[Sherlock]

We have had our ED with HDF 12 x 36 zoom since late 2007.

As we have recently aquired a Nikon ed82 the MM2 is now used on a monopod while walking to and from prime bird watching areas and it serves us jolly well. The view through the ED glass is very good and having a steadyish monopod means higher magnifications can be used.

Problems with the MM2 to date -

when the lens cap is removed the rubber eyepad thingy keeps moving and it has to be pushed back each time

the adjustable eyepiece securing screw worked loose once. Opticron sent another screw which I fitted but now it has worked loose again and I fear the thread in the adustable eye relief has now worn because of the loosening screws. The thread on the screw is very small and not very long and the metal the screw goes into is not very thick. A weak point on the HDF zooms surely?

I made a modification as I disliked the drawtube operation. A sleeve of plastic was sliced to fit into the extending section. It is secured by very small nyloc cable ties. This negates the need for the scope to be opened in damp conditions and reduce the possibilty of allowing moist air into the internals everytime the scope is extended.