New Swarovski ELs

[Colin Key]

There have been rumours of the Swarovski EL range being upgraded for quite a while. There are "snippets" of info on the net, but I came across this link today: http://www.swoptics.co.uk/view.asp?KEY=3003

New 10 x 42s at the bargain price of £1,690.00!!!

Colin :wideeyed:

[AndyB]

Wow, what a price. Would love to know if they're any good.

[SzimiStyle]

As my bino has just stollen I am really looking forward to see what Swaro bring to us. I have been a bit disappointed by the quality of the current EL model. Hoping some improvement will be introduced.

Szimi

[Colin Key]

Hi Szimi,

Sorry to hear that your bino has been stolen.

There is a preview of the new Swaro ELs in issue 94 (August 2008) of the U.K. magazine "Birdwatch". I haven't read it myself since I do not take this magazine, but maybe someone else on here could give us a synopsis?

I find it difficult to believe that these new bins are worth £1,690 - that is almost twice what the old (pre HD) Leica Ultravids were selling for. I am not too much in favour of Swarovski at the moment, on build quality rather than optics. My wife's 'old' 10x42 EL's have been back twice now to have the hinge and one of the eyecups replaced, my ATS80HD scope is falling apart (the two sections of the main barrel are unscrewing themelves), and the highly overpriced DCB digiscoping adapter which I bought when they first came out broke the first time I used it (got my money refunded).

I am more and more thinking that I will stick with my existing Ultravid 10x42 and Trinovid 10x50BA.

I have no experience of the Kowa bins you mention in your other thread but I do often ask to look through other peoples bins when I meet them in the field and am very surprised at just how good (both optically and mechanically) some of these "cheap" (around £300 or so) bins now are.

Colin

[SzimiStyle]

Thanks for your reply Colin. I have been more and more feeling inclined to consider lower priced binos as good as the top fighters :) Earlier I decided to buy a Zeiss bino (which we discussed about this forum earlier) but now, as I am at the 'must' side to get a bino, feel that lower priced but still good pro-like bino is also fits for my needs.

As I am spending most of my time with bird photography so having a top bino is not the most important drive - however I will never skip birding. :certifiable:

Really encourage birding fellows to share their experiences on Kowa's, so called, excellent binos.

Szimi

[Joe stockwell]

as £1600+ for a pair of bino is a little pricy for me i look towards the lower end, as i have been recently scoping out a new pair i was looking at the opticron 10x42 DBA oasis s-coat, after looking at these i couldnt belive that the price tag was only £589 i have used my dads bga's and these dba oasis are far superior

as you mention why spend so much now when there are such fantastic binos at a more affordable price

[SzimiStyle]

as £1600+ for a pair of bino is a little pricy for me i look towards the lower end, as i have been recently scoping out a new pair i was looking at the opticron 10x42 DBA oasis s-coat, after looking at these i couldnt belive that the price tag was only £589 i have used my dads bga's and these dba oasis are far superior

as you mention why spend so much now when there are such fantastic binos at a more affordable price

Today I was birding with my friend who owns a pair of Opticron Oasis 8x42 bino, an earlier mondel. I was stunned by seeing the excellence of this optics.
I no longer following fashion and trends what top birders carry around their neck. The most important thing is the image I can see through the lens.

I have no idea however if Opticron is offering long living binoculars which used daily in the field in various weather conditions. I am actually a travelling birder and carrying my bino in desert, icy mountains and also in humid rainforests. If I talk about long living I am thinking about the smoothness of the focusing wheel, the rubber armour tightness etc.

Any experience on it?

Szimi

[Joe stockwell]

at the moment i am only using discovery wp's so i wouldnt expect anything special

but my dads bga's are 5 years old now and are still fantastic with a very smooth focusing wheel and the rubber armour is still as strong as ever,

they have been rained on in the most evil thunderstorms and they are still as good as new they have also been to all sorts of temperatures and terrain

[SzimiStyle]

Swarowski officially announced the product release. The website is here also:
http://el.swarovskioptik.com/

Looking forward to read more about it :)

BR: Szimi

[butor2003]

I am also using Opticron Oasis 8x32 and have also used them in all sorts of weather from the Alps to West Africa, they are really excellent bins, never had any problems with them at all.

Mike

[MichaelF]

Opticron Oasis 8x32
Nice to see someone recommending something more realistic for a change! £179 according to one hit (warehouse express) on google.

You could buy ten pairs of these for the cost of one pair of Swaros . . . are the latter really worth it?? You could still be greedy and have two for yourself, and give the rest away to needy birders who can't afford any at all (e.g. most birders in the 3rd world, but also some in the '1st' world too) . . how about it, folks??

[SzimiStyle]

You could buy ten pairs of these for the cost of one pair of Swaros . . . are the latter really worth it?? You could still be greedy and have two for yourself, and give the rest away to needy birders who can't afford any at all (e.g. most birders in the 3rd world, but also some in the '1st' world too) . . how about it, folks??

This is a valid point. I will do something similar to friends of the developing countries but not as an individual but within a project of an organization. On the other hand life works this way otherwise Mercedes or BMW could not be able to sell any luxury cars. But they are running on the streets while others using disgusting public transports. :hmpf:

We cannot change it for sure.

Szimi