Review on 🔭 High-performance Pentax AD 8x25 WP Binoculars: Perfect for Outdoor Live Events, Travel, and Mountaineering by Aaron Long

I really liked the previous model, the DCF SW 8x25. To be honest I don't see what has been changed or improved on it and I can't find any description of it in the Pentax documentation. The only difference I noticed is that the hinges are looser on the new model. Since I really liked the DCF model because it is compact, reliable, economical, waterproof and with excellent optics, I bought two AD 8x25 as a donation for a project in Nicaragua (the DCF was no longer produced, otherwise I would have bought them since I tested some of them in extreme conditions in the field for 4 years and they are still almost like new). The hinges on the binoculars are loose enough to make it difficult to focus with one hand, as the binoculars tend to fold in or out as you turn the focus knob. Note: I bought two binoculars at different times, so probably not from the same batch. I contacted Pentax about this and how to tighten the hinges. They advised it could be a manufacturing defect but had to be returned to the factory and tightened. Fair enough I didn't have time to do this with my travel plans and had to donate them as is. They still work well, it's just disappointing that the binoculars that I thought were perfect and indestructible aren't reliable enough to buy as is. I would be interested to know if other users have had this problem, or am I just unlucky? I would still buy these binoculars again - I'll give the Pentax a second chance, but I'll buy myself enough time to return and fix it if loose hinges are still an issue.