Author Topic: Who makes What? (Read 1324 times)

Kurt · « **on:** February 27, 2003, 10:21:19 PM »

Or dare I ask WHERE?? I am researching for new binos 10x50 or 8x42 roof prisms. Does anyone know who builds Cabellas Binos???? Their Alaskan Guide is more than the Leupold Wind Rivers. The Cabellas Big Sky looks good on paper but I want the old focus type. Don't know what they call it now. Not talking individual focus but that would be great if they had them still. I won't spend good bucks to see China or Korea on something that advertises as a USA, Euro or Japan product. I have no problem at all with Japan products my 30+ year old Bushnell spotting scope from Japan is of outstanding quality. The Cabellas Pine Ridge looks way good for the $ and their water proof (oh thats another feature, or "claim" I wanted) too but who makes them? Can't be the same as the Alaskan Guide cuz their half as much. THen someone told me today that Kahles are the same thing as Swarovskis. Could be a "trade secret". Help please! Thanks, Kurt

BruceP · « **Reply #1 on:** February 28, 2003, 04:19:34 PM »

Kurt I have the older pre- phase coated Pentax 8X42's DCF that are IMO a good bino for the money. About a year ago I bought the Swarovski 8X30's because I had always wanted them. They are a little sharper and a little brighter but with the pentax being 42's instead of 30's they do come closer than you might think. The newer phase coated Pentax should be even better than the ones I have. You might also look at the Nikon's I have an old 7x travelite II that is really good for mini's. If I were buing new and had nothing now I would still get one of the Pentax (either DCF's non-phase coated or the phase coated ones, I forget what they are called)or the Swarovski's, depending on what I could afford. That gives you IMO three different quality and price levels to choose from.
BruceP

dbuck · « **Reply #2 on:** March 01, 2003, 09:52:49 AM »

Kurt,

I was at Cabela's the other day checking on a Alaskan Guide riflescope and I ask the the same question and the salesman said he didn't know who made the Alaskan Guide series and managment wouldn't tell them who made them. I guess its a guessing game.

Regards,

Buck

Graybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** March 01, 2003, 12:22:42 PM »

More and more these days the less than top of the line optics are coming out of either China or Korea or the other developing nations over in that area. Only the top of the line optics seem to still be coming from Japan.

As to just who makes it you'll likely not get any honest answer well not a direct one anyway. Why? Well partly because where the batch they are selling now came from might or might not be where the next comes from. Lowest bidder who promises to match the specs of the buyer wins the contract.

Only when you hold them in your hands and look on the box or the paperwork that comes with it will you be able to tell the nation it came from and even then not the company who made it. You just have to trust the name of the company selling them to do right by you. Otherwise you best move on to some other whom you do trust.

GB

taxmiser · « **Reply #4 on:** March 02, 2003, 12:52:31 PM »

Greetings,
I just recieved a pair of binoculars I had bought on eBay and I can't say enough good things about them.
They are Swiss Army 8X30 IF made by Kern. Kern is a part of the Leica group so the quality is above reproach.
They are advertised "buy it now" for $120.00, cost of getting them to the states is $25.00 and if one doesn't use Paypal another $10.00 for currency conversion.
Everything one could want in a mid-power glass and more at an unbeatable price.
I just ordered another before they get away. After all, with only 25 to 30 pairs I feel the need!

tax

Kurt · « **Reply #5 on:** March 03, 2003, 08:30:17 PM »

Thanks fer the good responses, I went to the Cabelas online live chat and got a fella who seemed very knowledgeable about optics. That is a super neat service, trouble is I type a little slow for live chat. I asked who made the Cabelas binos, particularly Alaskan Guides and he said it was a private label company. Then said IOW he couldn't say. I knew that was coming. I asked OK then can you say where they're made, He said Japan. I said I have had friends who had trouble with Nikon products and worse got no warrantee service. He assured me they are not made by Nikon and are "far better optics than Nikon". I asked where the Leupold Wind rivers are made he said Japan also. So they won't say who, but GB has a good point they may have different contractors from time to time. Also the company may not want a competitive situation with their own name/label. So for me it comes down to who do I trust to stand behind them if something goes crazy in them. On that score I put my trust in Leupold. Plus (big plus) the Leupold Olympic is almost 200$ cheaper than the Cabelas Alaskan guide, for the 8x42's. Got a buddy who has the 8x42 Alaskan Guides coming now so I'll get to give them the once over. I'm not buying till this summer but I bout decided on the Olympic.
After comparing rifle scopes I do think Kahles and Swarovski are the same company somehow.

BruceP · « **Reply #6 on:** March 04, 2003, 02:47:12 PM »

Kurt, Swarovski and Kahles are both old companys and at one time seperate, but if I remember correctly Swarovski now owns Kahles. I have not had a chance to look through the Cabelas or the Leupold Olympics so I can not comment on them.
As to customer service on the products you mentioned I know that Leupold is very good at least on their scopes. Also I did have to send back the Pentax DCF bino's that I posted about before, because the diopter adjustment was not right. It got to where it would not adjust for my eyes, and I do not wear glasses or contacts. Anyway they repaired them and sent them back in just a few weeks at no charge.
BruceP

Naphtali · « **Reply #7 on:** March 15, 2003, 06:50:46 AM »

You are missing a large segment of what you seek: new and refurbished military binoculars. I include URLs below. Binoculars manufactured in Europe and Canada such as, Leica, Zeiss, Hensoldt can be excellent values when bought from reliable resellers. My personal preference is for individually focusing eyepieces, mainly because of durability and waterproofing. Some binoculars include mil scale rangefinders. Most can have such devices installed in the right barrel.

In general, I would avoid former Communist Bloc optics because if they were able to consistently make good stuff, it wouldn't be "the former . . ." The exception to this is Zeiss-Jena. Now several binoculars from several countries other than Germany (DDR/East Germany) used Zeiss-Jena optical glass, or built factories to make the same product as the original Zeiss factory at Jena. Without first-hand knowledge of quality, I refer you to "the former . . ."

Optics made by Zeiss-Jena are of excellent quality. Period. Their problem was the cost of that high quality was too high for the company to survive free competition. So long as the communist government needed "hard" currency, Zeiss-Jena survived. After reunification, the company went under. The plant was bought and extensively refurbished. It now makes optics for Bernard Docter Optic, Inc.

Deutsche Optik http://www.deutscheoptik.com/
Sovietski Collection http://www.sovietski.com/