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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Steve C" data-source="post: 3169791" data-attributes="member: 56622">In spite of my words about can you really design an SP, AK or porro prism, I say sure you can.  Just wanted to see what that shook out.As in Lee's example once you decide your project is going to be a compact, the type of compact you want may well chose the base design, maybe even dictating the use of SP.  So even that is design.  I think that working with any basic binocular configuration can be design.  I do not think all SP binoculars are alike.  So doing things like developing new coatings and different recipes of the way coatings are applied, tweaking the glass quality at any given point in the system, working on a better focus system, working on better ocular designs to improve field and manage distortion, or working with any of the myriad of things in a binocular, are certainly all design.  Maybe that is what Chosun meant with her one word post.  But who knows.When we get to to putting the binocular through the paces from the final design, through the various prototypes, and getting the first production model into the box, then we get into more gray areas.  I really don't think there is a definition of just what a binocular maker is.  I don't know if we can even agree on the term binocular maker.  I think that the more aspects of the process from initial design to into the customer box, a company can involve themselves in, the more likely it is they will eventually be considered a binocular maker.  Take Vortex as an example.  They design at least some of their binoculars.  One of the owners is an optical designer.  They have a CNC shop and facilities enough to assemble prototypes and the ability to test the prototype.  They have the ability to repair their product.  They often replace.  Depends on their cost I imagine.  But they sub contract the actual building of the binocular.  Leupold for another example is Vortex written on a far larger scale.  They can build many things that go into their optics.  They have engineers who can design stuff.  They have product managers who oversee the process.They can assemble and repair what they sell.  They design some things they sell, maybe all things they sell. They have optical labs to do stuff with.  Regardless of the company, they are in contract arrangements with the "place that builds the optic" so that they have some degree of control.Other places have just started their own facilities.  They are probably small but equipped with means to design and assemble, placing themselves in control over their product we take brand new out of the box.This is all at one or more of several levels above going into the front door of Acme Optical and saying "I like that one give me 500 in green".</blockquote>

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