[barshnik]

Originally Posted by NDhunter

John:

The upgrade you just mentioned on your older Swaro. SLC 8x30 has
brought it up to the current SLC NEU specs, I believe they replace the
prisms with the Swarobright, di-electric coatings, and the other lenses
are the current ones, with the latest coatings, including easy-to-clean.
I am thinking you are well pleased ?
Enjoy your optics search.

Jerry

Well pleased? Yes. Really one reason I'm getting the new 10x32 SV is that I feel like Swarovski gave me a new spec binocular after 20+ years of mild use. Darn nice of them. Think I'll get the latest/best now, and see if I can live 20+ years more to use those.

John F

[brocknroller]

Originally Posted by barshnik

<<From what you've said, the older 8x30 SLC had a ring of field curvature at the edge the way the 7x30 version did. The 8x30 SLCneu has good edges with only a bit of field curvature at the very edge. No fuzzy "ring around the collar">>

Hmmm, I've been spending a good deal of time looking through my old 8x30 SLC Mark II's with a 1991 date of mfgr. I did just have them 'repaired', meaning that the repair order shows that the prisms and all optics were replaced (I'm assuming with the latest available), probably making them Mark III's?

I don't see the ring of curvature or a distinct fuzzy ring. The image shows a bit of fuzz at the bottom, but it is a smooth transition. There is a small amount of pin cushion, but not nearly as much as the new Bushnell Legend Ultra HD's.

BTW, have I mentioned how much I like these Bushnells? The price on these fluctuates on Amazon, but for a bit over 2 bills they seem hard to beat.

After spending more time this morning at Bass Pro with the 8x32 and 10x32 (non swarovision EL's) I'm close to changing my order from the 10 to the 8. Still gotta be the tan ones though! The 8 is just a bit easier to place in the sweet spot with less fiddling with pupil width. I'll probably change my mind 4 more times before delivery anyway.

Opticsplanet called this morning saying Swarovski informed them the delivery to the US has been delayed a week or two, so mid May now.

John F
LV NV

-----------edit---------
No, going to keep the order for the 10x's.
-----------edit---------
No, going to change to the 8x's.
-----------edit---------
rinse, repeat.
-----------edit---------
OK, please, someone tell me what to do! 8's or 10's??
I've tried them both and still can't make up my mind...

Do you remember how the edges looked on your 8x30 SLC MK II before the optics were upgraded? Those were the optics that joiska was looking through.

I haven't seen the 8x30 version, but the 7x30s had fuzzy edges. A decent sized sweet spot but then a ring at the edges that was out of focus. The 8x30 SLCneu has a very large sweet spot and gradual fall off at the edges. The edges on the 8x32 EL were also very good and so was the 8.5x EL.

All this leads me to think that the field flatteners on the SV EL were one of those extras that Holger talked about at the end of his 8x30 EII/8x32 Meopta review that add unnecessary expense to modern birding bins.

As a "rolling baller," I would have preferred if Swaro had just added ED glass to the 8x32 EL and left the optical design and ergonomics otherwise the same. No doubt even that incremental change would have added considerable cost beyond my pay grade (GS-1, Step 1), but at least it would have been useable if I ever found one in a pawn shop. :-)

[ronh]

"As a "rolling baller," I would have preferred if Swaro had just added ED glass to the 8x32 EL and left the optical design and ergonomics otherwise the same."

Brock,
Your energy is getting out of balance, and I hate to see that happen, but from my experience with the old and new EL 8.5x42, I must agree. The sweet spot was already fabulous, over the top, needless luxury territory. The only flaw was excessive color fringing. But that's just me.

But according to several comments here, you can still get essentially the old-style field correction and the latest technology combined in the SLC HD. I thank them for offering the choice.

The people who love the SV are not stupid, they just, well, love it is all, and there is much there to love, different strokes is all, lighten up and let them do their thing. Try to hate the SV less and love the SLC HD more. At least let yourself be annoyed more by pincushion distortion. This vibration will align your karmic perspective.
Love to all things,
Ron

(saw a great movie about Jimi Hendrix last night)

[brocknroller]

Originally Posted by ronh

"As a "rolling baller," I would have preferred if Swaro had just added ED glass to the 8x32 EL and left the optical design and ergonomics otherwise the same."

Brock,
Your energy is getting out of balance, and I hate to see that happen, but from my experience with the old and new EL 8.5x42, I must agree. The sweet spot was already fabulous, over the top, needless luxury territory. The only flaw was excessive color fringing. But that's just me.

But according to several comments here, you can still get essentially the old-style field correction and the latest technology combined in the SLC HD. I thank them for offering the choice.

The people who love the SV are not stupid, they just, well, love it is all, and there is much there to love, different strokes is all, lighten up and let them do their thing. Try to hate the SV less and love the SLC HD more. At least let yourself be annoyed more by pincushion distortion. This vibration will align your karmic perspective.
Love to all things,
Ron

(saw a great movie about Jimi Hendrix last night)

Glad to find a non-rolling baller agree about the EL only needing a CA control tweak. As far as the SLC-HD alternative, there's no 8x32 model, and even if they came out with a mini-me SLC-HD, I don't think the ergonomics would work as well for me as the 8x32 EL WB.

However, I'm not sure where you got the notion that I in any way, shape, or form implied that SV EL owners were "stupid". That seemed to come out of left field (an apt metaphor on opening day).

SV EL owners like HGL and Kowa Genesis owners are simply more "neural plastic," to use Ed's term, which puts them in the majority of bin users.

As far as your advice to "lighten up," go back and read Jerry's apoplectic post and direct that advice to him (as he always gives it to others). Also mooreorless' deleted post. Both contained bad karmic remarks about "rolling ballers". And let's not forget the acerbity of Mark, the Defender of Absam, about the same subject.

I felt that something was needed keep "rolling ball" from being trivialized and those who can't adapt to it from being denigrated, so rather than being confrontational, I opted to use hyperbole to make my point. Thought that tactic would be familiar to longtime members like yourself....

Anyway, thanks for the karmic alignment. I'll have to take a chakra test to see it if it worked. :-)

http://www.eclecticenergies.com/chakras/chakratest.php

[ronh]

Indeed you called nobody "stupid" Brock. And rolling ballers can do their thing too. You are a good sport for taking my nonsense.

I told my wife, a former original EL and lately an SV user, about our hubbub over rolling ball, and tried my best to explain what it was. A few days later, she asked me, rather worried, if there might be something wrong with her eyes, since she could not see it. I told her her eyes were probably okay, just to keep trying.

It is interesting to have a binocular user who is not really a binocular "enthusiast" in the house. I also told her about the hubbub of acclaim over what a great improvement the SV is. She didn't buy that at all, says the new one seems just like the old one to her, loved both. As a very rare case of someone who upgraded "accidentally" through a theft and insurance replacement, and paid not a dime, her opinion, although not informed like ours, suggests what the power of money spending can do to the mind.
Ron

[brocknroller]

Originally Posted by ronh

Indeed you called nobody "stupid" Brock. And rolling ballers can do their thing too. You are a good sport for taking my nonsense.

I told my wife, a former original EL and lately an SV user, about our hubbub over rolling ball, and tried my best to explain what it was. A few days later, she asked me, rather worried, if there might be something wrong with her eyes, since she could not see it. I told her her eyes were probably okay, just to keep trying.
Ron

Good one. It took Dennis awhile to see the RB, maybe there's still hope for her. :-)

[josika]

For someone with small hands like me the ergonomics of the SV are much better than the original ELs which were not bad handling themselves.
Ben.

[mooreorless]

"As far as your advice to "lighten up," go back and read Jerry's apoplectic post and direct that advice to him (as he always gives it to others). Also mooreorless' deleted post. Both contained bad karmic remarks about "rolling ballers". And let's not forget the acerbity of Mark, the Defender of Absam, about the same subject."

I guess I am just tired of reading posts about rolling ball after reading "lots" of these post about the Nikon full size and now with the SV. I will just stop reading these posts, simple as that.

[brocknroller]

Originally Posted by mooreorless

I guess I am just tired of reading posts about rolling ball after reading "lots" of these post about the Nikon full size and now with the SV. I will just stop reading these posts, simple as that.

Imagine, if you can, being on the other side of that fence, and having to read "lots" of posts by users who don't see "rolling ball" or who adapt to it in 2 seconds, and who trivialize it as being a "non-issue".

Ironically, that term is quoted from Dennis, who later became a "rolling baller" and sold his SV EL because RB became an issue, and because of its not-so-smooth turning focuser, another issue that I get "tired" of hearing denied over and over again by users who either lucked out with good samples or who aren't bothered by it.

None-the-less, like RB, it's a real issue and although it can be ignored, it cannot be refuted in the face of numerous reports of Swaro focusers that don't turn smoothly or turn harder in one direction than the other.

Remember there are two sides to every coin even if the other side is invisible to you.

No animosity toward you, Jerry, Mark, or other immunies and neural plastics. People experience binoculars differently, I just wish that more people were tolerant of those who march to the beat of different drummer and would be willing to open themselves up to new perspectives rather than being chauvinistic about a particular brand or model because they own one.

The Boston Brahmin

[mooreorless]

Originally Posted by barshnik

Well pleased? Yes. Really one reason I'm getting the new 10x32 SV is that I feel like Swarovski gave me a new spec binocular after 20+ years of mild use. Darn nice of them. Think I'll get the latest/best now, and see if I can live 20+ years more to use those.

John F

I agree, it gives you a good feeling to have this kind of support from a company. My non phase-coated 7x30SLC was improved and I always liked the view through it, edges and all.

[lilcrazy2]

Originally Posted by mooreorless

"As far as your advice to "lighten up," go back and read Jerry's apoplectic post and direct that advice to him (as he always gives it to others). Also mooreorless' deleted post. Both contained bad karmic remarks about "rolling ballers". And let's not forget the acerbity of Mark, the Defender of Absam, about the same subject."

I guess I am just tired of reading posts about rolling ball after reading "lots" of these post about the Nikon full size and now with the SV. I will just stop reading these posts, simple as that.

Steve
Like you, I as well as many others I am sure are tired of reading Brock's soapbox tirades about rolling ball. I doubt we would hear much about it at all if not for the incessant rants of one member. When a member states they are going to buy an HG/LX or SV, most members congratulate them and tell them what a good choice they have made, and how much they will enjoy them. But then Brock pipes in as the harbinger of gloom and doom and tries to convince them they are merely buying into a problem and the race for top prize in the soapbox derby begins.

The way this thread started is pretty typical of what I am referiing to, as RB is not mentioned until Brock brings it up and makes 5 of the first 11 posts, and 10 of 27.

I certainly wish he'd go buy some bins so we could all hear about something else than RB, uneven focusers, CA, 505vs550, etc.

The wind certainly blows harder up in PA than it does down here in DE.

[barshnik]

I started this thread, so I feel compelled to offer an update - it is supposed to be here sometime in May! Exactly what we knew already. Optics Planet has done a good job keeping me in the loop, and has given me a 5% discount for waiting patiently (although I was prepared to wait anyway.)

I'm done trying to find RB with what is described as the biggest offender - the 8.5x42 Swaro SV. I've spent hours in different conditions outside of Bass Pro here in Las Vegas trying to see something other than a fantastic bright crystal clear distortion free view of the world, and I can't. If I spend any more time with that damn binocular, I won't be able to resist buying it!

Optics Planet said that my new 10x32 SV's will be drop shipped directly from SONA when SONA receives it (soon.) I'm getting the 'sand brown' color so it matches the desert dirt here, but supposedly that will not hold up the process.

John F