10x32 EL SV or 10x42 SLC (1 Viewer)

[coolhand68]

Trying to decide which 10x would be best. If both are being offered in mint condition at the same price does anyone have experience with both? I’m unable to make a direct comparison. My main concern is the eye relief on the SLC, which is the most recent version at 16mm. I don’t use eyeglasses with binoculars and I need to extend eyecups all the way up or I get blackouts. I have a pair of 8x32 EL WB with 15mm of relief and I need to place them just so to avoid blackouts. The 10x32 from 2012 have 20mm which I know will work fine. Now my question is how do they compare looking through them? Any noticeable differences in brightness, edge sharpness, contrast, etc?

 

[claves_10]

Few days ago another birder carried the SLC 10x42 and since I read here in BF how great they are I ask him if I could try them.
Was surprised how comfortable they were, no black outs and lighter than the ones I carried that day EL 10x42pro. With my EL y tend to use full extended the eye reliefs 20mm. When look through I noticed a green tint in the imagery, grass, leafs were greener than with my EL 10x42pro. I was surprised too about the focus wheel, was perfect, smooth in both directions. One thing I "regret" or at least for me has a great influence is the focus Wheel.
ELs are perfect do not get me wrong, just the tiny thing to complaint/bitch about is the focus mechanism.
I did not realise at the time how much off center image sharpness has compared to the ELs.
I was a pleasant surprise to use them, That said if would consider buying them, tha SLC 10x42 if I could find them around 600-800€, the cheaper the better. Now Swarovski EL 10x42 second hand are around 1800€ But having in mind that SLC are discontinued and I do not know what issues you could have in 5 years time if you were the send them for a repair to Swarovski.... ???
It is true that we you do not need the news bino to observe birds and from the 3 binos that I own each of them has good and bad points. EL, SF, NL.
If you could try both side by side.

 

[chill6x6]

Which version SLC?

 

[almond68]

I have both, SLC 8’s and EL 10’s...I like both. For me the SLc’s balance better on a tripod than the EL’s, but the EL’s have great ergonomics and are a touch sharper to my eye. You won’t be disappointed with either in my opinion.

 

[coolhand68]

Which version SLC?

The most recent 2020 version.

 

[tenex]

My main concern is the eye relief...

If you aren't wearing glasses, what matters is whether a particular model's eyecups are deep enough for its ER (on your face), not the ER measurement itself (although I consider 20mm ridiculous). If they're not, you can replace them with cups from the 8x model as I've had to do a couple of times now, including with SLC 10x42, which is a lovely bin. EL 32 ergonomics are different, it's lighter though not much smaller, and of course sharp to the edge, but I don't seem to care about that and the edges look perfectly useful to me on the SLC, which also handles glare better. Both are highly regarded here.

 

[chill6x6]

The most recent 2020 version.

I believe I'd rather have the SV 10X32. For the most part it's going to behave as a SV 10X42 in a smaller package with more FOV. I had one and now wish I had never sold it. The SV will have an edge to edge flat FOV.

 

[claves_10]

I agree with chill6x6, if there is no usage discomfort, I will go with the 10x32SV.
If there was a price difference, being the SLC cheaper, which I believe is not the case ...then the SLC

 

[ReinierB]

Both very nice! The 10x32 has 120mm FOV, the 10x42 110m.
The 10x42 a bit better in difficult light (less glare as well.) The 10x32 lighter and just a bit nicer colours during the day, imo.

 

[[email protected]]

I also agree with chill6x6. I prefer the SV 10x32, especially if you do mostly daylight birding. You won't notice any difference in the brightness and the SV 10x32 has a bigger FOV, better contrast, sharper edges and a smoother more consistent focuser. I have had about 6 different SLC's and 5 of them have had a focuser that was harder to turn in one direction than the other, so I am a little leary of SLC's because of that. The 10x32 and 8x32 have become my favorite birding format for their small size and light weight especially alpha's.