Thoughts from a Polymath

I am Dennis Brock, inventor and maker of the Brock Magiscope, which I created in 1987- half my life ago. I am a Polymath, aka an Autodidact, and as such, I collect and master skills of widely disparate genres. I collect and restore vintage typewriters, sewing machines, and acoustic guitars. I also collect and restore binoculars, and I have far too many to count. This shot shows a small percentage of my total. Many could not be saved. They are my spare parts reserve. I buy them in bunches-these were people's collections and had been given away. Unless someone works on them, they're going to the dumpster. What I discovered were masterpieces of materials, design, and skill, none of which will be seen again. Most of them were made in Japan in the 50s, 60's, and 70's. Having worked on Zeiss microscopes for decades, I still prefer the ones from Japan. German optics are hard to work on and difficult to take apart. Parts are impossible unless you make them. German binoculars are overpriced and overestimated by those who may not have my decades of experience. Keep this in mind-our eyes are the weakest link in the chain. Which is exactly why the buyer should try to insist on being able to pick and choose - not just a version of the same line, but a real choice. 

We went to a marine store in town, which previously had been the only place to buy binoculars in Sarasota. We found an attractive display with half a dozen Chinese binoculars on it. They were all versions of the same binoculars. They had the same soft coating that I have seen deteriorate in our humidity - regardless of cost.

I started working with research microscopes in the mid 70's. I was in a city with five medical schools and worked for both Zeiss and Leitz, AO, and B&L in Philadelphia. I've worked on everything optical, and it takes me half a second to see an optical misalignment. People can't tell if the image is off. You may not notice it at first, especially if you are young. It may not feel right or even give you a headache after long use. That is why you must take your time and have a wide variety of choices, with each pair being unique. It could take half an hour, and it would be helpful to have an expert standing by.  

I have discovered after many years that the Chinese manufacturers do not engage in quality control. They never had it, and they never will. Also, customer service, they don't care. Everything about it, from beginning to end, is a letdown. Good, vintage binoculars are wonderful to have for so many reasons. Once you see a turtle dove on your birdbath, with the sun shining off its pink cheeks, you will know why. Birders love binoculars, but friends don't let their friends buy disposable binoculars.  

It turns out that you can judge a pair of binoculars by its leather case or by its plastic bag. Stay with me, please.