I recently had the good fortune to acquire a B&L 8X42 Elite - 2nd Generation, Version 1 (not phase coated). It is SN: AA0720 and Model: 61-2843 and is rubber armored with a metal ribbed focus wheel at the front. It is in optically excellent condition and its optical performance is outstanding. Although not phase coated, I can see no difference in daylight viewing when compared to my Swarovksi SLC 8X30 purchased new in 2011 other than the Elite has better stray light control (much less glare when viewing toward a sunrise) than the Swaro. Also, the Elite's FOV seems more than its stated 7 degrees appearing to be slightly greater than the Swaro's which has a stated 7.8 degrees FOV (better eye-relief?). Perhaps I could discern lack of phase coating at night with a star test but in daylight viewing I can't. I was interested to read in this thread that the 1st Generation Elites had an Uppendahl prism cluster and am curious if the 2nd generation do too. Does anybody know? I suspect the 2nd Generation are likewise Uppendahls because except for the rubber armor they appear identical to the 1st Generations.
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