F
Family Man (Guest)
Guest
Went last night and bought the Swarovski 10x42 SLC. It was a long decision in the making. As I have said before, I bought a set of Zeiss 10x40 ClassiC from Cabelas for comparison. If the Swarovski were no better in a side by side comparison I planned to stick with the Zeiss.
I took the Zeiss ClassiCs with me to the store and stood outside between sunset and dusk with the ClassiCs, SLCs, and the Swarovski ELs. Tried all three on various targets stacked on top of each other until it was too dark to see. In the end the SLC won out for the following reasons:
I did not have to change the focus setting when shifting from a mid-distance view to a long-distance view (this was not true of the ClassiC).
The SLC was a tad brighter to me in the low light conditions.
The SLC was, to me, clearer than the EL (I know, go figure).
I liked the fact that the Swarovskis had a locking diopeter (sp?) adjustment and softer eye cups (additional) which the Zeiss did not.
In the end I was just more comfortable with the Swarovski for a once-in-a-lifetime bino purchase. Someone else might have done all the same things I did and decided on something else. That's fine too.
The most important lesson is that you have to try the glass yourself. To me the ELs were noticably less bright and clear than the SLCs. This makes no sence from a technical standpoint, but to my eyes that is the way it is.
Now I look forward to years of using these exceptional binoculars knowing that they are the best possible purchase for me.
I took the Zeiss ClassiCs with me to the store and stood outside between sunset and dusk with the ClassiCs, SLCs, and the Swarovski ELs. Tried all three on various targets stacked on top of each other until it was too dark to see. In the end the SLC won out for the following reasons:
I did not have to change the focus setting when shifting from a mid-distance view to a long-distance view (this was not true of the ClassiC).
The SLC was a tad brighter to me in the low light conditions.
The SLC was, to me, clearer than the EL (I know, go figure).
I liked the fact that the Swarovskis had a locking diopeter (sp?) adjustment and softer eye cups (additional) which the Zeiss did not.
In the end I was just more comfortable with the Swarovski for a once-in-a-lifetime bino purchase. Someone else might have done all the same things I did and decided on something else. That's fine too.
The most important lesson is that you have to try the glass yourself. To me the ELs were noticably less bright and clear than the SLCs. This makes no sence from a technical standpoint, but to my eyes that is the way it is.
Now I look forward to years of using these exceptional binoculars knowing that they are the best possible purchase for me.