Swarovski eye candy... (3 Viewers)

[Trinovid]

How does that work exactly? Just put one ring at each eyecup and the eyecups will stay in place on the postion where the o ring is? The o ring doesn't move?

It can also work the other direction, to keep the eyecups in the open position. I tried this a couple of years ago for keeping them locked open on my 8x20 Ultravid and while it helped, I’ve been actually planning on getting a couple more so that it’ll be impossible to push them back in.
I’ll try it on of them and leave the other two alone initially so I can see how well I like it.

 

[ReinierB]

I do not wear glasses. So in my case I have to put a lot of o rings, till I have found the perfect eyecup position? (Somewhere between the last position and one position in.)

 

[Trinovid]

I do not wear glasses. So in my case I have to put a lot of o rings, till I have found the perfect eyecup position? (Somewhere between the last position and one position in.)

That seems to be what Chill was doing. When I tried it, it was to hold them in the full open position and didn’t quite do the trick, but more of them would have, and should for you as well.
You can give it a try by going to the o-ring selection are an auto parts or hardware store and finding the right size. I put mine on right there and had to make a couple of tries to end up with the best fit, then you end up paying for the exact right size and number needed.

 

[tenex]

So this is mostly useful for eyeglass wearers. Let's look at the Meopta B.1 in the picture. It has LOTS of ER. When using the binoculars in the eyecup position one normal would with eyeglasses(all the way down), it has too much ER. So much so that blackouts occur and the binocular needs to move away from the user.

I'm scratching my head at this because most of today's bins have too much ER for me as a non-spectacled person, often to the point that eyecups won't extend far enough to work -- and this seemed the obvious result of trying too hard to accommodate the escalating demands of eyeglass wearers. But it must also depend on prescription strength and lens shape? So it would be a good trend to reverse, and other performance might improve too.

 

[ReinierB]

At the moment I have the NL 10x32, SLC 8x42, SLC 10x42, EL 10x50 and EL 12x50 at home. Planning to sell the EL 10x50 and probably one of the SLC's. However, I find this a hard decision! Sometimes I think selling the NL 10x32 is an option as well, because there is not a lot of weight difference compared with the SLC 10x42.

I give them time to compare and hopefully make a good decision. Anyone else interested in a comparison between those binoculars? I can give you some information about a model if you want.

Short summary:

- NL 10x32: I love the ergonomics and the smooth focuser. I use them with the EL strap, which is a better fit for the 32's imo. Very nice model for bright daylight, but the 3.2mm exit pupil has its limits. Prone to glare, but not really during the day when the sun is high.

- SLC 10x42: just a bit heavier than the NL 10x32 (90 gr). Very compact, even a bit shorter than the NL 32. The focuser has a long travel, but is ok. The eyecups are a perfect fit for my face, even better than those of the NL's. Better in dim light than the NL 32's. During the day I prefer the NL for its colors. The SLC is a bit less sparkling.

- SLC 8x42: everything I like about the SLC 10x42 as well, but brighter and a bit more comfortable with it's higher DOF and FOV. But than I miss the 10 power. Always a dilemma for me.

- EL 10x50: nearly as bright as the SLC 8x42 (the SLC 8x42 is just a bit brighter imo), but than with 10 power and a bigger AFOV! I can use the focuser with one finger and I like that. The focuser is a bit better positioned than that of the SLC imo. I get some blackouts with this model, but can solve that with o-rings to get the perfect eyecups setting.

- EL 12x50: this one is definitely a keeper, as long as I can hold 12 power stable. I am 39 now, hopefully I am given decades using this 12x50. Because the eye relief is a bit shorter than those of the 10x50, I get a perfect eyecup setting (eyecups one step down). Large AFOV, still very bright at dimmer light.

I promised my wife to sell two of those. But that is hardly possible for me. I bonded with those binoculars immediately. Maybe the EL 10x50 the least, because of the o-rings that are needed.

My thoughts:

• NL 10x32 and SLC 10x42 are very similar in weight/size. So what is the reason to keep them both? O yes, I prefer 10 power to 8 power and I just love them both.
• SLC 8x42 and SLC 10x42 are the same 42 model, so it makes sense letting go one of them. The SLC 8x42 is brighter and a 5.25mm exit pupil. More eye relief as well. What if I am wearing glasses in a couple of years? However, I like 10 power, so I know I will use the SLC 10x42 more...
• EL12x50 is a keeper. So the EL 10x50 has to go? However, 5mm exit pupil AND 10 power. Actually perfect for me! If I keep both the 50's, which one will I use the most? I think when I want to carry 1 kg, I would always take the 12 power over the 10 power. If I want something light I would take the 42 or 32.

Decisions, decisions... Maybe letting the EL 10x50 and the 8x42 go for a SLC 10x56? Than I didn't break my promise selling two of them (although I didn't say I will buy another one. )

 

[tenex]

Decisions, decisions... Maybe letting the EL 10x50 and the 8x42 go for a SLC 10x56?

You would likely find yourself in exactly the same position with the 10x56 as with the 10x50 now: lovely glass, hard to part with, but hard to justify keeping given your other choices. Owning more than two bins (especially of the same magnification) is asking for trouble. Ask me how I know.

 

[ReinierB]

How do you know? 😉

Well, I know that you use your SLC 10x42 way more than your SLC 10x56...

 

[ReinierB]

Please help! What would you do?

I have the NL 10x32, SLC 8x42, SLC 10x42, EL 10x50 and EL 12x50. Two or maybe just one has to go. Which shall I keep? Which would you keep?
I actually like them all.

 

[Trinovid]

...SLC 8x42, SLC 10x42...

Keep the SLC's of course!

 

[Viewerinsweden]

My two cents on the subject:
I had almost all of the binoculars you have, but not at the same time.
I tried to find the perfect setup and realized that the question you need to ask your self is if you want to have different specialized binoculars for different conditions (low light, long distance, leightweight,...), or if you rather have fewer allround binoculars.
If you have specialists you are going to have more binoculars. If you have allround binoculars you have to compromise.

If I see your impressive collection I would guess that you are rather a person who likes the perfect pair for each occasion rather than allrounders.

I think the SLC 42 is excellent but falls more under the allround category for a birder (my opinion, forgive me). I loved by 8x42 SLC but sometimes it was too heavy, sometimes to dark and sometimes I wished I had a lighter one.
The 10x50 was also greate, but definatly to heavy to have in the pocket just in case you might see something. I think this is also more allround since it is quite compact but still usable for low light. 10x56 on the other hand would be a specialized one in my opinion. The low light condition was superb but it was too heavy for my neck.

My current setup is a curio and a NL 10x32. It is all that I can afford and the only missing aspect for me is low light. I am dreaming about a habicht 7x42....
Good luck with your decision!

 

[Paultricounty]

I’d change things around a bit and get rid of two of them.🤪✌🏼. I’d start with an 8x32 NL , 10x42 SLC, and the 12x50 EL, done. That covers just about all the bases, it also leaves you with an opening for two Binoculars which could be something like a nice Porro or some other unique niche or vintage options just for enjoyment.

Paul

 

[Patudo]

At the moment I have the NL 10x32, SLC 8x42, SLC 10x42, EL 10x50 and EL 12x50 at home. Planning to sell the EL 10x50 and probably one of the SLC's. However, I find this a hard decision! Sometimes I think selling the NL 10x32 is an option as well, because there is not a lot of weight difference compared with the SLC 10x42.

That is such a personal decision and one that only you can really make, as none of us will have exactly the same preferences and requirements. You have some excellent binoculars there and I would find all of them difficult to let go of, except the 10x32 (not a format that suits my own observation that well). I suppose if you know you need 12x, and are happy that 10x42 covers your 10x requirements fully, it makes sense to sell the 10x50.

 

[tenex]

I have the NL 10x32, SLC 8x42, SLC 10x42, EL 10x50 and EL 12x50. Two or maybe just one has to go. Which shall I keep? Which would you keep?
I actually like them all.

If necessary I would sell the 10x EL, but such quandaries are very personal. Viewerinsweden's post is spot on. You and I are both "specialists" who want the best tool for the job rather than a compromise; we cringe at the thought that one size fits all. The inevitable result is having more than one binocular. For many years I had just two, which really seemed ideal: 10x and 15x. Each served a purpose, easy to decide which to take and why.

Then I started reading this forum. I had already thought that a more full-sized glass could be "even better" for some purposes than my 10x32, and this suspicion was confirmed. I learned about SLC 56, which made an appealing alternative to my 32 as I had tried 42s and couldn't find one that worked well enough for me in view, eyecups/relief, close focus etc. I did covet SLC HD 42 but it was sadly discontinued... and then several years later I unexpectedly found one for sale. So to some extent it's a problem of timing: if I'd found the 42 sooner, I surely wouldn't have got the 56. But to be honest, I never really found my 10x32 inadequate, never needed another 10x at all. Now I have three, and while common sense suggests letting one go, I haven't managed to; the 56 would be the obvious candidate simply because I find myself using it least... but I so enjoy it when I do. There aren't many really great bins, but there are more than one needs to own, and this is just the simple version of my 10x story, hoping it may usefully resemble yours. (For me it helped at least to dislike open-bridge and flat-field designs.) I congratulate you on your excellent taste; how you work this out, whether you work this out, is entirely up to you. I can recommend getting your wife interested in bins too.

 

[dries1]

Drop the SLC10X42, keep the NL10X32 light weight for travel, and the 10X50 for robust low light viewing and astro. However if low light viewing is not a requirement, drop the 10X50.

 

[ReinierB]

My two cents on the subject:
I had almost all of the binoculars you have, but not at the same time.
I tried to find the perfect setup and realized that the question you need to ask your self is if you want to have different specialized binoculars for different conditions (low light, long distance, leightweight,...), or if you rather have fewer allround binoculars.
If you have specialists you are going to have more binoculars. If you have allround binoculars you have to compromise.

If I see your impressive collection I would guess that you are rather a person who likes the perfect pair for each occasion rather than allrounders.

I think the SLC 42 is excellent but falls more under the allround category for a birder (my opinion, forgive me). I loved by 8x42 SLC but sometimes it was too heavy, sometimes to dark and sometimes I wished I had a lighter one.
The 10x50 was also greate, but definatly to heavy to have in the pocket just in case you might see something. I think this is also more allround since it is quite compact but still usable for low light. 10x56 on the other hand would be a specialized one in my opinion. The low light condition was superb but it was too heavy for my neck.

My current setup is a curio and a NL 10x32. It is all that I can afford and the only missing aspect for me is low light. I am dreaming about a habicht 7x42....
Good luck with your decision!

Thanks for you reply. You have had a lot of binoculars and you let go a lot of them as well, since you now only have the Curio and the NL 10x32. There must be some regrets somewhere? The point is I don't want to sell one and regret it later.
I would like to add an Habicht too, oneday. The 7x42 should be really good for lowlight!

 

[ReinierB]

Drop the SLC10X42, keep the NL10X32 light weight for travel, and the 10X50 for robust low light viewing and astro. However if low light viewing is not a requirement, drop the 10X50.

Thanks. This makes sense! I compared the SLC 8x42 with the EL 10x50 and figured that the 8x42 is even a tiny bit brighter in low light. But of course you see more detail with the 10x50 because of the higher magnification. The afov is also a bit larger, which is nice.

 

[ReinierB]

Now I have three, and while common sense suggests letting one go

You have the Leica UVHD 10x32? Really small and light weight. You have the very nice SLC 10x42 for a more comfortable view and also usable at dawn/twilight and the SLC 10x56 for really good night views. For me it makes a lot of sense keeping them all .

For me it helped at least to dislike open-bridge and flat-field designs.

Flat-field doesn't bother me either. Maybe nice for astronomy and if you are using a tripod. Otherwise I do not really see advantages. I like the flat-field of my ATC 56, because you can cover more ground and not have to reset the scope/tripod.
I like the ergonomics of the SLC 42 better than the EL, because of the open bridge of the EL 42. I have long fingers. The fatter EL 50 is nicer to hold imo. More rome for my hands.

I can recommend getting your wife interested in bins too.

Well, she really likes the SLC 8x42 when we are out watching deer and boar at dawn. Nice for the children as well. That's also a reason I want to keep the SLC 8x42. A tiny bit brighter than the EL 10x50 as well imo.

I was thinking about selling the NL 10x32 and keeping the SLC 10x42 for lightweight 10 power bin. However, I used them both on sunday and think the NL 10x32 is the perfect birding bin at daylight because of the very smooth focuser. The focuses of the SLC isn't fast enough for my liking. I will loose good sights of small birds I am afraid, when using the SLC instead of the NL 10x32 as my main birding binoculars.

 

[ReinierB]

Maybe I just have to weight a year, keeping all the bins and see which one I will use the least... Now I think: that will be the EL 10x50. When I want to carry a heavy bin, it would be the EL 12x50. If I want a lighter bin, it would be the SLC 10x42. When it is really dark, I will use the SLC 8x42. On bright days I will use the NL 10x32. When the sun is low I will use an SLC as well.

I do not really see a lot of use for my EL 10x50, although I like the view through it! 10 power with 5 mm exit pupil. Just beautiful...

 

[tenex]

You have the Leica UVHD 10x32? Really small and light weight. You have the very nice SLC 10x42 for a more comfortable view and also usable at dawn/twilight and the SLC 10x56 for really good night views. For me it makes a lot of sense keeping them all

I did have that UVHD+ but let it go; we still have the earlier BN, and now also FL because sometimes my wife and I both want a 32. (FL is a bit brighter, quite special in its own way, and fits my hands better than the tiny UV.)

Yes... it would make even more sense to keep all the 10s, if we had darker skies and used the 10x56 more for astronomy. This could be a factor for you too.

 

[ReinierB]

I am not interested in astronomy. I am interested in other animals but birds. So watching deer during the rutting season or elk/moose while on holiday, is also what I like to day. The question I am asking myself is: will I use the EL 10x50 or the EL 12x50 for that purposes? Having them both doesn't make a lot of sense imo.