water on it. Perhaps at Nikon the head doesn't know what the tail is doing?

 

[Grousemore]

The Nikon 8x42 HG is waterproof and yet in the manual it indicates that you should not get water on it. Perhaps at Nikon the head doesn't know what the tail is doing?

Certainly sounds that way...I can't imagine being out in the rain with binoculars carrying that proviso; never had a problem with Zeiss in the rain

 

[william j clive]

Certainly sounds that way...I can't imagine being out in the rain with binoculars carrying that proviso; never had a problem with Zeiss in the rain

Nikon are spouting a lot of bovine defecation in this instance. I have had a 78mm Nikon scope since they were introduced in the early nineties. Until this year, without a stay on case, since they were not available. I never once failed to use the scope in a downpour, if it was necessary. There has never ever been even the hint of a problem. Like I said its a load of old bull.