Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Cabela's Euro HD 10x42

So let me start by saying I'm a little bit picky about certain things.

Just received my euros in the mail. Store was out of 10x42's. Right away I noticed a whitish/grayish film on the green armor. Anyone else have this? Or notice this? Wondering if it's normal, or if I got some kind of defect. I didn't notice this on the set in the case at the store. Wondering if I need to take them back.

Kind of hard to tell in the pics, but it's noticeable.

It doesn't rub off either.

My first thought would be the rubber oxidizing, which gives a whitish/grayish film. I see that on older rubber coated optics like my 10yr old pentax spotting scope.

I got mine last fall from the store and they were clean. If you aren't happy with it take them back and ask for an exchange. That's the beauty of Cabela's, they may not be the cheapest but the customer service is pretty good.

That is exactly how they come when packaged new from Cabelas. It is totally normal, and everyone that is (was) packaged that way from store located by me was like that in packaging when I looked at them. We looked at 5 boxes of new ones and all were the same ( 8x32's also-etc). It goes away- that is why you do not see in optics counter ones. The optics guy at Cabelas counter told me it was some sort of protectant type substance that is on the armor and his was same way when he got his, and yes- it does go away. Maybe rubs in, or rubs off I do not know.

And I had a 12x50 Euro HD, and it was exactly the same deal.

I suspect it's just the mold release agent used when the rubber armor was molded.

It's referred to as "bloom". Apparently it wears off and is common with natural rubbers. My new spotter has it in the rear (ocular end) rubber armor when I removed it from the factory packaging. The objective rubber was fine. Ironically, the one on display at the store was the opposite.

My swarovski SLC's were the same way. It rubs off quickly with a little use, no worries.

If the glass is good, why are you worried about such trivial stuff? If it bothers you that badly, send them back.

Maybe I can buy them in the bargain cave!!