How are he SLC neu as compared to some more recent 8x30 or 32s.. Like the Cabelas instinct 8x32hd (meoptas). Or the zeiss conquest HD..
I haven't tried the Meopta HD clone or the Conquest HD, but I'm sensitive to CA, and I found that the 8x30 SLCneu controls CA fairly well for a bin w/out ED glass. There is some, but it's minimal and only on high contrast objects. However, today, bins half the price of the SLCneu have ED glass.
The biggest difference between the SLCneu and other 30/32mm roofs I've tried is the SLC's objective side focuser. The knob is somewhat small compared to "new" 8x30/32 roofs such as the Nikon 8x30 M7 and the 8x32 Terra ED, and you have to turn the focuser with your ring finger because it's on the other side of the bridge. Add to that Swaro's infamous harder-to-turn-in-one-direction-than-the-other focusing mechanism, and I found the SLC rather cumbersome to use for birding (Bob and his wife don't, saving Bob another post about this). The objective side focuser can take some getting used to, some can adjust to it, some can't, I couldn't.
The SLC is lightweight (~21 oz.), but it's longer than the Meopta, Conquest, Terra ED and Nikon M7. It's close focus is also longer than the Meopta or Conquest (13 ft.). I tried a 2009 model and the AR coatings were VG, similar in color balance to the SLC-HD. A bit "warm" but not very "warm" like all the Nikons mentioned.
Being that the 8x30 SLCneu was made with hunters in mind, it is more robustly built than most mid-priced modern birding bins in the 30/32mm format. The 8x32 Conquest HD might be as robust if it's built like its bulletproof (literally) 42mm sibling, and it sells for about the same price as the 2009 anniversary edition SLCneu (~$800).
If birding is your primary use, I think you'd be better served with the Meopta or Conquest or even the Terra ED or M7, because their close focus and EP-side focusers are better suited for birding.
Brock