This is my first post, though I've lurked around on and off- I inherited a pair of Swift Saratoga MkI 8X40 Binoculars from my father-in-law. They're in quite good condition; very good I'd say. It's other markings are: J B56, Serial # 753441, and says on body, "Fully Coated", & 488ft at 100yds. It comes with a nearly pristine black leather hard case.
I'm assuming they were made in late 50s or 60s. I've compared them with my Eagle Optics Ranger ED 10X42. The Rangers are quite a bit brighter to my eye, but the eyepieces of the Swift seem to be hand polished to a higher degree because sometimes I can get what I call faint central circle in the eyepiece of the Ranger HD. I assume that's because it's machine ground? The eyepiece of my (Japanese Made) Celestron Ultima 7X50 is similar in being largely free of that faint central 'ring'.
I can see they've got a BAK 7 prism by the faint rectangle appearing in the eyepiece as seen in the photos.
Overall, the Swift's are surprisingly good!
Jerry
I'm assuming they were made in late 50s or 60s. I've compared them with my Eagle Optics Ranger ED 10X42. The Rangers are quite a bit brighter to my eye, but the eyepieces of the Swift seem to be hand polished to a higher degree because sometimes I can get what I call faint central circle in the eyepiece of the Ranger HD. I assume that's because it's machine ground? The eyepiece of my (Japanese Made) Celestron Ultima 7X50 is similar in being largely free of that faint central 'ring'.
I can see they've got a BAK 7 prism by the faint rectangle appearing in the eyepiece as seen in the photos.
Overall, the Swift's are surprisingly good!
Jerry