topic Canon 10 X 30 IS Binoculars - sticky Rubber Coating in General Discussion

Canon 10 X 30 IS Binoculars - sticky Rubber Coating

ahofmann531 — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 16:31:59 GMT

I have a 10 X 30 IS binocular [serial number deleted for privacy]. The rubberized coating is disintegrating and has become very sticky. I see others have had this problem with other high end models. How do I improve the condition or get them repaired? They work perfectly but are very uncomfortable to use.

Re: Canon 10 X 30 IS Binoculars - sticky Rubber Coating

AP1 — Sat, 25 Sep 2021 23:00:03 GMT

Mine has the exact same problem. It's so disappointing. I hope you get a reply with an answer.

Re: Canon 10 X 30 IS Binoculars - sticky Rubber Coating

Tintype_18 — Sat, 25 Sep 2021 23:17:36 GMT

Dust with talcum powder?

Re: Canon 10 X 30 IS Binoculars - sticky Rubber Coating

wackilenz-12 — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 22:40:41 GMT

One must find out what this cover material is made of, probably a synthetic leather imitation. I have seen (felt) this on a camera or two, with a black coating, so I would venture to say it is normal evaporative degradation. However, there must be some kind of gentle cleaner (diluted dish washing liquid), that can be wiped across it with a gentle bristle toothbrush in a circular motion, and then a water based
sprayed airbrush coating with everything else
masked off as best as possible. This might soak into the covering
and fortify it in some way. Just my 2 cents, don't take it as gospel. Thank you, I am a new member.

Re: Canon 10 X 30 IS Binoculars - sticky Rubber Coating

wrinklieninja — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 12:57:00 GMT

Yup.... mine too....same model bought about 10 years ago. Rubberized covering has been degrading for a while despite being stored on a shelf in my study between use and rarely being used outside. Very sticky and covered in fingerprints now.

Hard to believe that a company of Canons reputation would fail to check whether a main component of such sophisticated binoculars was actually stable or not. Hopefully it hasn't degraded to anything toxic but who knows? I think the least Canon could do would be to apologise for their error and confirm that the binos are still safe to handle

Re: Canon 10 X 30 IS Binoculars - sticky Rubber Coating

Jeffbrew — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 14:28:13 GMT

My IS binoculars have been getting worse and worse for years until this year they finally melted down till they felt like a melted blob of tar. Totally unusable. They even deposited goopy rubber onto my fingers.

I tried some of the on-line suggestions - which only made them worse - but I was determined to bring them back because they still worked so well.

It occurred to me that lacquer (the kind intended to finish wood and metals) has a reputation for being able to coat and dry over any previous finish, so as a desperate last measure, I decided to try using this to coat them. I simply covered the eyepieces with a couple of medicine bottle caps, cut a little piece of masking tape to cover the power button, and stood them on a small board. objective lenses down. I sprayed them with lacquer from a spray can (Rustoleum brand works well and sprays nicely). The lacquer dries quickly - in about 30 minutes if you don't spray too thickly. I gave them four coats and let them dry overnight. About a week later I gave them a final coat.

The results are excellent. The stickyness is completely gone and they feel and work great. Of course they look a bit different - somewhat shiny, and lumpy where the worst of the goopyness was - but frankly, I like the look - the well-worn feeling of old friends (after all, I have had them for over ten years!) and not having them look spiffy-new probably makes them less likely to be pinched. They still work as well as the day I got them.

One caution - avoid breathing in the laquer spray. Do it in a well ventilated space and maybe use a fan to blow away the over-spray. This whole job took about 30 minutes - not counting drying time.

Re: Canon 10 X 30 IS Binoculars - sticky Rubber Coating

SamInPgh — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 19:13:58 GMT

I have the same problem, as I'm sure everyone who purchased them also has, whether they post here or not. This is obviously a manufacturing defect, albeit one that doesn't manifest until well after the warranty has expired. Canon USA should offer owners either free repair or a deeply discounted replacement. I love these binocs and expected them to last a lifetime with good care. I will never buy another Canon product unless this problem is addressed to my satisfaction.

Re: Canon 10 X 30 IS Binoculars - sticky Rubber Coating

Tajarvis — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 05:47:02 GMT

I have the same issue on these lightly used bino's. I called the service support line and "they are unaware of any such problem"!!!.... HA! I can't stand the sticky and hadn't seen these post until I signed up here and already authorized a $250 repair! Very disappointed in Canon for not fixing this product defect!

Re: Canon 10 X 30 IS Binoculars - sticky Rubber Coating

SamInPgh — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 17:04:35 GMT

Well, I sent mine to Canon for a repair estimate and just received notice that I would be charged $250. I will call today and tell them to return my sticky, melting binocs and that I will never purchase another Canon product. Btw, my 30-year-old Bausch and Laumb 10x50's still perform and feel as new, as does my 35-year-old Nikon SLR camera. Bye-bye, Canon.

Re: Canon 10 X 30 IS Binoculars - sticky Rubber Coating

SamInPgh — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 19:58:02 GMT

Hello. Per my post just before yours above, I rejected Canon's $250 repair authorization and the binos are on their way back to me. If you would do me a favor, I would very much appreciate it. Assuming that you have access to the serial # of the pair you sent them, could you check the ones you receive back and see if they are the same or not? I have seen others who authorized repair state that they were "as good as new". What I want to know is whether they are actually able to repair them or are simply replacing them. My suspicion is the latter. However, if they are able to somehow restore the rubberized coating, I plan to ask them to share information on how owners might best attempt the process ourselves (at our own risk, of course).

Thanks in advance.

-Sam

Re: Canon 10 X 30 IS Binoculars - sticky Rubber Coating

Tajarvis — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 23:06:19 GMT

Guess what! When I authorized the $250 I immediately received a revised quote for $475 for a major repair required to fix a "focus problem" i didn't know I had! I called and they advised that the housing holding the optics would have to take place to solve the sticky rubber problem! I said absolutely NO. Send them back! All of the sudden there was a 40% discount offer and I was back to the ~$250 range. I accepted again. I will let you know on the SN. I think the SN is printed in/on the housing which they will have to replace so i'm thinking there will be a new number. Amazing they still don't acknowledge the problem.

Re: Canon 10 X 30 IS Binoculars - sticky Rubber Coating

SamInPgh — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 06:17:21 GMT

Wow! That's crazy. It's really not surprising, though, that they still refuse to acknowledge the problem. Once they made the initial business decision not to take any responsibility, they had to stick by it (pun intended). Otherwise, all those customers that paid for the "repair" in the past would want to be compensated. IMHO, the way this was handled is grounds for a class action lawsuit but I'll leave that to the lawyers. Personally, I'd pay $250 just to see all the internal corporate memos and emails on this subject from the past ten years or so but, unfortunately, I don't have a spare subpoena on me. 😁

Re: Canon 10 X 30 IS Binoculars - sticky Rubber Coating

ironrod7 — Sun, 26 Dec 2021 19:27:19 GMT

Same problem and mine were stored inside a cabinet the last 8 years, sparingly used and no oils or chemicals have touched the casing of the binoculars. CANNON YOU OWE US A FIX.

Re: Canon 10 X 30 IS Binoculars - sticky Rubber Coating

Tajarvis — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 03:04:02 GMT

Just received a new pair of binoculars for those I sent in for repair of the sticky problem. Cost me $253.

Re: Canon 10 X 30 IS Binoculars - sticky Rubber Coating

Tajarvis — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 03:05:17 GMT

I received a new pair for my $253 repair.

Re: Canon 10 X 30 IS Binoculars - sticky Rubber Coating

SamInPgh — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 03:46:52 GMT

Thanks for following up. That's what I figured they would do. There's really no way to get them back to "like new" condition without completely disassembling and reapplying the coating to the housing. In the meantime, I have gotten mine back into usable (non-sticky) condition by following the advice of a couple of others to dust them with talcum powder once or twice a day for a few days, which somehow absorbs or otherwise neutralizes the stickiness of the disintegrating coating. I'll probably have to repeat the process every few weeks but I'd rather do that than give Canon another $250. Thanks again for posting your outcome. Take care and enjoy your new binos!

Re: Canon 10 X 30 IS Binoculars - sticky Rubber Coating

gmasami1 — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 22:22:59 GMT

I notice there is a solid, non-sticky surface under the sticky rubber. I can scratch the sticky rubber off. You can leave some of the sticky rubber to maintain some grip. You only need to scrape the areas your fingers will touch while gripping the binoculars.

Re: Canon 10 X 30 IS Binoculars - sticky Rubber Coating

Tajarvis — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 00:46:04 GMT

Not my way of fixing things!

Re: Canon 10 X 30 IS Binoculars - sticky Rubber Coating

JHarryF — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 18:50:24 GMT

Hi, JeffBrew — Just wondering how this lacquer fix has held up. I have this problem, too, with my very expensive Canon Bins. Will appreciate an update.

Re: Canon 10 X 30 IS Binoculars - sticky Rubber Coating

Jeffbrew — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 12:26:20 GMT

Its the season for birds, and my binoculars are seeing a lot of use. The lacquer is holding up beautifully and my binoculars are a pleasure to use.

If you are devoted to the "matte" original finish of your binocs, then be aware that this appearance will change after this treatment, but in my opinion the somewhat glossy look on mine is kind of cool. I know that "flat" finish lacquers are available and might look a bit more like the original finish. In every respect except appearance, the binoculars work just the same as when I bought them over ten years ago.