Hi Canip,
Great write up:t:
What to add?
I'll just write my experience on the 10 and 12x.
Taking the NL in my hand it feels extremely comfy like a pistol grip. Where the SV felt elegant, it now feels bulky compared to the NL. Carrying it in one hand is a unique "sensation", something no other bin has caused so far. The pistol grip is completely responsible for that. It is oval where the hand is positioned.
The rubber on the eye cups of the NL is 2 to 3 mm flatter, compared to those in the SV, making it for spectacle wearers possible to come closer to the eye lens. These are also possible to fit into the SV.
The head rest works! Period. No question about that. Personally I didn't use the eyecups anymore but just used the head rest. Much more comfy and steadier.
No worries about the 12x factor. It is steady as a rock with the head rest.
The balance is like the SF. Because of the extra weight it feels more steady and sturdier built (Sorry Zeiss, read carefully. I write "feels sturdier built") compared to the SF.
Being sensible for the Rolling Ball, I checked for it but it wasn't there for me anymore.
At the very edge the straight vertical lines bend slightly inwards. I could see no sign of CA but this morning we had Dutch weather (rain) so that was no surprise.
Compared to the SV, the same view through the NL makes the SV dull.
IMHO the NL is a serious step up in contrast. Black is deep black and looking at tree leaves it seems they pop up in my view. I always joked about the 3D sensation of the Noctivid but I've "seen the Light" now. Holy Poly, this view is a different ball game.
Gijs was here also and the close focus for me was 1.9 meters and for his 70+ age eyes it was 1.8 meters but he is a black belt Judo so that must explain it.
The turn a round of the focus knob is 1.6.
Do I have a negative point to make?
Yes one.
Carrying the bin, my fingertips touch a nasty edge/rim where the armoring is glued together. Something what even doesn't occur at the cheapest chin bin:-C
I've been told by Swarovski that the investment for the realization of the NL was 30 million Euro's.
One off topic remark:
From ## 902748841 (this week) the ELSV's 10x42 are 3,3 meters.
As long there is stock the 8.5's are original.
Jan