SRBC 10x42 APO, amazing glass, but... (1 Viewer)

[laurencejackson]

Yesterday I took delivery of a SRBC 10x42 pair and the glass is pretty amazing I have to say. Really bright, sharp across the whole field and good contrast. Eye relief is just enough, but at least it means no kidney beaning as a result of excessive eye relief, which seems to be the fashion these days. They're bulky thick barreled bins, hardly beautiful but functional in style. I can see why people are impressed with them. So, all good so far...

However, I couldn't understand why it took so long to focus them accurately. I would focus and eventually find it, then put them down and hell...they were out of focus! I obviously hadn't touched the focuser. They basically required constant refocusing and I'm not talking about simple fine tuning...they were considerably out of focus each time I moved them. I wondered if the diopter was wandering and causing the issue perhaps?

I've never experienced this issue with any of the 40 or so bins I have owned over the last 25 years, admittedly mainly high end makes. Obviously they're going back but can anyone shed any light on what's going on with these and is this a common occurrence in cheap/mid range binoculars?

I'm disappointed as these were going to be my car bins, decent enough for most casual out and about viewing without the worry of an alpha in the car. I may hold back on a direct replacement for the time being, I've had a few returns lately, it gets a little tiring and I would like to see how the SRBC brand develops, or not...

 

[Bentley03]

Ouch!

I'm no technical expert, for sure, but if you are making no manual/mechanical changes to the binoculars between taking them down from your eyes and picking them up again, it suggests to me that they are possibly very slightly out of alignment, with your brain/eyes needing to reset to accommodate the misalignment in the binoculars each time you pick them up and look through them.

But, that's just a theory which might explain what you're experiencing.

 

[Maljunulo]

Diopter?

 

[laurencejackson]

Diopter?

Could have been a case of probably chronic 'Wandering Diopter Syndrome'. Anyway, they've gone back now and sadly, my (slight) prejudices about MIC optics have been confirmed. They are/were amazing though, once you eventually and briefly get them in focus!

 

[Binocollector]

@laurencejackson
Get a Meopta Meopro Air or something (unfortunately the newer ones are all made in China, too but there should still be a few around that were actually made by Meopta) like a Fujinon KF. After a very high failure quote (misalignment, dust inside, wobbly eyecups, etc) -- I no longer buy Chinese binos. Get anything decent made in Japan. DDoptics, Kite, Fujinon etc. Or a Maven. They list which ones are made where in their catalog.
Considering that there are still a few models (below the alphas) not made in China that are decent, I'd avoid the Chinese cr@p (sorry, I meant "bargain" of course) altogether.
"Made in the Philippines", for example by Kenko or Kowa, also works nicely. My old and discontinued Fujinon KF 10x42 (made by Kenko in the Philippines) still easily beats a modern day China bino like an SVBony SV202 when it comes to optical performance. The SV202 was another one of the overhyped China-binos that didn't stand up to the hype at all.
Still a few choices out there to avoid binos that "ripen with the customer" as we say in Germany. But choices will undoubtedly get less, the more people put up with bad QC and playing the lottery when buying binos to get a "bargain" (or so they think).

 

[Bentley03]

Still a few choices out there to avoid binos that "ripen with the customer" as we say in Germany. But choices will undoubtedly get less, the more people put up with bad QC and playing the lottery when buying binos to get a "bargain" (or so they think).

You have, I assume, Mr Binocollector, actually tested the Sky Rover Banner Cloud, to enable you to make such an informed appraisal?

 

[albie...]

and it begins.

 

[Maljunulo]

In my opinion, it flies in the face of all logic to even suggest that a $500 binocular is the equal of a $3000 binocular.

Does anyone have any objective numbers to support this claim?

 

[CharleyBird]

In my opinion, it flies in the face of all logic to even suggest that a $500 binocular is the equal of a $3000 binocular.

Does anyone have any objective numbers to support this claim?

True optically, though for build quality it's possible, thinking of my Nikon E2 versus the latest roof.

 

[CharleyBird]

It would be interesting to get a few people who had never held a binocular and give them three to choose from:
8x32NL 8x32UV+ 8x30E2

Without our learnt optic/haptic/ergonomic preferences what would they choose?
Optical superiority, diminutive convenience, haptic superiority?

 

[Bentley03]

In my opinion, it flies in the face of all logic to even suggest that a $500 binocular is the equal of a $3000 binocular.

I agree.

Does anyone have any objective numbers to support this claim?

I'm not aware of anyone on this forum making this claim...?

The point, surely, is that this Chinese manufacturer is producing a binocular which, optically, gives the user a strong flavour of the characteristics of an NL, at a fifth of the price, nothing more. Build quality and quality control are completely in line with what the user might expect of such a product at this price point.

The noise surrounding this product is being misinterpreted and misunderstood, in my opinion.

 

[tenex]

This should be really simple. OP has a defective SRBC, this cannot be disputed. He asks whether that's common, but 11 posts fail to address this question, instead reprising general arguments from too many past threads that got too long already with so many axes to grind.

Is it common generally in lower priced bins? In my experience, yes. Besides cheaper construction in the first place, poor QC is an easy way to lower cost.
[Edit: unfortunately it seems more common lately at the higher end also, for some reason.]

Is it common with SRBC in particular? @jackjack in Korea, where more people have bought them, has reported many such problems; search for his recent post(s) about this.

 

[Dipperdapper]

NB:

 

[Maljunulo]

I tried to watch that, and failed miserably.

Can someone tell me what he said?

Thank you.

 

[Ruff-Leg]

Yep, too much Yellowtail...

 

[NDhunter]

I suppose you will have to mail it back to China... Let us know, will you try to get your money back, or
another chance at getting a proper optic ?
I wonder what the cost of shipping would be.
Jerry

 

[laurencejackson]

I had no problems with returning them. The stockist in Queensland promptly and efficiently reimbursed me once they had received them, problem solved. An interesting diversion for me with the SRBC, but not to be repeated and I'm now enjoying my newly acquired SLC 10x42s far more, they are fabulous