Been a perfect breeding season for mosquitoes, so just a reminder to all those folks out there using repellents. Formulas containing DEET can ruin the finish on a
binocular,
spotting scope,
camera or any valuable optic and even make some armored surfaces tacky. DEET, in fact, can make a good paint remover if used in concentrated form. No denying the effectiveness of
DEET, but when using
binoculars and
spotting scopes, I am always careful to use non-DEET repellents. I am currently using a lemon Eucalyptus formula that is moderately effective and harmless to finishes. Most such plant based repellents I have tried seem compatible for use with optics.
