Terry Pacey wrote:
> Sent: Monday, February 17, 2003 1:01 PM
> Subject: Re: collimation
>
>
> > Sure makes my $50 Russian binos look good. I am sure they were run over
> by
> > a tank before I even bought them. They have spent over 15 years
bouncing
> > around on the floor or in the boot of the car (without a case and
> generally
> > without lens caps). There is hardly any paint left on them. For
several
> > years, they lived on the floor of my Suzuki 4WD. It was one of the
> original
> > 2 stroke ones. It had no floor covering, just bare metal with sharp
bits
> > sticking up everywhere. The suspension had all the compliance of a
piece
> of
> > 6 x 4 and I only had it so I could get to the roughest places, generally
> at
> > a speed that meant bouncing from one bump to the next (not very fast in
> the
> > Suzi). Everyone said how great the optics were and I even had a
Swarovski
> > owner ask where they could buy a pair to replace their $2000 pair. They
> are
> > lighter but only 7 x 50.
> >
> > I recently purchased a pair of Gerber Montanas
> > at the massive cost of under $200. I tossed up whether to spend that
> much.
> > Nice optics but not a patch on the old ones and won't focus under about
9
> > metres. The old ones have been dragged (literally) out from the junk
and
> > are again bouncing around the floor of the car, unprotected while the
> > Gerbers are carefully put back in their case after each use. As the
> Gerbers
> > are 10 x 50, I tend to use them for distance work and use the old ones
for
> > close up.
> >
> > It seems obvious to me that birders are not very good comparison
shoppers.
> > I have seen my old ones now advertised at $750 new but no one wanted to
> buy
> > them before at $50 so I would imagine that they won't be selling very
well
> > at $750. The reasons I was given by those that did not buy them when
they
> > were originally released included such beauties as "not a known brand",
> > "wouldn't even try something at that price", "How could they be any
good?
> > They were Made in Russia" and so on. The fact that they were made in a
> > relocated Zeiss factory using the original equipment moved from East
> Germany
> > should have told intelligent people that they were good. It doesn't say
> > much for a lot of birders. We talk about teenagers having to wear the
> > "brand" clothes. Birders aspire to the "brand" binoculars whether they
> are
> > the best or not.
> >
> > I guess you see why I end up birding alone. I can't help telling the
> others
> > what fools they are.
> >
> >
> > Terry Pacey> >
>
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