Update on the Zeiss 8 x 42 HT vs Swaro SLC 8 x42’s…. The second copy of the Zeiss arrived and it just complicated things. Both the Swaro and Zeiss are crystal sharp. My advice at this moment is to never order in both of these and to test at the same time for you will never be able to make a decision. Just order in one from your gut feeling or preference and you shall not be disappointed.
Apart from the statistics which are easily gatherable such as weight, height etc…. one that I found interesting from a German reviewer was the ‘sweet spot’ %. (
http://www.houseofoutdoor.com/testrapporten/Test_Zeiss_Victory_HT_8x42_d_d_april_2013.pdf). The sweet spot in the Swaro 8 x 42 is 88% while the Zeiss is 67%. Realistically not a lot of difference in the field as one usually focuses their eyes to the middle but, the effect of a larger sweep spot does leave an impression on your eyes especially when birding bushes/trees but not so much in open ground though.
Another interesting ‘in the field’ finding is viewing BIF. Due to the nature of the larger focal wheel with the Zeiss, I get the feeling that I can focus in a bit quicker on fast moving targets such as BIF or perhaps hyper birds in the bushes/trees. This is just an impression I get….Zeiss wins out here. ‘One handed’ viewing also comes under this category. Many times when birding I have something in one hand, a notebook, guide etc…and a bird pops up. This is where one handed viewing comes into play and the natural placement of the hand onto the Zeiss binocular as well as the two finger placement on the focal wheel (middle finger being the longest) allow one to ‘one hand it’…. You can still one hand the Swaro though, just a bit more cumbersome unless you think about it. I do not have bear claw hands so this effects me, not sure about you and your hands.
In regards to sharpness….. when birding in a normal environment (sitting, viewing, walking about, trails etc) where birds are within 30 yards, both bino’s are tack sharp. I find that I prefer the Zeiss when looking at birds in shadows, or dusk….while the Swaro appears more ‘finer’ in birds in direct sunlight. The Swaro does ‘lock on’ when you have focus, perhaps due to it has a larger depth of view. With the Zeiss, I had tendencies to play with the focal wheel more since depth of field is not as great.
Any 8 x 42 binocular has focal limitations (that is why they make 10x power) but when I do venture into shorebird country, I find the Swaro is a bit easier to initially focus to sharpness. I feel with the Zeiss, I hunt and peck more to find that sharp point. If you have a 10x for shore birding, this is something you don’t have to take into account, while if you only have the 8 x 42, you will need to think about this. When in shorebird country and are viewing long distances, such as Ibis’s in the distance, both bino’s are about the same.
Color rendition is better in the Swaro in direct light while the Zeiss has better color in shadows and dusk/dawn. This might be due to the 95% of light allowed with the Zeiss as opposed to the 89-90% of the Swaro (if I have my figures correct) . Perhaps over exposure if that is possible in a bino? This might also account for the better clarity in the sun with the Swaro. Initially I thought greens were more predominate in the Swaro and Red/Browns in the Zeiss but now I see they are so close, there is no difference unless where viewed (shadows, light etc)..
In this forum I am always speaking to the ‘intangible’ aspect of birding…what makes you feel good while birding….and yet this intangible aspect will never show up on any statistic or specification. There is a posting on this forum (probably Swaro section) that states that the Swaro feels like a ‘brick’ when holding up to your head. The Zeiss just feels right, it is very comfortable…. The focus wheel allows for two finger placement, the armor coating is finer, the way your hands grip the barrels, the eyecup rubber appears more pliable. All of these are intangibles and might vary with each of us, but for me…this stands out as a huge benefit that one experiences with the Zeiss. It is just a better experience wanting to hold the Zeiss.
Another intangible is what I call the ‘in your face’ or 3D effect and others might call as Depth Of Field. When viewing with the Swaro, I see more depth. IE: Last night I was looking at a squirrels tail and with the Zeiss, I clearly viewed the tail in detail but with the Swaro, my eyes saw depth within the tail, ….fluffiness, a 3D effect. This intangible adds to one’s viewing pleasure.
Little things….close up is about the same in both bino’s…perhaps the specifications underrate them both by just a bit. The Swaro comes with a camera adapter. This is not that big of a deal but if you have a bino-scoping set up and are walking around just to view but want a shot, you have the option with the Swaro. But that means you are carrying around a 3-4x point and shoot, so if you want, just carry about a 10x point and shoot and you have the same thing with the Zeiss. The binocular case with the Zeiss is just plain awful….terrible. The Swaro has a nice case, large enough to carry binos plus. Then again, if you like to have a case in the field, there are plenty of options. Both have identical bino straps in terms of comfort and many people will replace with their own. The eye and lens covers are just what they are for both; functional, nothing that stands out.
Bottom line…just pick one…you will be more than happy with either…. I haven’t yet decided…