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New released Swaro CL Companion 8x30 B (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter sbb
- Start date
I don't know if the new CL 8x30 is really an alpha even though it is a Swarovski. I agree 30mm is about as small as I like to go considering low light performance and EP comfort although the older CL was really bright for a 30mm but it had 1% higher transmission. We will see how this one performs. I think this well be a good seller for Swarovski because the older model was and this one looks much improved. I think the fact that you can choose your color and case and strap combination will aid in selling them because people can't complain about the case and strap so much because they can pick and choose plus the $1000.00 price tag is attractive for a Swarovski and they are small and compact. A compact 30mm that would perform well enough for birding is a dream for a birder and if anybody can do it probably Swarovski can.
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BruceH
Avatar: Harris Hawk
Are you sure about that? I know I read some posts indicating that a Swarovski binocular had to be a North America import in order to have warranty work covered by Swaro of N. America (SNOA). Here is what one member said in response to a dealer comment saying the warranty is active in the country where purchased .......
"I think your right on the warranty Proud Papa. The Swarovski binoculars have to bought in North America for the warranty to be good but how often do you have trouble with Swarovski's?"
http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=3363871&postcount=7
Maybe SNOA worked on you Habicht because it is not a model they normally stock. It can be sent back to Austria but that can be expensive.
Sounds like you are returning to your previous affinity for the "apha" view. As you once said, "Once you have Alpha you can never Backa?".
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=202997&highlight=backa
That was a lively thread!
I am not sure if the new CL will provide the sharper edges and the bigger FOV that you want in comparison to your experiences with the 8X42 Toric.
I have the Toric in the 10X42 and the large center view along with the mild drop off is one of the outstanding qualities about it. From what I have read, the 8X42 has the same qualities. Here is what you had to say about that .....
"The Toric is as good as any binocular I have ever looked through on-axis and it has a big sweet spot with a very gradual fall off at the edge. The edges are actually pretty sharp and you don't notice the difference in sharpness between the SV in normal viewing unless you look at the edges on purpose."
http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=3459164&postcount=119
It would most likely take a flat field binocular to beat the Toric in this regard. Since the new CL is a classic design like the Toric, it will have to be exceptional to have better edges than what you were used to in the Torric.
FOV: Keep in mind that even though Tract spec'd the 8X42 Toric with a FOV of 377 ft, Steve C. measured it at approximately 404 ft which is greater than the 396 ft FOV spec for the new CL.
It does not look like the new CL will have a bigger FOV or center than your baseline Toric but it should meet your desire for lighter and smaller and that may be enough to work for you.
It will be interesting to read if the new CL goes far enough up the food chain for your requirements. How long does it take to get a binocular shipped over from Europe and what happens if you find it does not meet your needs?
I have never purchased a binocular from overseas but would do it if it were a model I could not get here. I did purchase what was advertised on eBay as a new old stock SLC WB HD from Canada but it turned out to be a bad listing and was the new version. It was expensive to send it back and required confusing paper work. Lucky for me the seller had to pay the return shipping because of their error in the ad.
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I have both the Nikon Monarch HG 8x42 and the Nikon 8x30 EII and I prefer using the HG over the EII because I like the eye relief better.
I also prefer the view through the Monarch HG over the EII; perhaps because the object viewed appears larger to me in the Roof Prism. Also its contrast seems to me to be better but that may be because my EII is older.
All that said, I am still keeping my 8x30 EII.
Bob
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The MHG does have more eye relief than the EII. In my case with my shallow eye sockets it had too much and I had to hold the binocular away from my eyes to avoid blackouts. So it didn't work good for me. Roof prisms do have larger images and I like that also. The contrast in the MHG is better than the EII and I liked that better too. The Euro HD had better contrast than the EII or the MHG. It is impossible to beat the big FOV in EII but what I am looking for in a higher end roof is better contrast the EII and a bigger than average FOV. Trouble is you have to spend about $1K on a roof to get both better contrast and a larger FOV. The EII is a good reference standard to judge other binoculars by.I have both the Nikon Monarch HG 8x42 and the Nikon 8x30 EII and I prefer using the HG over the EII because I like the eye relief better.
I also prefer the view through the Monarch HG over the EII; perhaps because the object viewed appears larger to me in the Roof Prism. Also its contrast seems to me to be better but that may be because my EII is older.
All that said, I am still keeping my 8x30 EII.
Bob
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Yes, I have had a couple of Swarovski's sent in for warranty work that were not purchased in the USA over the years. Swarovski always covered them under warranty. Regarding the Tract Toric 8x42. It is an excellent binocular but based on what people have been saying about the new CL and my experience with the older CL I think the new one will have a little wider FOV and a little bigger sweetspot with sharper edges than the Tract. But that is speculation until I try the CL. The CL will give me a more compact, lighter binocular for travel and hiking. I would be happy if it performed close to the Tract. What I am looking for also with the new CL is a little better contrast than the EII. It seems you really have to move up the food chain in roofs to get that nice contrast. The Euro HD's had really nice contrast so they obviously had high end glass and coatings. Too bad mechanically they had some issues. When you compare them side by side you really get hooked on that nice contrast. The Euro HD's had better contrast than the Bushnell M's or the Nikon MHG's or the Nikon EII's. They were essentially alpha level in regards to contrast. Here is a nice review on both the Tract Toric 8x42 and the older Swarovski 8x30 CL. As far as international shipping I have did it many times without any problems. You can return the binoculars to the seller or send them to Swarovski under warranty if there is something wrong with them. If you just don't like them you might be better off just selling them on Ebay because Swarovski's sell very quick especially a new model like the CL that isn't available yet in the US.
https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/TractToric8x42BinocularsReview-181.htm
https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/Swarovski-CL-Companion-8x30-109.htm
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Torview
Well-known member
Tried a 10x30 today, no 8 available, build quality and feel in the hand is head and shoulders above the old CL, in fact it felt every inch an Alpha 30mm to me. Optically it delivered on every level for me, with the caveat I would`nt personally go for the 10x.
Did `nt like the diopter mechanism, I reckon these will fly off the shelves.
Did `nt like the diopter mechanism, I reckon these will fly off the shelves.
Kammerdiner
Well-known member
Uh oh. When Torview
t writes sumpin' like that, I'm in trouble.Yeah, though, at 30mm 10x is pretty much out of the question. 8x for me.
bluespiderweb
Great Grey Looking Out
Contrast
Thanks, Dennis for your comparisons of contrast in the different models you've tried, which is one of my preferred attributes. Seems my Cabelas Euro 10x was a good choice for me, given they have "essentially alpha contrast" according to your observations (in the 8x). Good I have an EII to compare them to as well! I am newer to the fine arts of comparing binoculars and coming to such definitive conclusions in short order. I have to spend quite a bit of time with them to do that, if I can even define the fine parameters at all in optics performance. But I do try to hit the hight points that matter to my eyes; number one being the Wow factor, I think. Then I'm usually hooked! ; )
I hope your new CL is all you want it to be, but it sounds like you've already got an exit plan if they don't!
Roll on~!
Thanks, Dennis for your comparisons of contrast in the different models you've tried, which is one of my preferred attributes. Seems my Cabelas Euro 10x was a good choice for me, given they have "essentially alpha contrast" according to your observations (in the 8x). Good I have an EII to compare them to as well! I am newer to the fine arts of comparing binoculars and coming to such definitive conclusions in short order. I have to spend quite a bit of time with them to do that, if I can even define the fine parameters at all in optics performance. But I do try to hit the hight points that matter to my eyes; number one being the Wow factor, I think. Then I'm usually hooked! ; )
I hope your new CL is all you want it to be, but it sounds like you've already got an exit plan if they don't!
Roll on~!
bluespiderweb
Great Grey Looking Out
10x?
Torview, would you elaborate on why you wouldn't go for the 10x? I remember your posting about the Minox BD 10X44 BP that you had, and all the good things you had to say about it at the time. That posting led me to get a pair too, eventually when I found them. Nice binoculars, and sure they have their limitations, like all do, especially in the lower priced ones.
But I've come to really like the 10x view, and wonder why most shun it. I still have 8x too, but it's nice to have a choice!
PS Love your Avatar-is it the same from a few years back? Or did you use another before-I am a sucker for great paintings and views-I seem to remember there was another I liked too, was there? Do I remember some cliffs?
Torview, would you elaborate on why you wouldn't go for the 10x? I remember your posting about the Minox BD 10X44 BP that you had, and all the good things you had to say about it at the time. That posting led me to get a pair too, eventually when I found them. Nice binoculars, and sure they have their limitations, like all do, especially in the lower priced ones.
But I've come to really like the 10x view, and wonder why most shun it. I still have 8x too, but it's nice to have a choice!
PS Love your Avatar-is it the same from a few years back? Or did you use another before-I am a sucker for great paintings and views-I seem to remember there was another I liked too, was there? Do I remember some cliffs?
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bluespiderweb
Great Grey Looking Out
Ah.
I have usually not liked 10x binoculars if their objectives are under 40 mm, but with the 10x30 CL Companion I have no trouble getting a fine image right away. I don't know for sure why this is, but my guess is that it comes from generally and uniformly high level of aberration correction in this model/unit. Another factor surely is the very large sweet spot and excellent edge correction. As noted, Swarovski does not mention any field-flatteners or special edge correction technologies, but the view through these is such that if no special lenses are utilised, then Swaro must have done something quite unusual with a simpler eyepiece design. These have next to zero astigmatism even at the extreme edge, and I need no more than a diopter or so of focus adjustment to optimise the edge sharpness if I have focused for optimal centre sharpness first. This with my eyes that hardly accommodate any more. I still haven't made any measurements on these on a tripod with res. charts, but just subjectively, for sweet spot size and edge performance these are roughly in the Canon 10x42 L territory, albeit with a somewhat narrower FOV.
In response to Dennis, the Canon 10x42 has a respectable but not exceptionally wide FOV, as it is less wide than in SV 10x50 and significantly narrower than in the 10x32 SV or 10x42 Zeiss SF. However, since the Canon eyepieces have moderate pincushion distortion and very little if any AMD (no compression at the field edges), the angle of the incoming light cone to the eye is wide and comparable to that of binoculars with wider true fields and more AMD.
As to the choice of case/strap combos Swarovski offers for the CL Companions, I think it is a bit of a gimmick to keep the ostensible price down. Of the three alternatives, the "Wild Nature" kit with a good standard strap and case and least "ouch" pricing seems like the obvious choice. The Urban Jungle kit has an okay case but a binocular carrying strap that has no padding and is so long that the only way to use it comfortably is Bandolier style. The Northern Lights kit is sleek and the strap is comfortable, but the grey felt case and backing on the strap are water-absorbent and more slow-drying than cordura, and the case is unpadded and therefore less of a protection against bumps and scratches than a proper padded case would be.
"Alpha view" is a label that seems to mean different things depending on the whim, reference points and preferences of whoever happens to use the term, but for whatever it's worth, I think the CL C does offer a view as good as one can reasonably expect these days from a binocular that is a 10x30, features a 21 mm eye lens and offers a 6.2 degree field of view and has no image stabilisation.
Kimmo
In response to Dennis, the Canon 10x42 has a respectable but not exceptionally wide FOV, as it is less wide than in SV 10x50 and significantly narrower than in the 10x32 SV or 10x42 Zeiss SF. However, since the Canon eyepieces have moderate pincushion distortion and very little if any AMD (no compression at the field edges), the angle of the incoming light cone to the eye is wide and comparable to that of binoculars with wider true fields and more AMD.
As to the choice of case/strap combos Swarovski offers for the CL Companions, I think it is a bit of a gimmick to keep the ostensible price down. Of the three alternatives, the "Wild Nature" kit with a good standard strap and case and least "ouch" pricing seems like the obvious choice. The Urban Jungle kit has an okay case but a binocular carrying strap that has no padding and is so long that the only way to use it comfortably is Bandolier style. The Northern Lights kit is sleek and the strap is comfortable, but the grey felt case and backing on the strap are water-absorbent and more slow-drying than cordura, and the case is unpadded and therefore less of a protection against bumps and scratches than a proper padded case would be.
"Alpha view" is a label that seems to mean different things depending on the whim, reference points and preferences of whoever happens to use the term, but for whatever it's worth, I think the CL C does offer a view as good as one can reasonably expect these days from a binocular that is a 10x30, features a 21 mm eye lens and offers a 6.2 degree field of view and has no image stabilisation.
Kimmo
Kammerdiner
Well-known member
Thanks, Kimmo. Have to see a 10x in person to be convinced, but thanks!
I had wondered about the case/strap options. Swaro seems to over-engineer these things. And since the "Field pro" connection is mostly proprietary it matters.
I had wondered about the case/strap options. Swaro seems to over-engineer these things. And since the "Field pro" connection is mostly proprietary it matters.
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jan van daalen
Well-known member
Almost everybody complained about the bags, so Swarovski offers them now in three different configurations.
Now the customer complaints about the over enginering of the cases and straps
Sigh.........
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Kammerdiner
Well-known member
Almost everybody complained about the bags, so Swarovski offers them now in three different configurations.
Now the customer complaints about the over enginering of the cases and straps
Thanks, Jan. You answered my question. :t:
Kevin Conville
yardbirder
Proprietary being the key word. I want to see how it works and how adaptable other straps are to the attachment. I'm pretty fussy about how I carry bins and I need to be able to customize if necessary.
Any idea of when these might arrive in the US?
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I just looked at a couple of vids showing this attachment system on the ELs. Geez, I don't know. It looks as though one advantage is quick attach. It also looks like a disadvantage is quick detach. From the vids, at least, it doesn't give me a warm cozy feeling that this is infallible.
With the stock arrangement, having those cord "tails" dangling looks like it would get annoying fast. I would need to hybrid a different strap that goes around the neck to this cord arrangement as well. I don't like wide or neoprene straps and prefer narrower, breathable leather or webbing.
To those who have ELs with this attachment system, do you completely trust it? And, have you modified the strap to suit you?
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Kammerdiner
Well-known member
Couldn't agree more. I guess they arrive at the end of January, although Dennis has a pair on the way. We're taking bets on how fast he dumps them. 8-P
Kammerdiner
Well-known member
With my original SV's (8x32, 8.5x42) I cut the ends off the straps, melted the strap ends with a match, sewed the rubber ends back on (existing holes). Solid as a rock and no excess. Not sure how the newer version would work. Guessing about the same.
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Torview
Well-known member
Hi Kevin, its brilliant, total trust from me, the strap is mounted via a bayonet pin which locks in place and needs quite some pressure to disengage and then a counter clockwise turn to detach, also the pin itself snaps into the strap end and won`t unsnap without some considerable pressure so it won`t fall out on its own.
The cord end does`nt dangle loosely as a plastic keeper keeps the two cords together. Honestly I would`nt want to go back to a conventional strap lug.
Swarovski sell a conventional strap lug which fits on the FP system so you can use any strap you like.
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