Binomania Review of New CL POCKET 10x25 (1 Viewer)

[Torview]

Poor old Brock..........

"Nobody expects the Swaro Inquisition"

Maybe its time to accept RB is a Human response to an optical design, and not an optical design fault.

 

[binomania]

Here's a photo comparison with CL COMPANION

 

[Troubador]

It seems pretty clear that the CL Companion and Compacts are being marketed to appeal to folks who are not bino obsessives but want something up to date, fashionable even, certainly stylish. The CL Companion certainly seems to have hit the target and appears to be flying off the shelves.

Small wonder Swaro has decided to sprinkle the same appeal over the compacts.

Lee

 

[proudpapa56]

My rep at the U.S. mothership is under the impression that they're using Swarovision glass/coatings but the only official things I've seen in print are using such terms as "optimized" and "superior" edge to edge clarity.

 

[Kammerdiner]

My rep at the U.S. mothership is under the impression that they're using Swarovision glass/coatings but the only official things I've seen in print are using such terms as "optimized" and "superior" edge to edge clarity.

Interesting. I assumed they used field flatteners because they have 10 elements per side, which seemed high. The Leica Ultravids (8x20/10x25) only have 6 elements per side.

But I just checked and all the SV's have 12 per side. So maybe no field flattener after all. Hence CL not SV. Still, those extra lenses compared to the Leica must be good for something.

Like ceasar I rather liked the 30mm CL (I only got to try the 10x30), and wonder if it might be better overall than many give it credit for. My lack of interest was because it was only 2 ounces lighter than the 8x32 FL I was using. Not enough difference to bother with. The Compacts on the other hand are 8 ounces less.

Troubador, if I'm "up to date, fashionable even, certainly stylish" for being interested in the Compacts, well thank you.

When I read that I went right upstairs to trim my grubby beard (my wife now thanks you too). And next I'll go change the oil in my truck, which always makes the neighbors envious.

Mark

 

[henry link]

Maybe Swarovski will clarify what the count of "elementi" means, but in the SV models it includes the prisms (Leica's count includes only lenses). The old Swaro Pocket models have 10 elements per side including the prisms, which suggests that the CL POCKET probably lacks the doublet field flattener of the SV. ED glass also seems improbable at such a small aperture, but hopefully Swarovski will supply the official information.

 

[proudpapa56]

OK, got word from the U.S. mothership that they are not Swarovision but the same set-up as the other CL models.

 

[brocknroller]

OK, got word from the U.S. mothership that they are not Swarovision but the same set-up as the other CL models.

Does the "mothership" communicate through telepathy? Just curious.

What they said makes sense, given the "CL" designation, however, given the less than stellar reviews of the CL Companion (just ask Dennis , how do we reconcile Pier's glowing/B] review of the 10x25 CL compacts "sharp to the edge" performance and being the best compacts he's ever seen? Not that anybody has panned the CL Companion, but would they say the it was the best 8x30/32 roof they've ever seen?

The unit Pier got could be a "cherry," but if it's a typical sample, we could be looking at a compact series that outperforms its midsized siblings. That might be a first. It cold also put Swaro at the top of the heap in compacts.

<B>

 

[Mark9473]

I never understood the complaints about the CL 8x30. Among a line-up of about 12 Swarovski binoculars I thought it was the most exciting binocular behind the 10x50 SV.

 

[brocknroller]

I never understood the complaints about the CL 8x30. Among a line-up of about 12 Swarovski binoculars I thought it was the most exciting binocular behind the 10x50 SV.

Mark,

I don't know if they could be called complaints, I think it was a case of perhaps expecting the CLs to deliver more than they did for some people since it was a Swarovski. Other users, like yourself, rate them highly, although you are only the second BF member to rate them right behind the SV EL (Dennis was the first, but he changed his mind about that not long after).

Part of the issue, I think, is that the Companion was often compared to the 8x30 SLCneu and 8x32 EL, and it usually came in last, as in this review by our very own Stephen B.

http://www.opticstalk.com/my-review-of-a-8x32-el-8x30-slc-neu-and-a-8x30-cl_topic30011.html

Here's another Optics Talk thread where you will find similar comments:

http://www.opticstalk.com/swarovski-cl-8x30-vs-el-8x32_topic33597.html

The 8x30 SLCneu vs. 8x30 CL is an apples and apples comparison, because the SLCs used to cost around the same amount, and the CLs replaced the 8x30 SLCs in Swaro's line-up. But when you bring the EL into the mix, which is top tier, of course, the CL will be behind it.

I'd like to see some reviews that pit the 8x30 CL against the other current second tier roofs such as the 8x32 Conquest HD and Meopta 8x32 Meostar. How does it compete in its own segment is the relevant question to ask.

If there is a complaint, it would probably be the moderate 7* FOV. I've read more negative comments about that than anything else. But a smaller FOV is the price you pay for a smallish traveling "companion."

Brock

 

[proudpapa56]

Brock, I leave a question under a rock in the evening and the answer is there in the morning.

 

[Mark9473]

Thanks for those links, Brock. My impressions were nothing scientific, just a "wow" first impression when spending a few minutes with them. Part of the surprise was knowing they aren't that highly regarded here.

I regard the CL 8x30 as a "big compact" and with that mind-set they are, IMHO, spectacular. For me, their size makes them a different class than the SLC 8x30 or EL 8x32. They should have probably made them an 8x28 then they would be more generally rated within their size class, or recognized as a class by themselves.

 

[ceasar]

Does the "mothership" communicate through telepathy? Just curious.

What they said makes sense, given the "CL" designation, however, given the less than stellar reviews of the CL Companion (just ask Dennis , how do we reconcile Pier's glowing/B] review of the 10x25 CL compacts "sharp to the edge" performance and being the best compacts he's ever seen? Not that anybody has panned the CL Companion, but would they say the it was the best 8x30/32 roof they've ever seen?

The unit Pier got could be a "cherry," but if it's a typical sample, we could be looking at a compact series that outperforms its midsized siblings. That might be a first. It cold also put Swaro at the top of the heap in compacts.

<B>

Brock,

Gijs likes the 8 x 30 CL. He and his wife use it on their outings. He said that in one of his posts. I think he also said it was pretty bright.

Not to be contrary but Dennis did pan it. Did you dead pan it when you suggested that we ask Dennis about it?

Bob

 

[james holdsworth]

Brock,

Gijs likes the 8 x 30 CL. He and his wife use it on their outings. He said that in one of his posts. I think he also said it was pretty bright.

Not to be contrary but Dennis did pan it. Did you dead pan it when you suggested that we ask Dennis about it?

Bob

I think Dennis raved about it, until enough negative reviews changed his mind - kinda his modus operandi for any bin.

 

[brocknroller]

Thanks for those links, Brock. My impressions were nothing scientific, just a "wow" first impression when spending a few minutes with them. Part of the surprise was knowing they aren't that highly regarded here.

I regard the CL 8x30 as a "big compact" and with that mind-set they are, IMHO, spectacular. For me, their size makes them a different class than the SLC 8x30 or EL 8x32. They should have probably made them an 8x28 then they would be more generally rated within their size class, or recognized as a class by themselves.

Here's a guy who used the CL Companions for six months in the field before sending them back to Swarovski (not because anything was wrong with them, they just gave them to him to test for half a year). He's a hunter, so he gave them a good run through the beavers, the mud and the beer.

He doesn't go into much detail on how they perform optically, he's more focused, at least in this video, on how robust they are.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgGvVEuV3PE

There was a member who posted on here who had a CL in which something went wrong fairly quickly, but I forget what.

I think your suggestion is a good one. If Swaro had made an 8x28 instead of an 8x30, they would have had all their bases covered and wouldn't have needed two CL lines.

Some people do like smaller, super lightweight compacts such as 8x20s, but I have never been a fan of 20mm bins, too small exit pupils and not enough aperture or "real estate" for me.

An 8x28 would have hit the perfect compromise, particularly if they were as good as Pier says the 10x25 CL compacts are, with the edge to edge clarity and low distortion, and if they had the ergonomics of the Companion rather than the double hinge compact design.

But as it turned out, you now have two choices, the CL Companions or the CL Compacts.

Brock

 

[Torview]

I'd like to see some reviews that pit the 8x30 CL against the other current second tier roofs such as the 8x32 Conquest HD and Meopta 8x32 Meostar. How does it compete in its own segment is the relevant question to ask.


Brock

Brock, I had the CL and Meostar side by side back in January at a favorite dealer with a countryside view.

To me on that day the Meopta was in a different league optically. Brighter, wider and sharper, in fact its still my favorite 8x32 roof and I plan to get one to use when its too wet for my SE.

To top it all the Meopta was considerably cheaper !

 

[typo]

I've tried out the CL 8x30 on a couple of occasions, 5 different pairs the first time and 3 the second. It was immediately obvious that it wasn't as sharp as the EL for example, and that's why I checked the others to make sure it wasn't a bad sample. Both times I compared them to a Chinese made 6.5x32 costing a fraction of the price on fine detail targets, and the 6.5x won, quite comfortably. Of course if you like them, and don't see the problem, then don't worry about it, just enjoy them.

David

 

[oetzi]

I'd like to see some reviews that pit the 8x30 CL against the other current second tier roofs such as the 8x32 Conquest HD and Meopta 8x32 Meostar. How does it compete in its own segment is the relevant question to ask.

If there is a complaint, it would probably be the moderate 7* FOV. I've read more negative comments about that than anything else. But a smaller FOV is the price you pay for a smallish traveling "companion."

Brock

For the too short time I had it in my hands - it´s gone up north already - I used it alongside to the Kowa genesis 8x33 and Minox HG 8x32 BR. Its considerable less bright over all and shows much less detail in the shadow. That much I can say right now, more in a month or so.
Compared to a full-size 8x32 it is clearly lacking, so if I were in the market for one, I wouldnt consider the CL 8x30.

But if I would like to have a more compact binocular without all the shortcomings of the true compacts (small lens diameter, way small exit pupil, too small eyepices for my face) I wouldnt hesitate to choose it. In the picture you see it next to EL 8x32 and EL 10x42.

Those new compact Swaros look promising and somewhere in the futre I will try to get one for a review.

 

[dalat]

But if I would like to have a more compact binocular without all the shortcomings of the true compacts (small lens diameter, way small exit pupil, too small eyepices for my face) I wouldnt hesitate to choose it. In the picture you see it next to EL 8x32 and EL 10x42.

You could also take a Zeiss or Leica 8x32 and have a more compact binocular. The CL looks very compact next to the Swaro 8x32, but this is a very big 8x32, compared to others like the Zeiss or Leica. See the pic from http://www.tvwg.nl/

 

[Chosun Juan]

..... I'd like to see some reviews that pit the 8x30 CL against the other current second tier roofs ..... How does it compete in its own segment is the relevant question to ask .....

What, like the Zen-Ray ZRS HD (SUMMIT) 8x32 ??! |8.| .......



Chosun :gh: