I've heard the argument before about why a birder/bugger/butterflier (say that 5x fast) would want one bin that can do it all (so he isn't "bugged" by having to drag along other bins).
I've also read comments by someone, I think it might have been Holger, about why having a very close focusing bin introduces some unwanted effect(s). I think he was referring to his 8x32 FL at the time, perhaps if he reads this post he will chime in. It might have been getting both barrels to focus perfectly together.
As to watching bugs and butterflies, that's why Pentax invented the Papilio. At 10.5 oz. and 4.4 inches long by 4.25 inches wide, it's not too burdensome to carry along in your rucksack. Butterfly season is rather short compared to the time you can see birds, which is year round.
And if you really want to have your cake and eat it too, you can always buy an 8x32 model.
To make a full sized alpha purchase decision based on a very close focus that used to be featured only in midsized binoculars when your main hobby is birding is probably not high on most birder's list of priorities, and a 6 ft. close focus is not something a hunter needs, and they're Swaro's main buyers for the SLC series.
Swaro had to get rid of something to justify the lower cost since the wizards apparently miscalculated when they assumed hunters would be willing to pay as much for their SLC as birders pay for their SV ELs. Some birders would and have, but by far, birders prefer the SV EL to the SLC-HD.
Where Swaro needs to "focus" its close focusing efforts is on the SV EL, which already has a good close focus, but some have complained that the speed at the close focus range is too "pokey". Perhaps that will be changed on the SV EL II.
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