Optics.  Consistently high-quality from edge-to-edge is the single most impressive improvement from the older ELs to the newer Swarovisions. From my experience (with the exception of only one or two), all of the top-end binoculars do not exhibit edge-to-edge sharpness. Even the one or two with reasonably good center-to-edge performance must be slightly refocused to provide a relatively consistent image across the entire field. No such tweaking is needed for the Swarovisions. Extremely high contrast, neutral color and brightness, due in great measure to the large eye lens (glass element nearest the viewer’s eye), provide not only a beautiful crisp image, but also make it easier and quicker to focus and find the object being sought without having to critically center one’s eyes at the viewing end. Fine field edge detail can

be easily discerned. Furthermore, little vignetting occurs and distortion of straight lines is not readily evident. Viewing the night sky, stars appear as pinpoints edge-to edge and only dim toward the outer periphery, an indication of how well the optics are corrected. Some minor chromatic aberration (purple or greenish edges along darker objects) is present in strong side or backlit conditions, but looks to be more highly corrected for than other top-end binoculars. Flare, even when looking indirectly toward the sun, appears largely confined to the field edges and has little effect upon the critical center of the image.  Focusing, Handling, Diopter Adjustment and Eye Relief. Minimizing focus from 8.0 to 4.9 feet is the second significant improvement. Though left and right image circles do not merge into one (convergent

objectives are not used as in the Pentax Papillio), the view is sharp and contrasty. To expedite focusing, a raised pointer on the focus knob serves as a useful indicator. Set to infinity (pointer at about the top), it only takes a half rotation of the knob to reach approximately 19 feet and a full rotation to nine feet. The remaining one rotation takes the focus to 4.9 feet. Diopter adjustment remains the same and the rubberized covering assures a positive grip in wet and cold. Eye relief has been noticeably increased.  Wearing polarized sunglasses, it was easy to see the full 60 degrees of the apparent field of view.  Accessories. The case is bulky (though it does fold flat) and was replaced with a much smaller water resistant case that more closely approximates the shape of the binoculars and easily fits onto a belt. If

 Return to Swarovski Binoculars

A Full Line Stocking Dealer For All The Products Below

[HOME]     Binoculars    Spotting Scopes    Laser Rangefinders   Rifle & Handgun Scopes    Night Vision    Rings & Bases   Ordering Information