Rifle Scopes Leupold glass- What to do?

[M40_A1]

I have a gold-ring Leupold spotting scope that is about twenty years old. I just noticed that the objective lense looks like it is delaminating in a few spots around the periphery. I am not able to detect any deterioration of the image yet.

Is delamination something that just spreads and spreads once it starts?
If Leupold's new lenses are made overseas nowadays, would they be more prone to delaminate like this with time than my twenty year old glass is?

IOW, what would you do?
Send it in to Leupold to have new (what may be cheaper quality) glass installed?
Or, wait until it is bad enough to address, and hope Leupold is around to fix it, hopefully with glass that is still worth a darn?

I need some food for thought. Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Re: Leupold glass- What to do?

send it back, they'll fix it for free

 

[M40_A1]

Re: Leupold glass- What to do?

Thankyou. Yeah, I know. It's a question of whether their current glass is up to snuff.

I gave Leupold a call and was told that their glass has been manufactured by the same three Asian and European manufacturers for the past 50 years. Guess I'll send it in and hope they still have glass for it.

 

[308sako]

Re: Leupold glass- What to do?

deleted in protest!

 

[XOR]

Re: Leupold glass- What to do?

If anything, the refinement in optics and coatings the past 20 years will probably be an improvement for the scope.

 

[craigp40]

Re: Leupold glass- What to do?

Do you really think the processes they used 20 years ago to make glass and coat them was better than they are today? I would send it in let them do whatever they need to do to fix it. You just might end up with a clearer scope.

 

[okiefired]

Re: Leupold glass- What to do?

Damn, you only got 20 years out of it!! Trash it and get somthing else. Why in the hell would you send it in for a free fix and probably another 20 yrs trouble free use? F'n POS Leupys!

okie

 

[M40_A1]

Re: Leupold glass- What to do?

LOL!

Well, I did find out they have the objective lense stocked. This lense is still clear for now, but they did say the delamination would continue to spread.

Technology has improved, but environmental regulation and corporate third-world fraternization have a way of bringing quality down.

I had hoped to get a mil dot reticle installed while they had it opened up, but they said no-can-do. I remember the exact same spotting scope was also available in 25X with an optional crosshair. I'm pretty sure I also remember the 25X being available at one time with the mil dot reticle. Does anyone remember those (25 fixed power x50 compact)? Or was that option just a Premier job?

 

[Guest]

Re: Leupold glass- What to do?

No it has not. Given the quality of today's lens making equipment and coatings, anyone who wants to can make the finest glass lenses anywhere on God's green earth. Quality of construction can vary a lot but if the $ are spent, glass is glass.
Send it in and get it fixed, it will be a far better scope.

 

[buckey]

Re: Leupold glass- What to do?

Call Leupold & get it fixed. Lenses and coatings have come along way in 20 yrs!!

 

[samnev]

Re: Leupold glass- What to do?

Leupold wil fix it to your satifaction. It really is a no BS warranty.

 

[gmihalis]

Re: Leupold glass- What to do?

I agree with most. Send it back. You will not be dissatisfied.
They've always come through for me.

 

[M40_A1]

Re: Leupold glass- What to do?

Thankyou. The spotting scope is at the factory now, and I was just informed that they would be replacing the objective lense on warranty.

 

[kingston]

Re: Leupold glass- What to do?

Send it back, you will be happy.