I have only recently become more serious about my interest in bird photography and I needed to replace a very old pair of RSPB 8x25 binoculars which were broken.
I was not intending to spend the kind of money required for a top-notch product but my requirements were (a) lightweight, (b) comfortable to hold. Looking through reviews on the internet I decided that a pair of 8x with a front optic of around 30mm would fit the bill. My requirement for compact and lightweight is due to a combination of back problems and that I also am carrying quite heavy camera equipment, so I did not want to add too much to what I was alread carrying.
Before alighting on the Swarovski CL 8x30s I tried two other compact binoculars. One cost 250 and the other 370 (second hand). I did not like the first because the body was considerably heavier than I was expecting and the second were a pair of 8x20 Ultravids and I just did not like the handling. At that point I decided to go for broke and ante-up for the Swarovskis which were way outside my original budget but which received such good reviews.
From the moment of opening the package and handling the binoculars it was obvious that these were in a different class to what I had tried. The weight was fine and they felt very well made. I am used to buying high quality camera equipment and I immediately understood that what I had purchased was a high quality item.
Of course, the most important aspect after form-factor considerations is optical quality. I can only liken the use of the Swarovskis to putting on a comfortable pair of slippers. They felt absolutely perfect from the get go. I have used them is varying light, including dusk and marvelled at the crisp, clean, clear image I get. I am sure that the fact that binoculars fit so well in the hand adds to stability and confidence when using them. Scratching my head I cannot find anything to fault.
It may interest people to know that the one thing I do not use from the well supplied accessories is the strap. I must admit I do not like the cordura nylon or the neoprene neck guard. For my cameras I have already invested in the Peak Design interchangeable strap system and as I have a pair of connectors to hand I put those on the binoculars instead. As it is a modular system it means I can either use them with the PD wrist strap or my PD 'leashes' which are wide, comfortable straps. I wear my binoculars arcross my body (on my left side) with my camera on another PD strap on my right side. I can easily lift either up to my eyes as required.
I have learned over the 40 years I have been consuming camera equipment that the old adage "you get what you pay for" is actually true in commodity items. In other words, if you pay more generally you get a better version of the same thing. While I would not hesitate to purchase a cheaper pair of binoculars for a casual user I am glad I hesitated and then paid enough to secure a very good product, albeit at a price which reflects it quality.
NOTE: the price I paid was in GBP pounds not dollars as stated in the details of this review!
I was not intending to spend the kind of money required for a top-notch product but my requirements were (a) lightweight, (b) comfortable to hold. Looking through reviews on the internet I decided that a pair of 8x with a front optic of around 30mm would fit the bill. My requirement for compact and lightweight is due to a combination of back problems and that I also am carrying quite heavy camera equipment, so I did not want to add too much to what I was alread carrying.
Before alighting on the Swarovski CL 8x30s I tried two other compact binoculars. One cost 250 and the other 370 (second hand). I did not like the first because the body was considerably heavier than I was expecting and the second were a pair of 8x20 Ultravids and I just did not like the handling. At that point I decided to go for broke and ante-up for the Swarovskis which were way outside my original budget but which received such good reviews.
From the moment of opening the package and handling the binoculars it was obvious that these were in a different class to what I had tried. The weight was fine and they felt very well made. I am used to buying high quality camera equipment and I immediately understood that what I had purchased was a high quality item.
Of course, the most important aspect after form-factor considerations is optical quality. I can only liken the use of the Swarovskis to putting on a comfortable pair of slippers. They felt absolutely perfect from the get go. I have used them is varying light, including dusk and marvelled at the crisp, clean, clear image I get. I am sure that the fact that binoculars fit so well in the hand adds to stability and confidence when using them. Scratching my head I cannot find anything to fault.
It may interest people to know that the one thing I do not use from the well supplied accessories is the strap. I must admit I do not like the cordura nylon or the neoprene neck guard. For my cameras I have already invested in the Peak Design interchangeable strap system and as I have a pair of connectors to hand I put those on the binoculars instead. As it is a modular system it means I can either use them with the PD wrist strap or my PD 'leashes' which are wide, comfortable straps. I wear my binoculars arcross my body (on my left side) with my camera on another PD strap on my right side. I can easily lift either up to my eyes as required.
I have learned over the 40 years I have been consuming camera equipment that the old adage "you get what you pay for" is actually true in commodity items. In other words, if you pay more generally you get a better version of the same thing. While I would not hesitate to purchase a cheaper pair of binoculars for a casual user I am glad I hesitated and then paid enough to secure a very good product, albeit at a price which reflects it quality.
NOTE: the price I paid was in GBP pounds not dollars as stated in the details of this review!
