Nice ergonomics but not top optics. Zeiss's FL beat it by a long shot.
I haven't tried them side by side, but I have read that in reviews. However, with my difficulty holding small closed bridged roofs steady, it would not surprise me if I could see more detail with the EL than the FL.
The Nikon 8x32 LX also beat the EL in optics (Kimmo's tests in Alula), but unless I was seated or standing and well braced against a fence or tree branch, the images shook to the point where it negated its higher resolution.
When I was well braced, the images were awesome and I could see subtle field markings.
When it comes to handheld optics, ergonomics can trump optics. If you can't hold a bin steady, it doesn't matter if it's sharper than the competition (except for the purposes of "bench testing").
Interesting to note from Frank's observations above that when I compared an older EL (2001?) to a 2009 8x30 SLCNeu, the smaller bin showed less CA under the same conditions.
This, despite the fact that the EL has a longer focal length. In this case, the more advanced coatings (and perhaps better glass) made the difference.
In fact, the CA is so well controlled in the 8x30 SLCNeu under all but the most extreme conditions that I think it would be a waste for Swaro to upgrade this model with HD glass. It would add unnecessary expense ala Holger's dictum. And this is from someone who is sensitive to CA.