Last week, six birders from the Bruce Birding Club compared samples of three binoculars: the 8x42 Swarovski SLC HD, the 8.5x42 Swarovski SV, and the 8x42 Zeiss HT. The following summary should acknowledge there was a variation in assessments among us -- but the differences were mostly between perfect and excellent. A birder would be happy with any of these three binoculars, which differ in their strengths. The birders' own current binoculars range from Leica, Swarovski EL WBs and SVs, to Bausch and Lomb Elites (2nd generation).
The resolution comparison suggested that the HT was a little sharper than the SLC and SV. The Zeiss HT was brighter. The SV and HT had higher contrast. The colour rendition of the SV was somewhat warmer and more vibrant; the HT slightly cooler; and the SLC neutral. In overall image quality, the SLC was excellent, but seemed flat in comparison; the SV and HT provided stunning, clean, three-dimensional views. Some birders preferred the additional magnification of the SV.
The HT was marginally better in deep shadow than the SV and SLC. The SVs and HTs were slightly better in backlighting than the SLC. None of us saw colour fringing. All the binoculars snapped into focus. The image at the edges of the SV seemed particularly clear, although none of us commented about lack of edge clarity in the SLC or HT. Also no one commented about image distortion in the SV while panning. The FOV was similar, the eyepieces were seen as easy to use, and they all had good eye relief. The HT has filter threads.
The binoculars could be focused from 12m (40') to infinity without lifting your finger from the focus wheel. They all focused to six feet or closer; the SV also focuses more closely. The focus wheel on this sample of the SLC was stiffer when turned clockwise -- nothing that a three week, no-cost visit to SONA, or another sample, wouldn't make right. The focus wheel tension and smoothness on the HT and SV were perfect. The HTs focus wheel is significantly larger, making it easier to use with gloves or mittens. The SV provides more focusing space past infinity, while its dioptre wheel has a greater range. Some birders weren't fussy about the relatively small, stiff dioptre wheel on the HT; some found it elegantly simple.
The overall size of the SLC is more compact. The hand position on the SLC is perfect, while being slightly weight-forward. The SV balanced in a similar way, allowing a very comfortable grip, with the index finger on the focus wheel, the middle finger on the housing in front of the focus wheel, and the last two fingers wrapped around the barrel. The HT is perfectly balanced, seeming lighter than its published weight, providing a similar grip to the SV. One birder with smaller hands thought the straighter, widening outer shape of the HTs was too wide to be comfortable. One birder liked the slight squaring off of the outer top and bottom corners of the HT for a comfortable grip. The thumb indents on the SLC and SV were liked by some, not by others.
The SLC shares with the EL WBs a relatively closed exterior that discourages the accumulation of grit. (My wife's 10x42 EL WB has been cleaned once in 10 years.) The SVs have a very tight tolerance between the edges of the focus wheel and the shallow cutouts on the adjacent sides of the barrels, providing some opportunity for grit to accumulate, but nothing that couldn't be easily rinsed out. The HT's focus wheel is somewhat open on the ocular side. The strap lugs on the SV and HT are located just below 90 degrees on either side, while those on the SLC are more toward the bottom of the binocular; attached to a strap the SLCs tilt back in a more pronounced way.
These three binoculars are spectacular. Which trade-offs are you prepared for?
Thanks to Eagle Optics in Guelph, and Gentec International in Toronto for making the Swarovski SLC HD and Zeiss HT available for comparison.
Mike
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![Zeiss wipes 178 [].JPG](/data/attachments/402/402842-3cfcbdfffcf4b53983f9c48dd36a596f.jpg)
