Where is that binocular made?

I get country of origin questions on optics fairly often and a good many people are disappointed when I tell them that the model in question is made in China. Some of these folks are hoping for "made in Japan" and a few are still seeking the extinct "made in USA" binocular or spotting scope. I understand their concerns, though I have often reminded them that where a product is made is not always a measure of its quality.

If you've been in this industry as long as I have, you remember the days when "made in Japan" was associated with less expensive optics. The majority of these products, however, offered the consumer an affordable and practical alternative to high end European glass and, as such, got binoculars and spotting scopes into the hands of customers who might not otherwise ever own one. I owned many a mid-priced Japanese binocular and spotting scope, myself.

Were those mid-priced made in Japan products from days gone by any better than today's mid-priced made in China products? I don't think so. In fact, with advances in technology, the current Chinese versions may actually offer even more optics for the consumer's dollar. I remember a time when features we now take for granted on most binoculars - full multi-coating, phase correction, waterproofing and more - were only to be found on the most expensive models European models. These days, you can get them on many models under $200.

Part of the stigma of "made in China" is the result of the same market balance that once plagued the "made in Japan" label. These days, what comes out of China is a very mixed bag of optics, just as in the old days of Japanese production - you can buy anything from a disposable toy to a very serious optical instrument. In this sense, it is just as unfair to label all Chinese products as junk as it was back then to label all Japanese models as junk. Today, "made in Japan" is typically associated with quality, solely because the bulk of production has moved to China to hold the line on labor costs. Only more expensive optics are still being made in Japan.

If you still doubt that a Chinese binocular cannot give you good performance, I invite you to look at several I have tested. Under $400, I loved the Pentax 8x33 DCF XP. It tested out better than some better known binos at twice the price. Scary. Can't afford $400? Under $300, try the little known Carson XM HD. The HD stands for high definition and they aren't kidding. You will never buy a better binocular at this price. Can't afford $300? Try the Vortex Diamondback or the Bushnell Excursion. Both offer full multi-coating and phase correction - a miracle at this price.

As far as I am concerned, anyone who wants a solid binocular with enough optical quality for nearly any application can afford one, thanks in large part to "made in China".