Jonathan B.
Well-known member
I have an SLC 7x30B, made in 1998. This is the early waterproof model, which like the 8x30 was fitted with simple coated optical glass to seal the objectives. Unlike all the 8x30s I handled, the 7x30, or at least mine, has a butter-smooth focus. I like it for its compactness and easy, if somewhat narrow, view.
The pre-Swarobright coatings rendered a yellowish cast. The original olive green armor was a very dated style. It never fogged up, but recently I noticed crystalline deposits inside the barrels. I contacted Swarovski, and they asked me to send it in. They said turnaround would be six to eight weeks. I got it back yesterday after three weeks, and it is a completely modernized binocular in perfect, new condition.
They replaced the outer glass on the objectives, and at least the outermost elements of the oculars. All of those are new, and the color rendition is now the same as on my 8x32 EL. The new armor is the last style that was used on the 8x30--sleek with forest green barrels and angled black covers over the hinge. They replaced the eyepieces, the focusing wheel, the diopter wheel, the objective covers, and the rainguard. The smoothness of the focus action was preserved.
At first I thought it couldn’t be the same binocular, but the serial number, which is stamped deeply on the underside of the metal hinge, is original.
I have had good service from Swarovski before, but this time they knocked it out of the park.
The pre-Swarobright coatings rendered a yellowish cast. The original olive green armor was a very dated style. It never fogged up, but recently I noticed crystalline deposits inside the barrels. I contacted Swarovski, and they asked me to send it in. They said turnaround would be six to eight weeks. I got it back yesterday after three weeks, and it is a completely modernized binocular in perfect, new condition.
They replaced the outer glass on the objectives, and at least the outermost elements of the oculars. All of those are new, and the color rendition is now the same as on my 8x32 EL. The new armor is the last style that was used on the 8x30--sleek with forest green barrels and angled black covers over the hinge. They replaced the eyepieces, the focusing wheel, the diopter wheel, the objective covers, and the rainguard. The smoothness of the focus action was preserved.
At first I thought it couldn’t be the same binocular, but the serial number, which is stamped deeply on the underside of the metal hinge, is original.
I have had good service from Swarovski before, but this time they knocked it out of the park.
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