SWAROVSKI BINOCULARS

I bought a Swarovski porro prism binocular - 7 x 42 about two years ago. The binocular has hardly been used. The optics are superb –– but the cover on one of the barrels has separated and fragmented in one patch. This is not a rubber armoured instrument, it is just a thin synthetic coat. Swarovski says to use the South African agent. That will mean R450 courier and insurance, R1 800 handling fee, duties if and when the instrument is returned and R450 courier fee to have it returned to me. This for a high end binocular with a so-called lifetime guarantee. Admittedly I paid 'only' R12 000.00 on account of it being a porro prism, but to have to pay R3 000.00, plus customs duties to fix a widely reported quality issue is outrageous. My friend who paid £2000.00 for a Swarovski roof prism, armoured binocular has the same problem. This problem with Swarovski binoculars is extensively reported throughout the Internet. I would suggest you stick with Zeiss, Leica, Nikon 7 or the significantly less costly new kid on the block, Vortex. In the past I have had Zeiss and never an issue over 30 years (******). I currently am using Leica, well used for some 8 years and no trouble. I am careful but inevitably in travelling around Southern Africa, the Leica has been exposed to rain, sun, dust. Once knocked off a vehicle roof onto hard ground, half buried in sand and no issues.

I offered to cut a piece of leather to the right shape and glue it to the barrels if they would send me a template –– but they declined.

Incidentally this particular instrument was bought as a replacement for a 1950s Swarovski military binocular of the same specs and which, apart from slightly degraded optic is still functional and intact.