elkcub
Silicon Valley, California
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KAHLES HELIA S 42 is available for $1499 from europe (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter jaymann
- Start date
On the website they say they have A-K prisms. 
henry link
Well-known member
Changing from SP to AK would require a completely new binocular design, both optics and body. I'm voting for typo.
Gijs van Ginkel
Well-known member
Lee,post 19,
I am supposed to keep this as a secret: I heard tonight by a female person appearing suddenly for my eyes: the new Kahles SLC's will be made by Swarovski for Kahles, since both companies are at biking distance from each other and the newly make Kahles SLC's are transported throught a secret tunnel between both companies....Saves a lot of energy and environmental pollution problems are tackled efficiently. As the lady told: it is done that way to save energy and pollution (no airplane transport to/from Asia for example) and reducing the burden on the planet. So, please do not tell anybody.
Gijs van Ginkel
I am supposed to keep this as a secret: I heard tonight by a female person appearing suddenly for my eyes: the new Kahles SLC's will be made by Swarovski for Kahles, since both companies are at biking distance from each other and the newly make Kahles SLC's are transported throught a secret tunnel between both companies....Saves a lot of energy and environmental pollution problems are tackled efficiently. As the lady told: it is done that way to save energy and pollution (no airplane transport to/from Asia for example) and reducing the burden on the planet. So, please do not tell anybody.
Gijs van Ginkel
I met this lady at British Bird Fair and she is a lot of fun and has a wonderful imagination..................
Lee
Left to right:
and for comparison, Swaro SLC 8x42, made in Austria (out of production since 2020).
As far as I can tell, each Kahles generation got optically better, but the Helia and the Helia S are both no "homegrown" Kahles instruments, the Helia being a Kamakura product sold under at least 3 different brand names, and the Helia S is - no doubt - just an SLC in brown (which is nothing to complain about, it is in my eyes optically superb).
Some further remarks sometime later this month.
Canip
- Kahles 8x42, made in Austria (2000-2015)
- Kahles Helia 8x42, made in Japan (from 2016)
- Kahles Helia S 8x42, made God knows where (from 2021)
and for comparison, Swaro SLC 8x42, made in Austria (out of production since 2020).
As far as I can tell, each Kahles generation got optically better, but the Helia and the Helia S are both no "homegrown" Kahles instruments, the Helia being a Kamakura product sold under at least 3 different brand names, and the Helia S is - no doubt - just an SLC in brown (which is nothing to complain about, it is in my eyes optically superb).
Some further remarks sometime later this month.
Canip
Attachments
jan van daalen
Well-known member
Hi Canip,
Ragarding the first edition (at the left side), it was never made/assembled in Austria.
We had intensive contact in that time with Kahles and the final outcome was that every bin was thoroughly checked by Kahles before leaving the site but was made in Japan.
Jan
Ragarding the first edition (at the left side), it was never made/assembled in Austria.
We had intensive contact in that time with Kahles and the final outcome was that every bin was thoroughly checked by Kahles before leaving the site but was made in Japan.
Jan
John A Roberts
Well-known member
For some more context . . .
Kahles was founded in 1898. And while it has manufactured Porro prism binoculars, it’s main concentration has always been on telescopic sights
(the WWII Porro prism production was identified by the code 'cad').
In 2012 Kahles built a new production site at Guntramsdorf, an industrial area south of Vienna. However, the production seems to be devoted solely to sights.
Since 2000, Kahles has marketed 3 series of roof prism binoculars. While they differ in features and technical details, they can be easily visually distinguished by their RA coverings:
A) Grey, Loden (green) or Camo
2000 - 8x32
2000 - 8x42 and 10x42
B) Mid Brown and Black
2016 - Helia 8x42 and 10x42
2018 - Helia 8x56
- - - -
2018 - Helia RF 8x42 and 10x42
C) Dark Brown with Orange stripe
2021 - Helia S 8x42 and 10x42
- - - -
2021 - Helia RF 8x42 and 10x42
In relation to the first series, see three images from a 2007 catalogue, and one from a 2012 one. The 2012 catalogue indicates 3 revised features:
reduced weight; increased transmission, and; low friction external lens coatings.
The series was manufactured in Japan, and as can be seen from the FOV and ER, the 8x32 and 10x42 seem to have used the same eyepiece optics.
Bill Cook has posted some information and images about the origin of the binoculars in post #56 at: swaro news
A review of the 8x32 and the 10x42 can be found on Arek’s site at: Binoculars reviews - AllBinos.com
And Canip has information on the useable eye relief of the 8x32 and 8x42 models on his site at: The PINACOLLECTION – Binoculars Today
Images of the second series can be seen in post #5 at: New Kahles Helia S 8x42 and 10x42 Models - and more details can be found on the Kahles site.
While this series replaced the earlier one, it’s still in production along with this year’s introductions. Again the series appears to be of Asian (Japanese?) manufacture.
And Arek has a review of the 10x42.
Images of the most recent series can be found earlier in this thread. And also see a further image of the Helia S from a Kahles Instagram account.
Again the rangefinder binocular appears to be a rebadged Asian product. However, the Helia S is the Swarovski SLC with a new covering.
And it seems that as indicated above, the Helia S is being made by Swarovski for Kahles.
John
Kahles was founded in 1898. And while it has manufactured Porro prism binoculars, it’s main concentration has always been on telescopic sights
(the WWII Porro prism production was identified by the code 'cad').
In 2012 Kahles built a new production site at Guntramsdorf, an industrial area south of Vienna. However, the production seems to be devoted solely to sights.
Since 2000, Kahles has marketed 3 series of roof prism binoculars. While they differ in features and technical details, they can be easily visually distinguished by their RA coverings:
A) Grey, Loden (green) or Camo
2000 - 8x32
2000 - 8x42 and 10x42
B) Mid Brown and Black
2016 - Helia 8x42 and 10x42
2018 - Helia 8x56
- - - -
2018 - Helia RF 8x42 and 10x42
C) Dark Brown with Orange stripe
2021 - Helia S 8x42 and 10x42
- - - -
2021 - Helia RF 8x42 and 10x42
In relation to the first series, see three images from a 2007 catalogue, and one from a 2012 one. The 2012 catalogue indicates 3 revised features:
reduced weight; increased transmission, and; low friction external lens coatings.
The series was manufactured in Japan, and as can be seen from the FOV and ER, the 8x32 and 10x42 seem to have used the same eyepiece optics.
Bill Cook has posted some information and images about the origin of the binoculars in post #56 at: swaro news
A review of the 8x32 and the 10x42 can be found on Arek’s site at: Binoculars reviews - AllBinos.com
And Canip has information on the useable eye relief of the 8x32 and 8x42 models on his site at: The PINACOLLECTION – Binoculars Today
Images of the second series can be seen in post #5 at: New Kahles Helia S 8x42 and 10x42 Models - and more details can be found on the Kahles site.
While this series replaced the earlier one, it’s still in production along with this year’s introductions. Again the series appears to be of Asian (Japanese?) manufacture.
And Arek has a review of the 10x42.
Images of the most recent series can be found earlier in this thread. And also see a further image of the Helia S from a Kahles Instagram account.
Again the rangefinder binocular appears to be a rebadged Asian product. However, the Helia S is the Swarovski SLC with a new covering.
And it seems that as indicated above, the Helia S is being made by Swarovski for Kahles.
John
Attachments
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NDhunter
Experienced observer
Canip:
Your photos are interesting, it seems to show some large differences between the Kahles Helia S and the Swarovski SLC.
The appearance of both of those show they are not just a clone. Those differences may show that there is a AK design here,
with larger barrels, different height to focuser, etc.
So now what does that lead us to believe?
Jerry
Your photos are interesting, it seems to show some large differences between the Kahles Helia S and the Swarovski SLC.
The appearance of both of those show they are not just a clone. Those differences may show that there is a AK design here,
with larger barrels, different height to focuser, etc.
So now what does that lead us to believe?
Jerry
… which means they are made in Absam??
Thank you, John, for your - as always - interesting and thorough post.
Canip
Back in the thread "Swarovski EL 8x32 already discontinued?" there was quite a bit of discussion about what Swarovski is up to. Offered was the notion a CL42 is coming this summer. The ELs clearly seem being phased out. Swaro therefore, it was said, is heading towards a two tier, price point based, lineup. The mid priced 30/42 CLs and the NL 32/42, (taking over the former EL top spot), would be it.
EL 32s are gone. Whew! EL 42s still around, but for how long? EL 50s place holding? NL 50 to come? But, is that it?
In that scenario we end up without the "traditional," non flat field, mid priced SLC. Then comes Kahles and the Helia S 42. Apparently Swarovski, with its new facilities, also now owns the Kahles brand. The physical plants are close together, design and production are now nicely consolidated in Austria. Purchasing power for raw materials and parts is enhanced. Distribution and marketing can also be shared. This supports the idea the SLC is now rebadged as a Kahles, painted brown. Is another piece of the puzzle emerging?
If so, its not now just Swarovski CL/NL. Its Swarovski/Kahles. What then? Swaro for birders and wildlife watchers? Kahles for hunters? They sort of are 2 different markets, with different trade shows and channels of distribution, sort of... Maybe. What if ELs turn up painted brown... or Jan's new camo? The ELs are great. Development costs are long sunk. The design is still viable if aging as cutting edge Swarovski stuff. Manufacturing is known, bugs worked out, programming still works. Tossing it seems a waste?
I'm playing. Thoughts anyone?
G'Tom
EL 32s are gone. Whew! EL 42s still around, but for how long? EL 50s place holding? NL 50 to come? But, is that it?
In that scenario we end up without the "traditional," non flat field, mid priced SLC. Then comes Kahles and the Helia S 42. Apparently Swarovski, with its new facilities, also now owns the Kahles brand. The physical plants are close together, design and production are now nicely consolidated in Austria. Purchasing power for raw materials and parts is enhanced. Distribution and marketing can also be shared. This supports the idea the SLC is now rebadged as a Kahles, painted brown. Is another piece of the puzzle emerging?
If so, its not now just Swarovski CL/NL. Its Swarovski/Kahles. What then? Swaro for birders and wildlife watchers? Kahles for hunters? They sort of are 2 different markets, with different trade shows and channels of distribution, sort of... Maybe. What if ELs turn up painted brown... or Jan's new camo? The ELs are great. Development costs are long sunk. The design is still viable if aging as cutting edge Swarovski stuff. Manufacturing is known, bugs worked out, programming still works. Tossing it seems a waste?
I'm playing. Thoughts anyone?
G'Tom
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jan van daalen
Well-known member
OK,
First of all, IMHO, hunting is Swaro's highest market share.
Second, Absam is far West Austria and Vienna is Far East Austria.
Third, Swarovski bought Kahles almost 50 years ago.
My guess would be that Swarovski is upgrading the Kahles sportsoptics division and shift their military optics division entirely to Kahles to make room for the upcoming new products and to be able to increase the current production capacity.
Jan
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I moved to california 20 years ago. I still cant tell Santa Rosa from San Raphel or San Ramon. So thanks for the help with Absam and Vienna. Did, (didn't), I read there was a tunnel between somewhere???
Ah!, this is cool, "My guess would be that Swarovski is upgrading the Kahles sportsoptics division and shift their military optics division entirely to Kahles to make room for the upcoming new products and to be able to increase the current production capacity." So, SLC becomes part of Kahles sportsoptics. Swarovski military goes to Kahles. Then what new products does Swaro need to make room for? They have a new facility with presumably greater capacity for R&D and manufacturing. Theyve already shipped the SLC to Kahles and the EL is going, so would seem theres room for waay more than NLs and CLs?
Ah! Maybe scopes and rifle scopes?
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