trilyte 7 x 42

[mrkb]

hi, all, anyone know anything about the swift 7 x 42 ( 0887 ) any info would be interesting to know. by the way I am new to BF. :hi:

[talon_dfa]

Sorry I can't find any info (even at Swift site):
http://www.swift-optics.com/

There are 2 current auctions for Swift Trilyte (not 7 X 42):
1 US, 1 UK
http://www.binoculars-and-scopes.org/index.php?q=Swift+Binoculars+trilyte&catid=28179%2C31710&submit=search&advanced=

[mrkb]

looks like i am not having much luck with any info on these bins, Swift trilyte 7 x 42 roofs, the only reason I would like to know more about them is because it is the first pair of bins I have owned so I dont know if there good or bad in comparison with other bins.

[ksbird/foxranch]

while searching for info on the Swift 10x42 Ultralites I came across your inquiry. I have the 7x35, 7x42 and 8x40 Trilytes as well as 4 other Swift models like the Skipper. The Trilyte roofers are all very good and th 7x42 may be the best of all. The 7x35 model is very heavy for it's size and feels like a Trinovid with a leather skin over metal body but slightly larger. The 8x40 and 7x42 Trilytes I have are rubber armoured and lighter in weight than the 7x35s. The 8x40 handles well and has an unusual ocular cover that I haven't lost yet but it would be easy to lose.

The 7x42s are by far the lightest in weight of the 3 and they are bright and sharp. I don't have the ocular covers any more for the 7x42 but I replaced the covers with lens/eyepiece covers that come in standard increments of .5mm sizes and they work fine. None of the Trilytes I have are phase coated and so they aren't as sharp as comparable roofers and all three seem a bit long compared to more recent designs so the handling is "different". Some Swift fans who visit like them allot. I use the 7x42s once in a while and they are okay, but I have many other 7x porros I prefer with better sharpness and contrast. I don't think the Trilytes are waterproof so one of the big advantages of the roofer is lost with this series.

All things considered the Trilytes might be a good pair of starter binoculars.

[ceasar]

I have an old Swift Binocular brochure that shows the 10 x 42 (816) Trilyte (FOV 314') and the 8 x 42 (817) Trilyte (FOV 341'). They both weigh 20.4 Oz and are armored and waterproof. They have polycarbonate bodies, have "camphered" roof prisms and the 10x has a 4 lens ocular system. They are fully coated on all air to glass surfaces and have multicoatings on the outside ocular and objective lenses. They bear a resemblance to the old Leitz Trinovid binoculars which used Uppendahl roof prisms.
Bob

[Simon S]

I have a pair of the 7 x 35's and although not the best Swifts made are still sharp and well built. Don't drop them though because the prism's are poorly supported and go out of collimation fairly easily,and are buggers to re secure them:stuck:

[Steve C]

I literally wore out an 8x40 Trilyte. It was too far gone for even Nicholas Crista to ressurrect. I agree with KSbird. They are nice image glass, but the lack of phase correction costs them a bit in relationship to today's phase coated glass. However, they always did whatever I asked them to do and were a binocular I was completely happy with. My 8x40 had the pebble grain leather cover and was made in 1970. They also have the focus knob on the "wrong" side compared to the standard location.