I think my wallet will prevent that. We'll, maybe two Swarovs 😂
-
Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.
Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Is it worth it to upgrade from a GPO Passion HD to an EL? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Ouroboros
- Start date
For a poor student (it is me) even one Swaro is two much. It is all the devils doing 😉
Jason Bugay Reyes
Well-known member
This is great information/advice. As I said I wear glasses (-9 with astigmatism and multi focal - yay me) so being able to use binoculars that give me a full and comfortable FOV while wearing glassing is paramount and it sounds like you understand the struggle. I do wear contacts when I'm hiking and that alleviates most of the ER and FOV issues, but I don't want to invest in bins that I can ONLY take full advantage of while wearing contacts. I want to be able to just pick them up in the living room and look out at the woods in the backyard without worry as I wear glasses 90% of the time.
The EL seemed like the best Swaro for me - enough ER for glasses and a bit more magnification and FOV and the price wasn't insane. Full disclosure, whatever Swaro I buy will probably the one and only for me. BUT the NL 8x32 was suggested and that has the FOV but gives me concern about ER and exit pupil size. EP size not so much for light (most of my viewing is during the day albeit cloudy and foggy is common) but for eye comfort. Then a little voice in my head said "you're in this deep, maybe NL 8x42?". That's a big jump in price for me from the EL, but it does give more FOV, a good EP size, but a questionable 18 mm eye relief for those of us with glasses.
This is definitely a quest, I hope my marriage can survive a Swaro purchase
You will enjoy the EL and the after sale services are excellent too!
I presume you have an EL, any additional thoughts you could share? Do you use them with glasses as well? As I can't try them first I'm gather as much information from users as I can
Jason Bugay Reyes
Well-known member
Not with glass but had it since 2013 until last year and it was so good for my eyes! My primary bino format was the EL 8x32
Jason Bugay Reyes
Well-known member
Aha may I know your favourite?
Right now it is NL 10x32. I really like Curios as well.
Jason Bugay Reyes
Well-known member
🤤 I like NL 10x32 orange hehehe
If you can't try the new binos then I would make sure to order from a place that allows return for refund. There are ergonomic factors that can pop up.
I liked the extra 8.5x magnification and the nice flat field of the 42mm EL's, I went into the bird store to buy a pair. However, I found a problem, the width of my hand would not fit between the two bridges holding the tubes together. So no matter how I gripped, one or two fingers would be pushed uncomfortably up by the bridge. Within a minute or two in the store it was driving me crazy. Also, I found the focus knob position high, the action stiff, so that my index finger had to bend awkwardly to adjust the focus, and I have weak fingers.
I never would have figured this stuff out without trying them. The 50mm EL's have more space between the bridges are are super comfortable to grip. I was able to try those at the store a couple months ago.
I liked the extra 8.5x magnification and the nice flat field of the 42mm EL's, I went into the bird store to buy a pair. However, I found a problem, the width of my hand would not fit between the two bridges holding the tubes together. So no matter how I gripped, one or two fingers would be pushed uncomfortably up by the bridge. Within a minute or two in the store it was driving me crazy. Also, I found the focus knob position high, the action stiff, so that my index finger had to bend awkwardly to adjust the focus, and I have weak fingers.
I never would have figured this stuff out without trying them. The 50mm EL's have more space between the bridges are are super comfortable to grip. I was able to try those at the store a couple months ago.
Paultricounty
Well-known member
I have both GPO 8x, 10x and the swaro 8.5x42 & 10x. The Swarovski EL is a clear step up in every area and I’d go as far as saying EL’s are one of the finest Alphas on the market today. They may not have the large FOV of the SF and NL but then they have better edges and a much more conformable eyebox.
And I’m not saying it because I’m selling one 🤣.
That's great that you have a GPO and EL to compare, appreciate the feedback. Do you have an NL 8x42 as well? Despite the price I do wonder about that as an option, especially the FOV.
Thanks for that info, my hands aren't particularly large (M/L in most gloves) and more long than wide in the fingers so I'm hopefully the open bridge wouldn't be an issue BUT I hear what you're saving about comfort - if it doesn't feel right it doesn't work.
Paultricounty
Well-known member
I don’t have the 8xNL , I do have the 10x42NL. There’s a very small difference between the EL and NL in actually central image. The gap is huge from GPO to EL, NL. The EL is the best bargain on the market imo.
Thanks for the information, trying to decide between the two has been brutal - cost vs performance would be easier if I won the lotto. The EL is definitely the better value, but the NL FOV is attractive.
Paultricounty
Well-known member
S
if you got the money go for an NL, but your not missing much with an EL. When I’m using my EL’s or my Noctivids I never miss my NL‘s and SF‘s for the FOV.
Thanks, I think I've got FOMO on FOV so that helps.
tenex
reality-based
Are you doing anything specific where it would help, like following fast-moving birds, waiting for cetaceans to resurface, etc? Otherwise, whether you just find a wider view more impressive is a matter of taste, so please yourself.
I have two 8X binoculars, a Zeiss SF and a Swarovski Habicht. The field of view of the Zeiss is impressive, even startling.
Having said that, I have fondly laid the Zeiss on the shelf in the closet, and use the Habicht exclusively. It has completely captivated me.
There is so much more to the totality of any glass, that deciding to buy based on a spec sheet number is a pretty good way of ending up with an instrument you really may not like.
To each his own, to pursue happiness in his own way, so if a giant FOV is your thing, do it. Just be aware that there are many interacting factors in play that will enable you to "bond" (or not bond) with a given binocular, and FOV is only one of them.
Having said that, I have fondly laid the Zeiss on the shelf in the closet, and use the Habicht exclusively. It has completely captivated me.
There is so much more to the totality of any glass, that deciding to buy based on a spec sheet number is a pretty good way of ending up with an instrument you really may not like.
To each his own, to pursue happiness in his own way, so if a giant FOV is your thing, do it. Just be aware that there are many interacting factors in play that will enable you to "bond" (or not bond) with a given binocular, and FOV is only one of them.
Most of my use involves coastal forest, that that means that sometimes I could be looking at things offshore (whales, seals, birds, nearby islands) but the rest of the time I'm in closer woods with small birds and that's where I've wished for more FOV to spot and track them better. At this point I'm basically torn between an EL 8.5x42 and an NL 8x42 and FOV between the two of a fair bit (399 vs 477). I'm only buying one Swaro so I can't have regrets. I just had spending money - I know, wrong hobby.