[sbb]

Originally Posted by jan van daalen

Swaro has brought a masterpiece, but....... with this piece of device, do I still need a 25 or even a 32SV?

For me the answer is No. Where the former Companion IMHO was not a Swarovski worthy piece of optics, this little jewel is from another planet.

Jan

Jan better than the 32x8 SV?

[typo]

Thanks Jan, I like the sound of that. The old one was a bit of a joke.

David

[jan van daalen]

Originally Posted by sbb

Jan better than the 32x8 SV?

Hi SBB,

No, this one is not better than the 8x32SV, but compared to what is puts on the table it's a winner for me.
In carrying it beats both the CL25 and SV32. It is optical superior to the 25. Considering price and performance it beats the S... out of both. Do you need the extra meters FOV and edgesharpness, the SV is your destiny but only in the 42 configuration because of the extra dusk and dawn advantage.
This little gem is gonna take a lot of trade away from the CL25 and SV32 and much more from the competition.
Work for Zeiss, Leica, Kowa and Meopta.
IMHO this CL is the EL from 1999. It will fill the landscape.

Jan

[sbb]

Thanks for the Update Jan! Nice review

[Troubador]

Originally Posted by jan van daalen

Hi SBB,

No, this one is not better than the 8x32SV, but compared to what is puts on the table it's a winner for me.
In carrying it beats both the CL25 and SV32. It is optical superior to the 25. Considering price and performance it beats the S... out of both. Do you need the extra meters FOV and edgesharpness, the SV is your destiny but only in the 42 configuration because of the extra dusk and dawn advantage.
This little gem is gonna take a lot of trade away from the CL25 and SV32 and much more from the competition.
Work for Zeiss, Leica, Kowa and Meopta.
IMHO this CL is the EL from 1999. It will fill the landscape.

Jan

But do you like it?

Lee

[jan van daalen]

Originally Posted by Troubador

But do you like it?

Lee

We've put the CL25 Mountain next to the new CL30 (in the same color) and imagined the 32SV and 42SV in the same color and came to the conclusion that it (hopefully) will be a matter of time they will come up in this color.

Yes, I like it a lot

M

[sbb]

https://mam.swarovski.com/pinaccess/...e=3TOvAN4ToEjo
More photos if anyone is interested

[David in NC]

Oh gosh. Now I'm going to want one!

Hey I know-I'll say it's for my WIFE! Yeah...that's the ticket... It would be a step up from her only bin (a Leupold 6x32 Katmai) but still small for her hands. Yeah... !

Jan-do the Field Pro sockets on the side not interfere with a smooth comfortable grip though? They LOOK like they would but I'm picky sometimes.

[jan van daalen]

Originally Posted by David in NC

Oh gosh. Now I'm going to want one!

Hey I know-I'll say it's for my WIFE! Yeah...that's the ticket... It would be a step up from her only bin (a Leupold 6x32 Katmai) but still small for her hands. Yeah... !

Jan-do the Field Pro sockets on the side not interfere with a smooth comfortable grip though? They LOOK like they would but I'm picky sometimes.

David,

The palms of your hands don't reach that area. They are below that point because of the grip.

Jan

[David in NC]

Thanks Jan.

[Gilmore Girl]

Originally Posted by sbb

https://mam.swarovski.com/pinaccess/...e=3TOvAN4ToEjo
More photos if anyone is interested

The bin does look a little longer (than the previous CL) in those photos of people holding it.
But, it looks very nice in those photos.

*sigh* Swarovski...I'm not supposed to consider any new binos.
CL was my 2nd fav bino I've owned. '
This new one has more ER and better specs and optics according to our first review. This is just too tempting.

Never expected the CL to be upgraded.

I made a promise to myself to keep it simple and have just 2 nice binos which I have now. ugh.

[Pileatus]

Originally Posted by jan van daalen

We've put the CL25 Mountain next to the new CL30 (in the same color) and imagined the 32SV and 42SV in the same color and came to the conclusion that it (hopefully) will be a matter of time they will come up in this color.

Yes, I like it a lot

M

Come on, Jan, you know this model is just another stepping stone to the 10X50 SV.

[cycleguy]

Originally Posted by Gilmore Girl

....

I made a promise to myself to keep it simple and have just 2 nice binos which I have now. ugh.

Doing much the same. Spent the first seven months of the year cutting back, tossing, sending to the goodwill, craigslist for sale, and just giving away. It has been a noticeable improvement but don't think many would realize. Took the last two months off... needed the break from always trying to find something to part with. Now that winter is closing in I'll soon be back to it. I do allow trading off large bits of clutter to allow for small bits of clutter. It is still moving in the desired direction....

CG

[Gilmore Girl]

Originally Posted by cycleguy

Doing much the same. Spent the first seven months of the year cutting back, tossing, sending to the goodwill, craigslist for sale, and just giving away. It has been a noticeable improvement but don't think many would realize. Took the last two months off... needed the break from always trying to find something to part with. Now that winter is closing in I'll soon be back to it. I do allow trading off large bits of clutter to allow for small bits of clutter. It is still moving in the desired direction....

CG

I did the same over these past two years. I sold a good amount of stuff on eBay, consigned some items , donated, recycled, sent some to the dumpster and gave stuff away to friends.
Now I'm at a point where I feel pretty content having my living space de-cluttered...it feels good. I moved so much stuff I guess it's not so bad buying something small I would really enjoy. I'll never go back to having as much as I did. I really like having less clutter and unnecessary stuff - keeping it simple.
I'll only buy things that I need or enrich my life in some way.

[NDhunter]

Originally Posted by sbb

https://mam.swarovski.com/pinaccess/...e=3TOvAN4ToEjo
More photos if anyone is interested

Thanks for the photos. Same green with some gray metal.
Also a wool bag, like Meopta.

Jan, you seem to be impressed, I wonder how the 10x30 would perform ?

Where will actual prices be, USA ?

Jerry

[In Focus]

We saw the 10x30 this week and it sounds like Jan's opinion on this upgrade is pretty much the same as ours. It is a significant step up from the current Companion. This is going to sell very well.

The In Focus Team

[Steve C]

I know the SLC is long established and well respected. I personally think it is the best Swarovski. However the SLC line lost the 30 mm size at the upgrade from the SLC Neu. Shortly thereafter we see the CL in said size. I realize full well this may be just what it seems on its face, an update to the CL. The thought did run through my head that this may be a precursor to the addition of 40 mm size CL binoculars and possibly at the expense of the SLC, kind of a combination of the SLC and CL. Progress down this path may depend on user reaction to the new CL. Just a thought and I have no idea of where it may sit.

I find the eye box description pretty interesting. It may be something that relieves what appears to be persistent complaints from users about inadequate eye relief in the 30 mm size class.

[[email protected]]

I had the 8x30 CL, the 8x32 SV and the 8.5x42 SV. Each increase in aperture brought a huge increase in performance. This new 8x30 CL may be improved but it still will not compete with it's bigger brother's if you want superior optics. The move from an 8x30 CL to an an 8x32 SV is almost insignificant in size and weight but huge in performance.

[jan van daalen]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

I had the 8x30 CL, the 8x32 SV and the 8.5x42 SV. Each increase in aperture brought a huge increase in performance. This new 8x30 CL may be improved but it still will not compete with it's bigger brother's if you want superior optics. The move from an 8x30 CL to an an 8x32 SV is almost insignificant in size and weight but huge in performance.

Dennis,

....huge in performance....,

Based on what experience do you make this statement?
We are talking about the new CL and I assume you about the old CL.

Jan

[[email protected]]

Originally Posted by jan van daalen

Dennis,

....huge in performance....,

Based on what experience do you make this statement?
We are talking about the new CL and I assume you about the old CL.

Jan

The old CL. My point is even with the improvements on the new CL I don't see it to be any serious competition for the 8x32 SV. The new CL will be a nice smaller compact binocular for those people willing to sacrifice performance for those advantages. I have tried a lot of different 30mm binoculars and I have never found their performance good enough for a full time birding binocular under all conditions. They are fine as a secondary sunny weather daytime binocular but I wouldn't take one to the jungles of Costa Rica. I know I have tried them. They don't WORK good under the canopy. Give me a 42mm for all around use all around the world. The best 30mm I ever had optically was the Nikon 8x30 EII. Even with an optical box you still only have a 3.75mm exit pupil. It is too bad they couldn't make a 25mm or 30mm binocular perform like a 32mm or 42mm. That would be like having your cake and eating it too.

[jan van daalen]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

The old CL. My point is even with the improvements on the new CL I don't see it to be any serious competition for the 8x32 SV. The new CL will be a nice smaller compact binocular for those people willing to sacrifice performance for those advantages. I have tried a lot of different 30mm binoculars and I have never found their performance good enough for a full time birding binocular under all conditions. They are fine as a secondary sunny weather daytime binocular but I wouldn't take one to the jungles of Costa Rica. I know I have tried them. They don't WORK good under the canopy. Give me a 42mm for all around use all around the world. The best 30mm I ever had optically was the Nikon 8x30 EII. Even with an optical box you still only have a 3.75mm exit pupil.

Dennis,

How can you make your point if you even have never looked through this CL?

Jan

[Torview]

Originally Posted by jan van daalen

Dennis,

How can you make your point if you even have never looked through this CL?

Jan

Jan, its never stopped him before

[ceasar]

Originally Posted by jan van daalen

Well, had the chance to look trough the 8 and 10x this afternoon and I must say these are Swarovski worthy optics.
Swaro, congrets. Very well done.

By widening the incoming lightray they managed to inplant an "optical box" which causes no blackouts at the eyecups side. I say it wrong, but it results in a eye relief to 21mm. I know it is 16 but one can get closer or further away from the eye lens without experiencing blackouts.

.................................................. ..................................

Jan

Jan,

I'm confused.

Does "widening the incoming lightray" make the exit pupil larger?

And what is an "optical box?"

Bob

[jan van daalen]

Originally Posted by ceasar

Jan,

I'm confused.

Does "widening the incoming lightray" make the exit pupil larger?

And what is an "optical box?"

Bob

Bob,

I am as confused as you are.
The explanation I got from Swarovski was that they made the lightrays, after entering the objectiv lenses, somehow wider resulting in a (what they call) optical box, situated direct after the eye lens, which gives the user the possibility to manipulate the binocular within the eyerelief from 0 - 21mm without experiencing blackouts/kidny beans.

I know, it sounds like the "amazing" depth of field experience some have with the Noctivid (while there can't be)but it worked for me. Hopefully someone from Swaro can tune in regarding this matter to make clear how they actually managed this.

Jan

[Canip]

Originally Posted by jan van daalen

Dennis,

How can you make your point if you even have never looked through this CL?

Jan

Jan,
Isn’t it easier to speculate and talk „hands-off“ about binoculars that you have never seen than to comment on facts and features of a bino which you have had to inspect yourself ?