Bausch & Lomb 7X26 Aududon Customs (2 Viewers)

[jnobby]

I have a pair of 7x26 B&L Audubon Customs that I have had for years. They have been a great pair of bins for my use. Recently, one of the sides started to fog on me during wet days. I have sent them back to the factory in the US and they said they were too old to repair. Does anyone know if there is a company that may be able to fix and re-gas binos like these? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
John

 

[jaymoynihan]

This place does alot of repair work.
http://www.landseaskyco.com/store/

 

[mayoayo]

They Cant be re-charged with gas because they have no seals..the design is basically an open body design..The old metal body is a bit more closed than later designs but still not water or fog proof at any rate...If it didnt have anything broken,only moist inside,I dont know what prevented the Bushnell repair dept to clean and dry the optics...If this was not in their hand to get done,It is Bushnell policy to offer You a similar pair(in this case the last Custom Elite )at a replacement price...They offered this to me and replaced an old pair,that by the way they lost in their factory,for a new custom at a minimum price.
Call them again and request this from a customer service agent.Unfortunately and despite the excellent optics of the new version,You will get a non waterproof binocular anyway.

 

[jnobby]

Thanks for info mayoayo. I new they were not waterproof but they have been fog proof up until now and only one side gets fogged. They did offer me an equal pair but was not going to spend $300 on them. I have since bought a new pair but was still disappointed they could not change a seal or two. I was quite prepared to pay as well. I suppose with labour costs these days it was not worth it for them or myself. Thanks jaymoynihan, I will check out this site.
Regards
John

 

[jnobby]

I read your thread again mayoayo and I must have not comprehended the fact that they don't have any seals. Is that correct?
John

 

[ceasar]

I have heard that Suddarth Optical Repair does excellent work. Try contacting them.

http://suddarthoptical.com/

Bob

 

[lilcrazy2]

That seems strange to me that Bushnell would not repair these. I assume you have the 7x26 B&L Custom Birding Series model 61-0726?? Bushnell made these under the B&L name from 1998 to 2004 when the licensing right to use the B&L name expired. From 2004 to 2007 Bushnell made them as the Bushnell 7x26 Custom model 12-0726. They are virtually identical except for the markings and model number.

I had the B&L model and saw one of the Bushnell models come up on ebay but was puzzled by the "12" prefix in the model number, because the "12" was always used on the Legacy models. Bushnell said they were identical and that the 12 model had an additional AR coating, and while they didn't have the part I wanted for my B&L, when I pushed them and they crossed it over to the "12" model they sent me the part.

They do have a lifetime warranty and it seems odd that they claim not to have parts for a bino they changed in 2007 for the new Elite E2.

Tom

 

[mayoayo]

I read your thread again mayoayo and I must have not comprehended the fact that they don't have any seals. Is that correct?
John

I would say so...I havent had all the versions mentioned in this thread ,but I have owned some of the old metal body models,the bausch and lomb you mention,the last bushnell pre-elite,and the elite.
Of the plastic body models I have had debris and fogging ,In all of them,depending of course in how much I have used them in misty or sandy enviroments..The pair that Bushnell got lost,and replaced with the ELITE(not for more than 100 $ extra ,IIRC),were used a weekend in the Oregon Coast,for fall migration,and at the end of the weekend they were trashed..So much condensation inside and wet sand specks..This only from the Air!!..not falling in sand or getting specially wet..Is hard to believe that they have any sealing at all
Also absurd that a brand making ,allegedly the best compact reverse in the market,(Not cheap either!!! ) cant put a bit of effort in sealing the binos,while they sell at least two other,lesser quality,reversed porros,totally waterproof...the Legend and the H2o
I am actually looking for another pair of the elite 7x26,but when I think about It,I feel like not buying ,even used,until Bushnell redo the model...

 

[Nixterdemus]

"until Bushnell redo the model"

"they changed in 2007 for the new Elite E2."

Maybe it's time for a makeover.

 

[ceasar]

The 7 x 26 focuses by moving the objective lenses. I don't know if this is the reason why they are not waterproof. The current model has rainguard coating on the outer lenses it says.

I've never seen their 8 x 26 H20 or the 8 x 26 Ultra ED, both of which cost considerably less than the 7 x 26 Elite, so I don't know if they focus in the same manner.

Bob

 

[ceasar]

I would say so...I havent had all the versions mentioned in this thread ,but I have owned some of the old metal body models,the bausch and lomb you mention,the last bushnell pre-elite,and the elite.
Of the plastic body models I have had debris and fogging ,In all of them,depending of course in how much I have used them in misty or sandy enviroments..The pair that Bushnell got lost,and replaced with the ELITE(not for more than 100 $ extra ,IIRC),were used a weekend in the Oregon Coast,for fall migration,and at the end of the weekend they were trashed..So much condensation inside and wet sand specks..This only from the Air!!..not falling in sand or getting specially wet..Is hard to believe that they have any sealing at all
Also absurd that a brand making ,allegedly the best compact reverse in the market,(Not cheap either!!! ) cant put a bit of effort in sealing the binos,while they sell at least two other,lesser quality,reversed porros,totally waterproof...the Legend and the H2o
I am actually looking for another pair of the elite 7x26,but when I think about It,I feel like not buying ,even used,until Bushnell redo the model...

I don't think I would take any optic to a beach unless I had protection over any moving parts. Back in the 1980's I had a Minolta Mariner Roof Prism 8 x 32 which was built like a Tank. It had lousy optics but was darn near indestructible. I took it everywhere and treated it roughly. It hung from my neck while fly fishing and was dunked a few times. I banged it off rocks and it had dents in the front rims on the objective barrels. I took it to Cape May for a few days and spent some time on a beach with it on nice days but somehow or other a few small grains of sand worked their way inside the focusing mechanism and caused an irritating scratching sound for years.

Bob

 

[mayoayo]

Beach and optics are the classic Love-Hate affair..The day I got the Customs ruined, I remember clearly getting amazing views of the fall Shearwater movements ,in the Columbia Mouth,and all the alcids in the world.....Amazing endless stream of birds flying nonstop for hours!!!I dont know how many thousands but many..!..You need to be in the beach,or a ship to see that!
..I had the Audubon 820 at the time,but I was carrying a large scope and thought that the customs would be good to complement the kit,and easy enough to protect from funny weather..but the Oregon Coast is no funny ,with foul weather ,..I probably should have known better
I agree that even fully waterproof optics are susceptible to all kind of potential damage in a windy beach..I even worry about sand getting cruched between my glasses and the eyepiece and scratching both at the same time!!!

 

[jnobby]

Thanks for all of the info guys but I probably have not been clear on the year. I purchased these binos back in 1985. They are the Audubon I believe with a picture of a bird in flight inscibed in them. They really don't owe me anything but would love to have them fixed as the size is perfect for me.
Thanks
John

 

[lilcrazy2]

Thanks for all of the info guys but I probably have not been clear on the year. I purchased these binos back in 1985. They are the Audubon I believe with a picture of a bird in flight inscibed in them. They really don't owe me anything but would love to have them fixed as the size is perfect for me.
Thanks
John

John
Take a look at the pics in post#6 of this thread, as B&L put out an NAS version of the earlier model 7x26 Bushnell Customs. I'm fairly sure this is what you have.

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=166093

Tom

 

[mayoayo]

They really don't owe me anything but would love to have them fixed as the size is perfect for me.
Thanks
John

Any Brand that sells a product with a lifetime warranty owes You something.

You are a very nice customer!!!!

 

[ceasar]

Bushnell took over Bausch & Lomb many years after these Binoculars were manufactured in 1985 and may not have the technicians to fix them. If you really like them they might still be able to be fixed at a reasonable price. Certainly less than what a new model costs ($220.00) I would venture. Contact Suddarth in thread 6 above.
Bob

 

[mayoayo]

I am not sure who held the Custom name patent..this is real Bushnell history ..the original Custom were made by bushnell..then they made the B&L models,and then back to bushnell.Or maybe they even made bausch and lomb and bushnell untis at the same time,as I think was the case..There are Post-B&L models,identical to the ones that jnnoby owns,that have the Bushnell brand logo on them.As a matter of fact I am pretty sure the ones with the Audubon society,and I would bid on it,dont have B&L written anywhere on them,and they are actually Bushnell,but I might(must)be wrong.
If Bushnell doesnt have the technicians to fix a pair of these,..oh well..even more shameful!..
Personally I think it is not a matter of having the means to service the binos,is more like not giving a damn .

 

[ceasar]

I think that in this price range most companies would rather replace than repair and these are 26 years old and so........................:smoke:

Bob

 

[jnobby]

Yes lilcrazy2, those are the ones. I do not have them in my hot little hands at the moment but I don't believe they have the Japan on the front of them. I bought them in 85 but my Uncle had a pair years before. I know some people are saying just buy new technology and forget the past but I still think these are great bins, or they used to be anyway. I also think ceasar is correct in saying the company doesn't give a damn because of their age. I paid $350 back then.


http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=166093 post #6

Thanks for all of your input.
Regards
John

 

[mayoayo]

I think that in this price range most companies would rather replace than repair and these are 26 years old and so........................:smoke:

Bob

What else was making Bushnell 26 years ago,or 10 by that matter, selling for 350 dollars?....Bushnell is a company IN THAT price range,for That was their top product,..If they dont want to repair their products they should state so in their warranty,..It really will help their marketing:

"NOTE THAT THIS BINOCULAR WILL NOT BE SERVICE WHEN IT BECOMES OLD AND REALLY IN NEED OF SERVICE..YOU ARE WELCOME TO HAVE IT SERVICE WHILE NEW AND FULLY FUNCTIONAL"