Does time alone reduce coating quality on optics? (4 Viewers)

[LeeMonela]

Good day,

I hope everyone is well.

So, in my quest to upgrade my spotting scope, I have come across many pre-owned Swarovski ATS HD models for sale and this has created some questions:

1) If the scope has been well looked after, would an old manufacturing date of 2004 have any effect on the quality of lens coating or any other parts of the scope? As in, would time alone cause a noticeable degradation in device and optical quality?

2) Since 2004, have any updates been made to the line of ATS HD models that would prompt one to seek a more recent manufacturing date for a scope of the same model?

3) Since 2004 would put it out of warranty, are there any specific problems I might expect to have with a model that old and should I consider the cost of getting it serviced in my overall budget even if I have been told by previous owner that has been well looked after?

Many thanks

 

[Scott98]

Modern lens coatings are hard and won't age. Unless they're damaged by scratches or fungus growth (rare) they won't go downhill for hundreds of years or more. Improper cleaning - rubbing grains of sand or grit on the lens - is what would scratch them, or being dropped on the ground.

 

[Dennis Mau]

Yes, scopes can develop haze, mold and fungus inside the optics. Ask the seller if there are any of these defects visible before purchasing a scope or binocular that is that old. They are not as rare as you think, but are quite common, especially if the scope or binocular has been stored in a humid environment. I have seen many scopes and binoculars with these issues, especially haze. Also, seals can dry out on optics with time and then the nitrogen purging can escape, making the scope or binocular even more likely to have some of these problems.

 

[Yarkho]

The coatings have likely been updated in the last 20 years. The data are rarely published by manufacturers, but some insight may be gleaned from webs such as the House of Outdoor of Dr Gijs van Ginkel (which deals mostly with binoculars).

Bottom line, communicate with the seller, try the scope before buying if at all possible, and don't be willing to pay nearly as much as for a new scope..