Used Swaro Advise

tailchasers · Aug 17, 2013

Been searching for a different set of binos for the past while and have stumbled across some 10x42 Swarovski SLC WB's. These are not the swarobright or NEU models but are in great condition. Prices I have seen are around $800. Is this a decent price? Research has shown the glass is still the same as the newer models, less the HD, but with different coatings so I am not to worried about the glass.

Any thoughts someone might share? Thanks a bunch!
Al

"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway."

Gator · Aug 18, 2013

That about right for the market, Not a bad deal. You can always send them in and have them cleaned at Swarovski.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]

Timberbuck · Aug 19, 2013

Those are obsolete compared to today's mid priced glass.

I would hold out for a SLC NEU made in 2008/2009 or look at some more recent glass.

Zeiss Conquest HD
Meopta Meostar HD
Vortex Razor HD
Zeiss Victory FL, lightly used.

fatrooster · Aug 19, 2013

In my opinion the SLC's from 10 years ago are still better than todays mid priced glass as mentioned above. If possible I would compare them side by side. I've seen some mid priced glass that I was very impressed with when they were brand new but give them two or three years and they loose their quality. Swarovski will keep their quality forever. fatrooster.

tailchasers · Aug 20, 2013

I never realized how many different variations there are in the world of binoculars. I read bino reviews and seems every Tom, #####, and Harry thinks their binos are the best even if they are a $100 pair. Gets a bit confusing and frankly I am getting a bit frustrated as there are almost to many choices. The Swaro's are of interest mainly as you just state fatrooster and my experience with optics have shown the same where after a few years the product quality fades. Thanks for the input gentlemen.

"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway."

grizzly · Aug 20, 2013

Everybody has their opinion... the thing to remember is nobody spends a ton of money on something and then writes about how they got screwed. It is just human nature to self-convince that you made the best decision.

There are two things to know about bino purchases; to spend as much money as you can, and you get what you pay for. There are very few exceptions to the latter rule in any market.

If mid-price glass was really as good as high-price glass, they would raise the price, and hence profitability. These companies are for-profit, if their product is truly better than a product that costs twice as much, do you really think they would hold prices artificially low? No. They try to hit a market price/ market share medium, that level is hardly 50%.

The mid-level brands aspire to be one of the Big 3, not the other way around. While I believe the best VALUE is probably from a Chinese company, the best product is undoubtedly European. The key to the purchase is which component is most important to YOU... (hint: there is no wrong answer).

Grizzly

PS. Tristate, please be an adult and respect my wishes that you do not respond to any of my posts. I, in turn, will do you the courtesy of not responding to any of yours. I simply do not wish to converse with you.

fatrooster · Aug 20, 2013

RE: Used Swaro Advise, especially

Grizzley makes some good points. The best advice I have is to go to a sporting goods store and get all of the bino's that you are interested in. Take them with a store attendant outside in full daylight and adjust and focus every pair to your eyes. Do this late in the day and keep looking through them as the day gets darker and darker. You should be able to narrow your choices of the better bino's down to three or four and as night gets closer you should be able to narrow your choices down to two or three. From here it becomes personal preference and you have to choose the one YOU like. If the store won't let you perform this test then let them know that your going to another store.
The more expensive brands will hold their quality forever while the less expensive brands might look pretty good as a brand new pair but will loose quality in several years.
Keep in mind that an inexperienced eye might not see the differences that an experienced eye will see. For example, Someone who is not used to an HD television might not see much
difference in the quality between HD and non HD TV's, especially hundreds of dollars worth of a difference. But lets say that you buy the HD tv anyways and several months later you go to a friends house who has a non HD tv. Now you can see the imperfections in the non HD tv because your used to seeing a perfect picture and your eye is now trained. You don't understand why you couldn't see the big difference in the first place. Optics are the same.
I am certainly not bashing the cheaper brands because I appreciate the fact that they allow many people the chance to get decent optics at decent prices. I have over the years bought and sold many of the cheaper brands because I like to keep a pair of binos in the truck, have a pair on hand for my wife and have a pair for family members who come from the east to hunt with me and they've all been praised on the internet about how well they stack up against the expensive brands. The truth is that you still get what you pay for. While the cheaper and mid priced brands are decent bino's and are definitely optics to be proud of, they still are not Leica's, Swaro's, Zeiss and Kowa. If my budget dictated that I needed to buy cheaper or mid priced bino's then I would and would be happy with them because they are good quality. But if your budget will require you to buy expensive bino's then get the best you can get. They last forever and hold their resale value. One more thing to remember, good optics won't make you a good glasser. I've seen people take a pair of broken down cloudy 50 dollar bino's out glass people with the best of the best bino's. So there are lots of factors to consider. Anyways, goodluck with your choice. fatrooster.

Gator · Aug 20, 2013

RE: Used Swaro Advise, especially

Re-sale will be same if you don't like them.
But if you love them it will be the best $800 you have spent.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]

Gunnie3035 · Aug 22, 2013

RE: Used Swaro Advise, especially

>Re-sale will be same if you
>don't like them.
>But if you love them it
>will be the best $800
>you have spent.
>
>"I have found if you go
>the extra mile it's Never
>crowded".
>>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>>the MM green signature club.[font/]

Above is the best piece of advice ever!! You will rarely ever see a Swarovski/Leica under $800, even if it is 15 years old. Can ya say the same about any other brand.....Nope

tailchasers · Aug 22, 2013

RE: Used Swaro Advise, especially

Best advise I have gotten so far has come from you all. Thank you!
I haven't found to many 10-15 yr old Swaro SLC's around the $800 mark but have a couple in sight so the comments about not finding to many is holding steadfast.

"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway."

Willametteriveroutlaw · Aug 22, 2013

RE: Used Swaro Advise, especially

Keep your eye out, Cabelas will most likely do a crazy sale here soon on the SLC Hd's I'd guess similar to what they did on the M model spotting scopes last year..

Timberbuck · Aug 22, 2013

RE: Used Swaro Advise, especially

You should seriously consider a SLC NEU or Zeiss Victory FL (Zeiss's previous top model). You should be able to pick up the Zeiss for under $1300 and it will absolutley smoke a 10-15 year old SLC.

I am also having a hard time trying to make sense of the comments about the $1000 range glass going bad after a few years. Perhaps yes with glass like Zen Ray or Nikon in the $400-600 dollar range.

I would put a Meopta Meostar HD up against any binocular for quality of build and toughness. And no the optics on it are not going to fade or get worse after a few years use.

You really need to check out some of these options before you buy a ten year or older SLC.

Gator · Aug 23, 2013

RE: Used Swaro Advise, especially

There is a pair on Colo Craiglist western slope under sporting or farm and garden.
10x42 for $800

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]

fatrooster · Aug 23, 2013

RE: Used Swaro Advise, especially

I would agree that $1300 for the Zeiss is a great deal as compared to $800.00 10 year old Swaro's. I kinda consider $600.00 to $1,000.00 a mid range bino but I guess $1,300.00 could be considered mid range also. I too would look at Seiss Victory FL's for that price.
I also agree that the Meopta Meostar HD is a great bino. I've got the non HD in in Cabelas Euro's and am very happy in thier performance. I barely use them so I cannot comment on the longevity of thier quality but I do know there is quite a few of them in the bargain cave so I kinda question why there are so many of them in there.
Zen Rays are a good example and so are the Vortex Vipers about longevity of quality. I've had two pair of Zen Rays and they do honestly loose some quality over time with lots if use. My brother-in-law has a pair of Vortex Vipers and he showed them to me two years ago. They were very nice and I almost bought them over the Euro's but am glad that I did not. I looked through my bro-n-laws vipers the other day and although they are decent, they are not the same bino as they were the day he bought them.
I still think that the SLC's and the Leica trinovids from 2003 are great bino's and I would not hesitate to buy them over anything up to $1,000.00 and would even consider buying them over a pair of vortex razors. I would definitely make a side by side comparison and go from there. fatrooster

tailchasers · Aug 23, 2013

RE: Used Swaro Advise, especially

Gator the set you mention off CL is actually one I am dealing on. I've asked the owner for pictures of the lenses and haven't received a response yet.

In my situation purchasing $800 binos is the top end hence why I am really trying to get the most for my dollar. My wife thinks I'm at $600 so I am stretching it a bit so moving up to a grand will be tough. Not like I wouldn't want to spend more but I find sleeping with the dog sucks.

I bought a set of bushnell about 3 years which I paid about $200 for and by year 2 the lenses began to show deterioration. Looked at the Zen Rays and although they have great reviews, few folks are giving a review of them that are 3+ yrs old and even though the Zen Rays and several others now offer life time warranty I can't help but think the lenses won't last since they have to save money somewhere to keep the product within the specific price range. Not to mention will these manufactures warranty faded lenses?

"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway."

Gator · Aug 23, 2013

RE: Used Swaro Advise, especially

I would offer him $600 because they been on there for a couple of weeks now. I would really try and od a face to face deal, IF you can't I would have a MM member in GJ see them and handle the money end for ya, Keeps you from getting taken. I wouldn't worry about the lens much you can send them in to Swarovski and have them cleaned and take care of.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]

tailchasers · Aug 24, 2013

RE: Used Swaro Advise, especially

No response about them in GJ but either way I am thankful for all the assistance.
BTW we made a trip to GJ today and while at Cabelas looking through the binos my wife walks up. I handed her a pair and said "maybe instead of me getting a new set today you do." She looked at me and smiled and next thing I know she is critiquing glass along side me. The counter guy and I were giving her a little insight on what to look for and before to long she was peaking through some nice Zeiss and upper Vortex optics. I handed over one of the models I have been looking at and she was impressed and expressed much more appreciation for good glass mostly because they didn't strain her eyes and the higher up the less stain she noticed. I threw the set she liked in the cart and she will use for the next couple of weekends antelope hunting while still use the old cloudy bushnell's. Oh she agreed to increasing my bino budget too. Sweet talked her today but I gotta love that woman even more after seeing her express a new found respect for good glass.

Besides it was fun seeing her get into it.

"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway."

fatrooster · Aug 24, 2013

RE: Used Swaro Advise, especially

So what bino's did you get her? fatrascal.

tailchasers · Aug 24, 2013

RE: Used Swaro Advise, especially

"Fatrascal"? A new alias?

She liked the 8x42 Razors. Not my pick but these are what she felt the most comfortable with and wanted. Still a good choice. Over dinner she told me it would be "OK" to borrow hers until I get mine unless she is using them.

"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway."

fatrooster · Aug 25, 2013

RE: Used Swaro Advise, especially

The razors are definitely a good bino. Congrats on a new bino for the wife and better yet, on turning her opinion, hee hee.
Fatrascal is a username I use on a different website. Sometimes I get them mixed up. fatrooster.

fatrooster · Aug 25, 2013

RE: Used Swaro Advise, especially

tailchaser, heres a deal right here in the MM classifieds. Personally I prefere the 10x42 but this is still a good deal. fatrooster.

fatrooster · Aug 25, 2013

RE: Used Swaro Advise, especially

OOps, I messed up. Here it is.
http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID49/7182.html

tailchasers · Aug 26, 2013

RE: Used Swaro Advise, especially

I would prefer the 42mm lenses myself but for the money these are super nice. I never even noticed these posted until you brought them up. Appreciate it!

"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway."

Gator · Aug 26, 2013

RE: Used Swaro Advise, especially

There is a pair of really super glass on there right now 15x56 $1300 that is a good price.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]

tailchasers · Aug 27, 2013

RE: Used Swaro Advise, especially

Those 15x would be great truck binos. I have been looking more at them Zeiss Fatrooster posted up and boy that is some nice optics. I am more interested in the low light ability of the 10x32's since they are 32mm. But with these being of higher quality will this even be of concern?

"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway."