House bins show their class

I am quite restrained in so far as I have only two pairs of binoculars. I think I peaked at four or five, but reason prevailed and I ditched two or three of them to leave myself with just two. My main bins and then some 'house' bins. I'd imagine house bins are a fairly common phenomenon for birders, indeed some birders may have more than one pair, each placed strategically near a window with a bit of a view. That's what I did, the house bins lived in the conservatory within easy reach so that I could easily disturb family meal times by grabbing them and jumping out of my seat to focus on some dot in the sky. 

More recently my house bins have become my only bins as the main bins are in for repair. Again. They're only 12 years old, yet for the second time the rubber armouring has fallen to bits to leave gaping bare metal holes. In all other respect they are fabulous binoculars, a few models behind perhaps, but I have been hugely pleased with them and they have travelled all over the world with me. And that may have been their undoing it seems as Swarovski green rubber appears to be particularly susceptible to being melted by insect repellent. Before I went to Brazil earlier this year the first signs of rot were just about visible, and to try and delay the inevitable I had put a bits of gaffer tape here and there - on the thumb indents on the underside, and on the ends of the barrels. By the time I came back from Brazil it would have required more tape than there was rubber remaining, and so I sent them in. The process is very easy, and the after-sales care is extremely good. Sure enough they acknowleged receipt very promptly and said that they would now assess what work was needed. As if that wasn't obvious... Anyway, they got back to me a couple of days ago with a quote of £95. Whilst part of me had been secretly hoping for a gratis repair, as had happened the previous time when they were about seven or eight years old, I kind of knew that was unlikely a further five years down the line. Sure enough, out of warranty. That said, £95 is extremely reasonable. The labour and the shipping to and from Austria is free, the cost comes entirely from parts and tax. The rubber armour itself is a mere £5.83 per barrel (here-in may lie the reason why it falls to bits so readily....) and in fact most of the cost is for two new eye-cups which I didn't know I needed. I also seem to be getting a nice new hawk logo thing for the front for £2.42 - the original may have fallen off, I can't remember as I only really ever look through them rather than at them. The rest is small parts and tax. Anyway, I am perfectly happy to pay £95 for my bins to come back looking all new and shiny, and would have paid that for the re-armouring alone. It certainly beats paying £1965 for Swarovski's latest iteration of 8x32s - I mean seriously? And 8x42s are £2300! I am so glad I am not one of those people who must have the latest and greatest of everything, it would be ruinous. No, 12 year old binoculars suit me just fine.

My Swaros are mere pups compared to my house bins though, a pair of 32 year old Leica Trinovid 8x32 BAs. Manufactured in 1992 they more or less look as if they came out of the factory last year. I've not owned them since new but I've had them a very long time, longer than the Swaros. The photo at the top of this post is of my son using them when he was about eight years old, and he's about to turn 21. They are easily the most indestructible item of any description that I have ever owned, optical or otherwise. You could bang nails in with them. In a contest vs a brick the bins would likely win. Some might say they are a brick. They just ooze rugged reliability and longevity, and look as if they will cope with anything you throw at them and come out unscathed. They will easily outlive me. And despite being somewhat ancient the image is still superb, which is kind of the point with binoculars. I've never really used them for any length of time, just the occasional grab or a skywatch from the balcony for a bit, but this autumn they are getting a proper work out and I can scarcely believe how good they still are. They are not as bright at the Swaros, nor perhaps quite as sharp, and the focussing is definitely a little less accurate, but really I'm splitting hairs here. They are easily good enough for a demanding birder and they're clearly better made than a lot of modern bins as well. When the Swaros do eventually come back it could be that it's the Leicas that come on holiday with me instead, I doubt that deet will concern them very much, nor rainforests, salt water, mud, sand, hurricanes, earthquakes....  If I was forced to choose just one pair it might very well be the the Leicas as I know they'll never let me down whereas in another five years the Swaros will probably be peeling again. I am half tempted to buy another pair...