Swarovski 8.5x42 EL: Better objective cover? (1 Viewer)

etc

Well-known member

• Mar 28, 2018

• #1

The contraption that comes with the 8.5x42 EL of 2008 vintage just continues to amaze me, what a cheap piece of junk on such a fine binocular - Leica is miles ahead. I am talking about both the objective and the eyepiece side. I've dealt with the eyepiece but the 42mm objective needs a better cap. The one that comes with it continuously opens due to no tension. It's something that belongs on a kids cheap binocular.

There has to be a better product. Ideally the same design but better built with more tension. something heavy duty.

Maybe something similar to a rifle scope. Where the rigid plastic just pops open and doesn't even come off by itself.

 

Alexis Powell

Natural history enthusiast

• Mar 29, 2018

• #2

I don't use either ocular (except rarely) or objective covers on my bins, but maybe what you want are the Quake Bushwacker covers (I use the largest size in black on my Nikon 50ED scope), or the clunkier Vortex equivalent.
https://www.opticsplanet.com/quake-bushwhacker-optic-covers-matte-black-size-6-12862-5.html
http://www.vortexoptics.com/product/vortex-defender-flip-cap-eyepiece

--AP

 

etc

Well-known member

• Mar 29, 2018

• #3

Yes, that is the idea.

Which size fits the 42mm objective? A tight fit?

 

P

Pileatus

"Experientia Docet”

• Mar 29, 2018

• #4

etc said:

Yes, that is the idea.

Which size fits the 42mm objective? A tight fit?

Click to expand...

I use Leica Ultravid 42mm caps (minus tethers) on the 8.5X42 SV. Perfect fit.

 

etc

Well-known member

• Mar 29, 2018

• #5

Interesting

 

G

Gijs van Ginkel

Well-known member

• Mar 29, 2018

• #6

etc. post 1,
I do not know which raincap you are referring to, since Swarovski has different ones. The one of hard plastic with turnable hinge is in my opinion together with the solid rubber raincap supplied by Zeiss one of the most convenient and most useful raincaps on the market (I have tested and used many and if you could collect all the tears I cried because of the lousy quality of some one could fill a small lake). I use both on different binoculars and they are very handy, strong and, also very important, immediately away from the eyepieces if necessary so there is no delay.
Gijs van Ginkel

 

Alexis Powell

Natural history enthusiast

• Mar 29, 2018

• #7

I don't use ocular covers except rarely, but on the old Swarovski 8.5x42 EL, I like the one for the Leica x42 Trinovid BN.

I don't like the hard one from Swarovski. I don't like the hardness, or that it can rattle against things.

--AP

 

G

Gijs van Ginkel

Well-known member

• Mar 30, 2018

• #8

Alexis Powell. post 7,
The problem for me is, that on a hike in all kinds of terrain, the eyepieces start to collect a lot of dust and when it starts raining the eyepiece lenses collect a disturbing amount of water hampering a good image. That I can avoid with a good eypiece cover. But if suddenly a bird or other animal starts moving the binocular must be ready in the shortest possible time and that requires an immediate removal of the cover, otherwise observation is lost or poor. Both eyepiece covers I described in my post 6 fulfill for me the requirements for a good view under all circumstances.
Ys the Swarovski cap is hard, but it never was any problem for me and I had no trouble with rattling.
The Zeiss cover is made from hard rubber and does not have that possible risk. I assume that that cover is derived from the eyepiece covers used for many years on military binoculars of different brands. These were made often from (beautiful) leather, I still have some from Zeiss, Kern, Hensoldt etc.
Gijs van Gikel

 

G

Gijs van Ginkel

Well-known member

• Mar 30, 2018

• #9

I saw that I mistyped my name in post 8 before one might think: there we have a new BF member.
Gijs van Ginkel

 

etc

Well-known member

• Mar 30, 2018

• #10

Gijs van Ginkel said:

etc. post 1,
I do not know which raincap you are referring to, since Swarovski has different ones. The one of hard plastic with turnable hinge is in my opinion together with the solid rubber raincap supplied by Zeiss one of the most convenient and most useful raincaps on the market (I have tested and used many and if you could collect all the tears I cried because of the lousy quality of some one could fill a small lake). I use both on different binoculars and they are very handy, strong and, also very important, immediately away from the eyepieces if necessary so there is no delay.
Gijs van Ginkel

Click to expand...

Picture? Link?

I do not know which raincap you are referring to, since Swarovski has different ones.

Click to expand...

The stock raincap that comes with the Swarovksi EL made circa 2007 based on the serial number.

 

etc

Well-known member

• Mar 30, 2018

• #11

Leica Trinovid from the late 90's had the right idea, that contraption they had was fast to both install and remove, heavy duty, did not fall apart and did not self-remove. I suppose something more modern is the ticket however, due to being both more compact and lighter.

 

forent

Well-known member

• Mar 30, 2018

• #12

I faced a similar problem with the original eyepiece cover of my new Swarovski SLC 10x56. I found it just impractical compared to the cover of my trusty Leica Trinovid 8x42 BA bought back in 1993. (It's the cover to be seen here: https://picclick.de/Leica-Trinovid-8x32-BA-302580862734.html#&gid=1&pid=1) Fortunately I had a spare one in the drawer that I bought ten years ago new in box for 5 Euros. It fits the Swarovski pretty well.

 

G

Gijs van Ginkel

Well-known member

• Mar 30, 2018

• #13

forent, post 12,
That is almost the same cover as supplied with the 7x30 and 8x30 SLC binoculars, it was also a very practical one.
Gijs van Ginkel