Swift Viceroy how old ?

[flybuy]

I picked up a pair of 10x42 Swift Viceroys, used, at the local optics shop and I'm wondering how old they might be. They didn't come with any paperwork but they probably aren't phase coated. The eyecups are the fold-down type (I think the newer viceroy cups rotate up/down). They seem decent optically and comfortable to hold. Any Viceroy users? I'd apreciate any feedback.

[SteveF]

I'm pretty sure that they're roughly 10 years old. I remember seeing them in a Swift binocular catalog of that period. In that time, phase-correction coating did not "make it" into the middle class range of roof prism binoculars. I would agree that they're likely pretty good. Sorry, I've never seen one up close.

[Renze de Vries]

Sounds interesting because of the unusual configuration, which reminds me of the European 10x42 SPWA (aka Newport) and the American 10x42 Condor. But as the Condor was probably an adopted SPWA, it seems unlikely that Swift USA put yet another one to the market of the same superb quality.

Could you make some photographs, or give all the logos, numbers and markings on it?

Thanks in advance,

Renze de Vries

[flybuy]

On top of the body over the right objective it has the "SWIFT" logo in the gold reticle, over the left objective "VICEROY" WATERPROOF. On the face of the focus wheel same "SWIFT" logo and around the wheel MODEL NO. 828 10X42 263 ft. at 1000 yds. Roof prism, the body is covered with a smooth rubber coating, not gnurled or textured. Will try to post photos later. Thanks for the snappy response.

[clschmalz]

On top of the body over the right objective it has the "SWIFT" logo in the gold reticle, over the left objective "VICEROY" WATERPROOF. On the face of the focus wheel same "SWIFT" logo and around the wheel MODEL NO. 828 10X42 263 ft. at 1000 yds. Roof prism, the body is covered with a smooth rubber coating, not gnurled or textured. Will try to post photos later. Thanks for the snappy response.

FWIW -
Model 828 Viceroy is on a 1997 Eagle Optics price list ($690 MSRP) but not in their 1997 buying guide. Model 830 Viceroy is in Swift's 2000 catalog and price list ($550 MSRP).

Charlie

[elkcub]

...
Model 830 Viceroy is in Swift's 2000 catalog and price list ($550 MSRP).

Charlie

Charlie,

Do you have a full Swift 2000 US catalog? If so, were the 804 and 804ED Audubons, and the 826 Kestrel advertised that year? If not, that may have been the first year for the 820 Audubon. Is is shown in the catalog? Also, was the 765ED UltraLite advertised, since it was new in 1999.

Sorry to ask all these questions, but the history is becoming more hidden with time.

Many thanks,
ED

[elkcub]

I picked up a pair of 10x42 Swift Viceroys, used, at the local optics shop and I'm wondering how old they might be. They didn't come with any paperwork but they probably aren't phase coated. The eyecups are the fold-down type (I think the newer viceroy cups rotate up/down). They seem decent optically and comfortable to hold. Any Viceroy users? I'd apreciate any feedback.

Sorry, but I just found reference to the 828 Viceroy in my materials from April 1999.

Close focus: 6' suitable for butterfly watching.
Ocular system: 5 lens. (Erfle)
Fully multi-coated, all glass to air surfaces.
Prism surfaces magenta coated.
Gray rubber.
Waterproof.
Diopter click adjustable.
FOV 263 ft. @ 1000 yds.

There is no mention of phase coating, although it was invented in 1988 by Zeiss.

All in all it looks to be a very nice glass to have around. Have fun with it.

ED

[clschmalz]

Charlie,

Do you have a full Swift 2000 US catalog? If so, were the 804 and 804ED Audubons, and the 826 Kestrel advertised that year? If not, that may have been the first year for the 820 Audubon. Is is shown in the catalog? Also, was the 765ED UltraLite advertised, since it was new in 1999.

Sorry to ask all these questions, but the history is becoming more hidden with time.

Many thanks,
ED

1997 Eagle Optics catalog lists 804 and 804 ED Audubons. Also lists 10x50 826 as Audubons instead of Kestrels.

Swift's 2000 Catalog lists 820 and 820ED Audubons along with 826 Kestrels (physically identical to 804's). Catalog's cover photo is a montage of a rubber armoured glass that appears to be the 820, apparently their featured glass

Lists 765ED 8x44 at $725 MSRP compared with 761 8x42 at $440. Glass appears to be identical physically to other Ultra-Lites.

Hope this helps,

Charlie

[elkcub]

1997 Eagle Optics catalog lists 804 and 804 ED Audubons. Also lists 10x50 826 as Audubons instead of Kestrels.

Swift's 2000 Catalog lists 820 and 820ED Audubons along with 826 Kestrels (physically identical to 804's). Catalog's cover photo is a montage of a rubber armoured glass that appears to be the 820, apparently their featured glass

Lists 765ED 8x44 at $725 MSRP compared with 761 8x42 at $440. Glass appears to be identical physically to other Ultra-Lites.

Hope this helps,

Charlie

Charlie,

Yes, it helps. Your catalog nails down the year 2000 for the introduction of the 820 and 820ED — making 1999 the last for 804 Audubons. BTW, the 826 Audubon/Kestrel is physically larger than the 804, to accommodate a 50mm objective. However, the overall construction is the same and I think the eyepieces may be interchangeable. The situation with the coatings evolution is less clear, but I assume that that the 826 shared the same dark green coatings as the 820 by year 2000, although I don't know what was used earlier.

Anyone with a 826 with serial number smaller than 99xxxx could help out by describing their coatings. Type 4b(1) Audubons had rather pale green-bluish coatings by comparison to the dark green of Type 4b(2). My superb 1993 804ED (air-spaced) is similar to Type 4b(1) and the earlier 804R that date back to 1985.

Charlie, what were the MSRPs in 2000 for the 826 and the 820's?

Thanks,
-ed

[trashbird]

Astronomics still sells the Swift Viceroy.

http://www.astronomics.com/main/product.asp/catalog_name/Christophers/category_name/A6LKUGR9JGJ88METM5610EGLK0/product_id/SW1042V

[elkcub]

Astronomics still sells the Swift Viceroy.

http://www.astronomics.com/main/product.asp/catalog_name/Christophers/category_name/A6LKUGR9JGJ88METM5610EGLK0/product_id/SW1042V

trashbird,

Yes, getting back to the original question, flybuy's binocular could have been made anywhere between 4/99 (or earlier) and 4/06. The picture I have from the 1999 ad is quite different from Christophers' model, so flybuy might post a picture of what he has.

ED

[clschmalz]

Charlie,

Charlie, what were the MSRPs in 2000 for the 826 and the 820's?

Thanks,
-ed
820 $570
820ED $790
826 $495

Charlie

[elkcub]

820 $570
820ED $790
826 $495

Charlie

Thanks. My guess is that the street price was probably about 60% of those figures.

ED