I too purchased the 8x32 NL and 8x32 SF (1 Viewer)

[birdcat]

I am not anybody you should listen to, but here are my experiences on the two binoculars after a week+ of daily use and testing:

8x32 NL

Superior image: crisper and improved contrast over SF.
Definitely more prone to condensation.
Seemingly more prone to glare related issues.
Eye placement slightly more forgiving than SF.
Heavier in hand.

8x32 SF

Excellent image: slightly hazy with blue/green tint and less contrast compared to NL.
Definitely less prone to condensation.
Seemingly less prone to glare issues.
Eye placement slightly less forgiving than NL.
Lighter in hand.

 

[Lezeiss]

I am not anybody you should listen to, but here are my experiences on the two binoculars after a week+ of daily use and testing:

8x32 NL

Superior image: crisper and improved contrast over SF.
Definitely more prone to condensation.
Seemingly more prone to glare related issues.
Eye placement slightly more forgiving than SF.
Heavier in hand.

8x32 SF

Excellent image: slightly hazy with blue/green tint and less contrast compared to NL.
Definitely less prone to condensation.
Seemingly less prone to glare issues.
Eye placement slightly less forgiving than NL.
Lighter in hand.

Which one do you prefer if you could only keep one?

 

[NDhunter]

Your review is weak with details, so I can tell you are just offering a quick opinion. The glare thing with the NL does keep showing
in many of these reviews.

Jerry

 

[Gijs van Ginkel]

Lezeiss, post 1,
After intense use and thourough testing (the report will be available probably somewhere next week on the WEB-site of House of Outdoor) I definitely go for the NL Pure 8x32 over the SF 8x32. I have to add that I never observed any glare with the NL . The excellent handling comfort combined with the optical quality: better light transmission, better color reproduction of the NL Pure were very convincing to me.
Gijs van Ginkel

 

[Hermann]

After intense use and thourough testing (the report will be available probably somewhere next week on the WEB-site of House of Outdoor) I definitely go for the NL Pure 8x32 over the SF 8x32. I have to add that I never observed any glare with the NL .[my emphasis]

But then you say that about virtually EVERY Swarovski binocular. And you dismiss any reports that there is glare.

The excellent handling comfort combined with the optical quality: better light transmission, better color reproduction of the NL Pure were very convincing to me.

That may well be so.

Hermann

 

[Gijs van Ginkel]

Herman, post 5,
I only write down what we observe and measure, but that does not mean that everybody has the same observations because of differences in our eyes, eye sensitivity, etc. And there is also a difference in the size of the hands, personal preferences etc.
So we tried to do the best we could so after you have read the paper you can comment of course, that is after all the goal of this forum.
Gijs van Ginkel

 

[Maljunulo]

Unfortunately,the argument can be made that anything which cannot be repeated is not objective.

I think the criteria of objectivity must include reproducibility, otherwise all is madness.

"I see this ....... " followed by "Well, I don't see that at all." is a frequent exchange here, so to use the word "objective" seems a bit off to me.

Once again, just my opinion.

 

[birdcat]

Which one do you prefer if you could only keep one?

I decided to send the NL back and get a second SF (for me and my partner). The eyepiece condensation issue was too much. I did not have such an issue on my 8.5x42 EL. It's too bad, because I did prefer the NL view.

 

[_Prism_]

I am not anybody you should listen to, but here are my experiences on the two binoculars after a week+ of daily use and testing:

8x32 NL

Superior image: crisper and improved contrast over SF.
Definitely more prone to condensation.
Seemingly more prone to glare related issues.
Eye placement slightly more forgiving than SF.
Heavier in hand.

8x32 SF

Excellent image: slightly hazy with blue/green tint and less contrast compared to NL.
Definitely less prone to condensation.
Seemingly less prone to glare issues.
Eye placement slightly less forgiving than NL.
Lighter in hand.

I've read quite a few comments about glare and condensation on the NL but have not experienced any of these issues myself (the only glare I ever experienced on the NL was in a store of all places!). As far as the image goes, there was no clear winner for me when comparing the NL 32 and SF 32 models - they seemed near identical in terms of brightness, sharpness and contrast (I did notice a very subtle accentuation of green and yellow tones in the Zeiss as you mention). However, I found the ergonomics of the SF 32s to be superior (lighter, better balanced, more secure grip, better focuser).

I had no issues with eye placement or blackouts in either make (same goes for the 10x versions of each as well). I wonder if this has something to do with eye relief for glasses wearers. Do you wear glasses?

 

[Kiwimac]

I have the 'automatic' rain guard that Swarovski make.

I tried it on my NL 12x42 and promptly got condensation on the eyepieces because the fabric of the rainguard was directing my exhaled breath onto them!

Took it off and since, no issue.

 

[birdcat]

I've read quite a few comments about glare and condensation on the NL but have not experienced any of these issues myself (the only glare I ever experienced on the NL was in a store of all places!). As far as the image goes, there was no clear winner for me when comparing the NL 32 and SF 32 models - they seemed near identical in terms of brightness, sharpness and contrast (I did notice a very subtle accentuation of green and yellow tones in the Zeiss as you mention). However, I found the ergonomics of the SF 32s to be superior (lighter, better balanced, more secure grip, better focuser).

I had no issues with eye placement or blackouts in either make (same goes for the 10x versions of each as well). I wonder if this has something to do with eye relief for glasses wearers. Do you wear glasses?

I don’t wear glasses. And I don’t really have trouble with eye placement as much as it was easier to get a good view with the NLs. I still miss the view from the NL a little but the SF are more practical with superior resistance to fogging and glare for how I use them. The ergonomics are personal preference but the SFs are really comfortable to me. My partner wears glasses and still loves their SFs. I am very happy with mine as well.

 

[jafritten]

Swarovski have stopped applying their SWAROCLEAN coatings to their eyepieces, haven't they? That may be the reason for the condensation issue. If that was the case, I wouldn't buy an NL now but wait for Swarovski to fix the issue. They certainly will.

 

[_Prism_]

Swarovski have stopped applying their SWAROCLEAN coatings to their eyepieces, haven't they? That may be the reason for the condensation issue. If that was the case, I wouldn't buy an NL now but wait for Swarovski to fix the issue. They certainly will.

Hmmm interesting point, I wonder if this is the cause of the condensation. If it is, I reckon we will probably see a lot more posts about it on BF in the near future.

 

[birdcat]

Swarovski have stopped applying their SWAROCLEAN coatings to their eyepieces, haven't they? That may be the reason for the condensation issue. If that was the case, I wouldn't buy an NL now but wait for Swarovski to fix the issue. They certainly will.

I definitely considered this as a possibility, but didn't want to speculate in my original post. I will comment that immediately before the 8x32 SFs I had a pair of 8.5x42 EL Swarovski binoculars manufactured in 2018. These would have still had the SWAROCLEAN coating. I did NOT have a problem with condensation with these EL binoculars. Of course the EL is a different binocular, but it still makes you wonder.

 

[jafritten]

I definitely considered this as a possibility, but didn't want to speculate in my original post. I will comment that immediately before the 8x32 SFs I had a pair of 8.5x42 EL Swarovski binoculars manufactured in 2018. These would have still had the SWAROCLEAN coating. I did NOT have a problem with condensation with these EL binoculars. Of course the EL is a different binocular, but it still makes you wonder.

Obviously, it is mere conjecture on my part. I don't think it quite impossible, though, that the NLs hit the market prematurely. My 2019 SLCs don't have any condensation problems.

 

[Kiwimac]

Swarovski have stopped applying their SWAROCLEAN coatings to their eyepieces, haven't they? That may be the reason for the condensation issue. If that was the case, I wouldn't buy an NL now but wait for Swarovski to fix the issue. They certainly will.

That's an odd thing to do. Why?

 

[Maljunulo]

That's an odd thing to do. Why?

Political.

 

[Kiwimac]

Political.

I had no idea binoculars could be political!

 

[pm42]

That's an odd thing to do. Why?

Because of the environmental impact according to Impact of Subtle Changes

 

[Kiwimac]

I hadn't realised. I'd probably have bought Zeiss with Lotutec if I'd known.