HARDCORE OUTDOOR-GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS-GEAR REVIEWS FOR HIKING, SEARCH AND RESCUE, MILITARY, HUNTING: New Swarovski Binoculars

HARDCORE OUTDOOR-GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS-GEAR REVIEWS FOR HIKING, SEARCH AND RESCUE, MILITARY, HUNTING: New Swarovski Binoculars - EL Swarovision

New Swarovski Binoculars - EL Swarovision

The latest and greatest from Swarovski, the 10x42 EL Swarovision binoculars.  These are factory loaners so I used a Sure-Loc Tripod Adapter (Webster bar) mounted to my Outdoorsmans Pan Head and Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 tripod. I prefer the Outdoorsmans Tripod Adapter system but this works with ELs.

Slimmer, trimmer and little shorter but about the same weight at 28 ounces. A whole new system of lenses inside including one specifically to flatten the image and provide a crystal clear picture all the way out to the edges. HD fluoride glass, a full compliment of coatings and over sized ocular lenses.  They even improved the focus mechanism.

Field of view is increased over previous models to 399 feet at a thousand yards for the 8.5x42s and 336 for the 10x42s.

I have only had these in the field for a day and have not been able to do a good side by side comparison with my other favorites but I have to say that I am not sure how binoculars can get any better. These are just very impressive in every respect but most striking to me was how comfortable it was to sit behind them hour after hour. The big, new ocular lenses combined with a sharp as a tack edge to edge image make looking through them effortless. No eye strain, no accessory muscle fatigue. Just nice, relaxed, easy glassing.  In addition, the picture seems significantly bigger and the depth of field issues are reduced to nil.

I was so impressed I woke Terry from The Outdoorsmans up from a much deserved Sunday morning snooze with a text asking when Swarovski was going to upgrade the 15s. Don't know the answer to that question yet but I sure hope it is a yes and soon.

I want to say that these are the best binoculars that I have ever used but I should hold off on that until I put all the top contenders on tripods and line them up for comparison.  For now, I will just say that they are outstanding and an improvement over the my old (three months old) ELs which were already excellent.

You can't buy them yet but if you want to be the first kid on your block with a set of EL Swarovisions you have to get on the pre-order list. Call The Outdoorsmans and they will fix you up. Yes, I am already on the list for a set of 8.5x42s but please don't tell my wife.

Thanks and happy holidays to everybody.

Wade Nelson
Editor

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