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What exactly is WATERPROOF?

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Stephanie View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stephanie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: What exactly is WATERPROOF?
    Posted: August/17/2005 at 13:42

 What exactly is waterproof any ways???

 

    Well to be accepted as waterproof, a binocular must be immersed in 2 meters of water for two weeks or so with absolutely no penetration into the housing. Water resistant, weatherproof and other terms do not mean waterproof. The rubber coating do not make binoculars waterproof. They make binoculars easier to hold and reduce the damage if dropped..

 

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SteveSF View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SteveSF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/17/2005 at 14:28

Good to know the minimum standard.  Thank you.

 

Where did this specification come from?  Is it specific to binoculars, or does it apply to other instruments, too?

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Stephanie View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stephanie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/17/2005 at 15:30
Sorry I left that out. This is how the U.S Military define waterproof.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sir Hoppalot Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/06/2012 at 02:25
They should just use an IP rating
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_Code#Code_breakdown
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote STONE Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/06/2012 at 10:18
Excellent
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bird Watcher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/06/2012 at 10:24
http://www.opticstalk.com/chris-farris-waterproof-ratings_topic17467.html 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 3_tens Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/06/2012 at 10:54
Originally posted by Sir Hoppalot Sir Hoppalot wrote:

They should just use an IP rating
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_Code#Code_breakdown
That may work for a plastic gun case but the scale is not appropriate for Optics. They all will fall inside the Maximum rating of 8. (The equipment is suitable for continuous immersion in water under conditions which shall be specified by the manufacturer. Normally, this will mean that the equipment is hermetically sealed. However, with certain types of equipment, it can mean that water can enter but only in such a manner that it produces no harmful effects.) A galvanized bucket can pass this rating.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote gulf1263 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/07/2012 at 17:05
The Japanese manufacturers use a scale of 1 to 8, the higher the number the more sever the conditions the glass will remain waterproof.
The US military branches each have their own separate standards...ie. the Navy standard is different than the Army standard.
As an example the Navy requires a glass to be submerged for two weeks at two meters in a combination of various chemicals, oil and water undergoing certain vibrations at certain frequencies in addition to with standing cold, heat, pressure and altitude testing.
Not all items they purchase meet these sever requirements, for a while Fujinon was their primary supplier.
Baker Marine in San Diego has a glass sourced that meets these requirements for durability.
Most top end Japanese glass is a 7 on the scale they use.
I had a pair of Nikon 7x50's that met the Navy standards but also had a special fungus treatment and re-purging capabilities for jungle warfare (they were stolen) that had been developed for USMC Force Recon, available for individual purchase but not official issue.
Standard issue were Pentax 7x50's.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rustic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/07/2012 at 17:32
Keeps water from getting in.
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