Swarovski Binoculars: Reviews and Observations

The binocular products made by Swarovski continue to be some of our customers favorites, but they require an investment that’s a bit on the serious side so its important that you make an informed decision. We’ve assembled the answers to some of the more commonly asked questions about Swarovski binoculars, and included some detailed explanation of the most important features. We’ll be adding to our Swarovski binoculars review from time to time so if the information you’re looking for isn’t here feel free to check back or give us a call at 800-979-8890. In general it is widely regarded that Swarovski Optik makes excellent birding binoculars and hunting binoculars.

Swarovski Pocket Binoculars
Most of the industry commonly refers to this size binocular as compact, but Swarovski decided to call them pockets because of their suitability to fit into any little storage area you may have, including pockets. It’s interesting to note that Swarovski only makes one quality level of compact binoculars contrary to the offerings of some of their competitors who offer more affordable choices in addition to their very best models. We applaud this decision because in general compact binoculars, because of physical dynamics, don’t perform as well as more full size models. Therefore, if you really want or need a pocket size binocular you really should invest in a good instrument because poor quality really shows its ugly head with compact size models.

Swarovski offers their pockets in an 8x20 and 10x25 model both are of identical design and both have exit pupils of 2.5mm, so the choice comes down to magnification, field of view, and size.

Swarovski Pocket 8x20: If you want the lightest and smallest of the Swarovski Pockets then this is a great choice. It also has a wider field of view then the 10x25 so if you plan on using it to watch fast moving action, like a tennis match, then this may be another reason to choose the 8x20.

Swarovski Pocket 10x25: Built on a identical but slightly larger frame the 10x25 offers an additional 20% more magnification then the smaller 8x20s. Swarovski made these binoculars larger so they could accommodate the 25mm objective lenses and thus maintain a 2.5mm exit pupil. This helps maintain relative brightness despite the increase in magnification.

Both of the pockets are made with a nice twin hinge design so the barrels fold up underneath the bridge giving them a nice tucked away appearance. This feature also helps fit these binoculars to people with very small faces such as children or petite women. They also feature two position eyecups making them a great choice for anyone including folks that will use them with eyeglasses.

Swarovski SLC Binoculars
The Swarovski SLC series of binoculars offer the largest assortment of models in the entire Swarovski product line, so regardless of your needs it’s likely there’s an SLC to fit your requirements. With the completion of a major product line upgrade in 2006 these models are now referred to as SLC New and feature the latest Swarovski technology. Some of the most important features include:

Strong Durable Carriage: The entire SLC series of binoculars has a strong durable undercarriage made of aluminum. This gives the product line the backbone it needs for a lifetime of service without unnecessary weight.

Optimized Prism System with P-Coating: Fully phase corrected coating on the roof edge for maximum resolution and clarity provides for an image that’s nothing short of amazing.

Swarobright: The advanced prism mirror technology that revolutionized the binocular market is now standard on all SLC models. This innovative coating technology makes it possible to selectively control the reflected light in the prism system, and as a result, the color behavior. The images form a Swarobright coated prism are some of the brightest ever produced in a binocular, and since the reflective properties of the prism are optimized the colors are extremely true.

Swarotop / Swarodur Coating: This is Swarovski’s patented, multi-layer, broad-band lens coating. These are extremely thin reflection reducing coatings that are applied to the glass surfaces of lenses and prisms. They reduce surface reflections from about 5% down to less than 0.2%. The result is a visibly brighter image with significantly more contrast. This makes all Swarovski binoculars extremely well suited for low light use. With the addition of Swarodur the coatings are extremely resistant to scratching.

Integrated Dioptric Correction System: No one has the exact same vision strength in both eyes and so Swarovski invented a unique dioptric correction system which is integrated within the main focus wheel. Now setting the binocular for your eyes has never been easier.

Full Rubber Armoring: One of the things you’ll appreciate with any Swarovski binocular is the rubber armoring. In fact you might say that their armoring is just about as good as it gets when it comes to beauty, and scuff resistance. We know some of our customers are hard on their equipment and many report that their Swarovski’s look brand new even after years of use!

Twist-In Eyecups: The contact point of the eyecup is made of a hypoallergenic material that feels very comfortable against your skin and won’t cause any irritation. The eyecups are removable for easy cleaning of the ocular lens and offer two different positions that give people who wear eye-glass and those who don’t a full field of view.

Waterproof: These binoculars are airtight, dustproof and waterproof to a depth of 13’ due to an internal focusing system, and since the internal chamber of the binocular is filled with nitrogen their won’t be any internal fogging.

Tripod Mountable: All SLC binoculars can be mounted and used from a tripod with the optional SLC tripod adapter.

Binocular Doubler: All SLC models, except the 8x30, can be used with the Swarovski 2x Doubler accessory. Mounted on one of the eyepieces this instrument doubles the magnification of that barrel, turning your SLC into a small telescope.

Swarovski SLC Available Models
SLC 8x30: In the world of high end binoculars its easy to see why the 8x30 SLC has been so popular. This binocular is perfect for sportsman or naturalists on the move, and with a 3.75mm exit pupil you’ll get plenty of light to your eyes. Featuring a trim body, light weight and advanced Swarovski optics this a great choice when a more manageable binocular is what you really want.

SLC 7x42: Sometimes our clients are less concerned with high magnification and more concerned with extreme brightness and very large fields of view. For those situations it’s hard to beat the SLC 7x42. With a large 6mm exit pupil this binocular gives a rock steady image in just about any viewing situation, and with an exceptionally large field of view it’s easy to find what you’re looking for.
Special Note: The SLC 7x42 is often recommended by us for our clients that experience a greater then normal trembling of the hands, or if they are experiencing significant vision problems. Or experience has show that even with these challenges the 7x42 can provide a great viewing experience.

SLC 10x42: The SLC 10x42 binocular is the top selling model in the SLC product line. Featuring 10 times magnification and full size 42mm objective lenses this binocular is a real performer.

SLC 7x50: The 7x50 is the classic military/marine design because of its huge 7.14mm exit pupil. This large circle of light falling on your eye provides a rock steady and uninterrupted view if you’re trying to use your binoculars from a moving platform like a car, boat, or plane. It also delivers maximum brightness for use at night when the pupil of your eye is fully expanded. This model is a real favorite of mariners, military, and law enforcement. All of the general performance aspects of the binocular are dramatically enhanced by the optical technology found in the SLC 7x50.

SLC 8x50: Offering 12.5% more magnification than the SLC 7x50 version this unit may be the right choice for those needing great low light performance but who would also like the extra magnification for a more detailed view of their subject.

SLC 10x50: Next to the SLC 10x42 this is the most popular seller in the SLC product line. It offers the full 10 times magnification wanted by many people but with larger 50mm lenses. If you want the enhanced low light performance that accompanies the larger exit pupil and you don’t mind a little more size and weight this may be the best choice for you.

SLC 8x56: Sometimes our customers want it all, high-end magnification and maximum brightness, and are less concerned about weight and size because their not going to be moving around all that much . If your one of these folks the 8x56 may be the binocular you want. Large 56mm lenses deliver a full 7mm exit pupil for tremendous brightness even in the darkest of conditions, and combined with the full 8x magnification you’ve got a binocular that really brings in the image even during the poorest of light conditions.

SLC 15x56: The SLC 15x56 is one of our favorite binoculars, but it is a specialized piece primarily for distance viewing. It was designed to combine the best of both worlds as it comes to binoculars and spotting scopes. Powerful 15x magnification gives you the ability to see subjects in great detail even at long distances, and the comfortable binocular design gives you the ability to glass for long periods of time without eye fatigue. This last feature is further enhanced by the exceptional optics found in the SLC product line. Because of its reasonably sized exit pupil of 3.73mm some people can comfortably view without the aid of a tripod while others find that a tripod helps to steady the image. Then SLC 15x56 is currently supplied by us with the optional SLC tripod adapter which is necessary to connect the binocular to the tripod. When you want to let your eyes do your walking for you the SLC 15x56 is hard to beat!

Swarovski EL Binoculars
The Swarovski EL is a marvel of design and construction and represents the current peak of known binocular technology. Starting from the ground up Swarovski Optik looked at every aspect of design and function and set to improve them all. When you look through an EL its difficult not to be very impressed; the view, the comfort and the ease of use are simply amazing. While you could argue that a few other competitive models have an equally good optical quality it is fair to say that the EL has some significant differences in design. Differences that many people feel are significant advantages. Here is an overview of some of the most important EL features.

Open Body Design: Swarovski made a significant leap in design by eliminating the large single hinge in the middle of the binocular, often referred to as the bridge, and replaced it with two smaller hinges on the outer edges of the barrel. This created an open space in the middle that’s just ideal for placing your fingers. The feel of the binoculars in your hand can be best descried and natural and secure and when you combine this design with a lager center focus knob it’s easy to see why you can effortlessly use an EL with one hand.

Close Focus Ability: To accommodate the desires of people who want to see things close up Swarovski designed the EL with a improved ability to focus at short distances. While it does vary somewhat by model most of the EL product line can focus down to about 7 feet, just about perfect for viewing butterflies, plants and other small marvels.

Swarobright: To improve brightness and color fidelity Swarovski engineers pulled out all the stops with the EL. Instead of using silver as the mirror backing on the prism a new backing was created by a revolutionary vapor deposition process called Swarobright. This took the traditional reflective loss from nearly 6% down to a meager .02% and drastically improved color fidelity across the entire spectrum. While many competitive models are now developing similar processes it’s clear that Swarovski continues to lead the way with this benchmark technology.

Long Eye Relief: All of the Swarovski EL models have a nice long eye relief. This feature makes them well suited for everyone, regardless of whether you wear eyeglasses or not. Keep the eyecups in the down position for use with glasses or simply extend them to the outward position for use without glasses.

Swarovski EL Available Models
EL 10x42 Binocular Review: The EL 10x42 WB is the most robust seller in the EL product line and is a consistent favorite of birders, sportsmen and naturalists. With a full 10x magnification this model is ideally suited for observers that really want to see fine details. While this binocular is considered full size its weight is manageable due to magnesium body frame that is common to all members of EL family. The 10x42 has a nice field of view and a 4.2mm exit pupil; these features give it a nice bright image and a view that’s easy on the eyes. Birding binoculars A+, Hunting Binoculars A+

EL 8x32 Binocular Review: The 8x32 EL is about as sweet as it gets, no wonder this model has been a time proven favorite of adventurers who want a smaller binocular without sacrificing performance. The 8x32 brings together a combination of performance specifications that make this model even more attractive for all around use. Consider its 420’ field of view at 1000 yards. This specification alone makes this binocular extremely comfortable to view through and helps you quickly find you’re your looking for. It has a large 4mm exit pupil that gives it great low light performance even in the most demanding poor/low light conditions. Birding binocular A+, Hunting Binocular A+

EL 10x32 Binoculars Review: Sometimes our clients want the full magnification of a 10x binocular, but would prefer the more modest size and weight of a mid size model. For people with these specifications on their mind Swarovski makes the EL 10x32. This unit has an exit pupil of 3.2mm and while this isn’t the largest in the EL class it does give plenty of brightness throughout the day and well into the evening, so unless you’re primary application is at night or on the edge of darkness the 10x32 will be just great. Birding binocular A+, Hunting Binocular A+