Interesting you add SLC in here with the likes of SF, SV and NVid. Is SLC really on this level? I looked through an SLC only once so I don't have any real experience with it. Just curious ... It's currently WAY cheaper than the rest and, if it's that good, then people should be looking at SLC first (if indeed it is the equal of the others).
If Nocti is a big step up from UVid+ then including SLC on the same level as noctivid means SLC is way better than Ultravid plus. I'm very skeptical SLC is somehow way better than Ultravid Plus. I would think they are on similar level of optical quality... both just a little better than Conquest. Not that it matters...I would never swap out my Ultravid + for any of the bins mentioned.
Based on user impressions here in BF I always thought of SLC as being almost the equivalent of an SV but not equal.
This year I had a few hours at a park with an SV 8x32 and thought it was a beast...I can see why people love the SV. I have always admired the look and ergonomics of the little SV.
GiGi
Maybe you are being a bit too literal and certainly I should have explained in greater detail. For a start Uvid HD and HD+ should also have been on the list. And phrases like 'up there' and 'deserve an audition' do not denote a precisely assessed equality. What I mean is they all have a set of attributes that when added together are of a very high standard indeed. Whether any one person will like any one model is up to them and their preferences and as you know we can be a picky lot.
For example I included SLC because I remember trying several a couple of Bird Fairs ago and I even reviewed SLC 15x56 and thought it was really great. However it wouldn't get to first base for me personally due to Swaro increasing the close focus distance on the latest version. Thinking about it my impression of SLC is based on the previous version so perhaps I was hasty to include it in the list.
Lee