It’s May!—has anybody bought/tried out a NL Pure 32 yet? (1 Viewer)

[FrST]

It is not necessary to look towards a lower sun in order to get veiling glare for me. Thus without direct light into the objectives. Sun strayligh from clouds is enough to provoke it.

Another comment to the (my) NL being prone to glare (my personal observation as a non power user with the respective experience in handling binos): I meant in situations where glare might be an issue. To my experience this is much more problematic in cloudy environments rather than directly towards the sun, where glare and flare are obviously starting to be an issue at a certain point. Known to everyone who photographs. With the sun at the back and blue sky in front, surely there is no problem with glare! Also for me.

Look at my first image. It was taken around 11:00 towards west. No direct sunlight coming from the sun. There was also an about half a meter roof on top of the window. And despite the fact that the picture is taken without any care (I read Henry's remarks on how to do it properly and his concerns about the way Allbinos does it) you can spot bright reflections near the exit pupil. Those who Holger "identified" as potentially the root cause for being glare sensitive in his reply also cited here. It does to me not look likely that those are caused by the backlight into the eyepieces, as clearly is the case for the false pupils (visible with the objective cover closed.

I tried to make a picture as suggested by Henry, the one attached now is about the best I could get in a quick try, when back home I might try it more sophisticated. The image was taken under a blanket with the sun about 90 deg from the side, 50 deg up, and the view directed to a black jacket, the image is converted to black and white. There are quite some reflections close to the exit pupil. The ones at the bottom can get significantly brighter when glare pops up (bright cloudy sky on top etc.) - to my observations...

 

[Canip]

Just one brief comment:
I had used the NL 8x32 extensively in cloudy conditions before posting my post # 30 above.
I my experience, in these conditions the NL is not more problematic with regard to glare than in bright sunshine or at dusk/dawn.
I do appreciate that your experience and that of other users may be different.

 

[Gijs van Ginkel]

Canip, post 120,
Asking around my impression is that that sales ratio Sarovski NL pure : Victory SF or Swarovski: Zeiss if you want is around 10:1. Leica is even smaller and in our country Leica is almost a non-item despite the beautiful instruments they make and Nikon is almost non-existent. That has probably to do with the way Nikon is distributed in our country combined with a bad service reputation.
Gijs van Ginkel

 

[Loddar]

@ Post 120
You must be a lucky guy.
I compared NL 8 to 42, CL 8 and 10 to 30 and SV FP 8 to 32 and SLC 8 to 42 and 8 to 56.
in NL i could only avoid v.g by lowering the eyecups two steps down.
but then easy of view was very strenuous for me. So i sold it.
in the SV 8 to 32 i could not avoid v.g. Also not in the case of lowering eyecups.
In the CLs (New) there were some v.g.. But for me in a tolerable quantity.
for the nl 42 i bought a SLC 42. A very good pair of binoculars too.
the SLCs 8 to 42, 8 to 56 and the 8,5 to 42 SV are in matters v.g. pretty good.
i do not only get v.g by looking directly in the sun or over a reflxing water surface.
it is mainly when the sun at a certain angle falls obliquely on the objective.
however a bright sky of bright clouds are sonetimes enough.
very sad. Otherwise there are fantastic binoculars.

 

[Gijs van Ginkel]

Loddar, post 124,
I did all the experiments you describe with all the instruments you mention in your post and I could not confirm any of your data.
You were very wise to sell the binoculars you did not like.
Gijs van Ginkel

 

[ticl2184]

Anyone tried the 10x32 NL yet...

What are they like... Any annoying reflection or blackouts...?

Just bought a pair of 10x42 FP's but I'll have to send them back because of a scratch on the lense inside plus the armouring hasn't been stuck down properly..
I'm sure Swarovski will sort it out but I can't be arsed to to send them back and forth...

What the hell is goin on with quality control these days..

Cheers.
Tim

 

[Loddar]

@ 125 Gijs
Yes. I always sell the binoculars that i use for any reason almost never.
however, there are also some other users who have problems with the NLs with v.g.
See the german thread in Jülich Forum.
And about SV 8 to 32 with regard to v.g. was already reported quite a bit.
perhabs some are more sensitive to it than other.

 

[b_reynolds_ak]

Hey Tim, I just received my 10x32 NL’s and have had the 10x32 SF and currently the 8x32 SF.
The NL’s are pretty easy to look through, on par with the 8x SF’s and significantly easier to avoid blackouts compared to the 10x SF’s.
I have not been able to try them in weather other than dull and cloudy conditions, so cannot say how they handle glare yet. As a side note, the inner armor seam on the left barrel is not as cleanly finished as on the right. More annoyingly, there is a distinct bump under the armor midway down the barrel, above that seam, as well. It may be hardened epoxy or glue, I cannot tell. It’s a disappointment as it constantly reminds you it’s there as my left ring finger lands right on it.

 

[Maljunulo]

Did I read that Swarovski Optik just underwent a big expansion?

Many new employees in the QC department , or pressure to get the NL out to dealers?

 

[Gijs van Ginkel]

Loddar, post 127,
I have read all the posts of interest on this forum and also about glare. The photograph that could explain the ocurrence of glare in the NL in the best credible way for me was the one published by Henri, the other ones I have skipped. As I have written before on this forum I have tried very hard to detect glare with the 8x42 NL under all circumstances I would expect it and that were described , but I simply did not see it. What must I do: apologize for it? I have used the 8x42 NL now under many difficult light situations and that is going on right now with the 8x32 NL, but as yet I have not seen any glare problems. We have tested many binoculars of different brands in the past decades, so we come across quite a few of optical phenomena, that users do not l like (or do like) and we have published it. So for me it is simple: report what we see and publish it and users must decide for themselves what they see and like or not.
Gijs van Ginkel

 

[Canip]

@ Post 120
You must be a lucky guy.
…..
…..
…..

I know!
(but my experience that the NL is not more prone to glare than many other Swaro binoculars has very little to do with luck…)

 

[Loddar]

Well, i only know 8 NL. And unfortunately i have had opposite experiences.
But that only matters to me.
please enjoy your NLs.

 

[b_reynolds_ak]

Doing a comparison of the 10x32 NL’s vs the 8x32 SF’s on a bright, overcast day. I noticed a bit more glare in the lower fov of the NL’s, especially with eye cups extended out further. I thought I would take a photo of both binos side by side for everyone to evaluate and debate over 😄. I took numerous images from several angles and the results were the same in all photos.

 

[Gijs van Ginkel]

reynolts, post 133,
How did you make your photographs and with what kind of camera?
Gijs van Ginkel

 

[Gijs van Ginkel]

I took just a few seconds ago the Swarovski NL pure 8x32 and the Zeiss Victory SF 8x32 from their cases, kept them at armthlength or a little less towards the blue sky and I saw:
- 1 with the NL pure three small spots of light next to the crystal clear exit pupil. They completely disappear/are not visible at all when you put the binocular to the eye.
--2- similar experiment with the SF 8x32. Here there are no round spots outside the exit pupil but a sort of lens shaped light structure. Disappears completely when you put the binoculars to your eye.
In my case the light structures outside the exit pupil disappear when looking at a bright blue sky and there are no effects on the binocular images.
Experimental circumstances: sunshine and bright blue sky.
Experimentalist: in good health with excellent eyesight.
Gijs van Ginkel

 

[dries1]

Perhaps we could look at the total sales of the SFs in 32 and the NLs in 32 in a few months and see the numbers. But the way it looks now is that glare is not a problem in the NLs for many users since they are flying off the shelves. If one does not like the NL then buy a SF or something else.

 

[FrST]

Doing a comparison of the 10x32 NL’s vs the 8x32 SF’s on a bright, overcast day. I noticed a bit more glare in the lower fov of the NL’s, especially with eye cups extended out further. I thought I would take a photo of both binos side by side for everyone to evaluate and debate over 😄. I took numerous images from several angles and the results were the same in all photos.View attachment 1388157

Looks roughly similar to what I see with my NL 8x32 - A quite distinct reflex close to the edge of the exit pupil. However, mine seems to be almost surrounded by those reflexes... But that might be due to the fact, that the image is taken slightly off axis to also show the SF in comparison!?

 

[Gijs van Ginkel]

Just returned from a 12 kilometer walk along the river and through pasture land. Many birds around. Sun reflecting in the small waves in the river. Not a single sign of glare in the NL 8x32 I used on this trip, also not under the most challenging observation conditions with the sun reflecting low over waves in the water. I also did not observe any other refections interfering with the images, everything was just perfect. I do not use spectacles, since my eyesight is excellent and the eyecups are fully out. Quite a few interesting birds observed.
Gijs van Ginkel

 

[b_reynolds_ak]

Looks roughly similar to what I see with my NL 8x32 - A quite distinct reflex close to the edge of the exit pupil. However, mine seems to be almost surrounded by those reflexes... But that might be due to the fact, that the image is taken slightly off axis to also show the SF in comparison!?

I took the photo with an iPhone 11 Pro.
Yes it was taken slightly off axis to show the SF as well.
Both were pointed towards a snowy mountain with bright overcast sky and dark trees below. It was quite obvious that the SF’s were very dark inside while the NL’s showed those distinctive bright areas, no matter which angle I have observed from.
Wether they effect the view for someone is entirely subjective and dependent on that individual I suppose.

 

[SeldomPerched]

Stray-light in general and glare in particular: Has Swarovski mis-designed?

I spent several hours outside yesterday, since it was a sunny day after weeks of rain and clouds.
I took along a number of Swarovski binoculars - SLC 8x42, CL (new) 8x30, EL SV 8.5x42, EL SV 8x32, NL 8x42 and NL 8x32 - and compared them as I observed against the sun, which was first very high in the sky and then got lower in the afternoon and evening. I paid particular attention to situations in which sunshine would directly hit the front lenses. Passing clouds also allowed me to also see what would happen when no direct sunlight was there.

My personal verdict: Glare is by no means worse in the NLs than in the ELs or CL. I get glare in all Swarovksi binoculars if I want; it all depends on how I position my eyes behind the eyepieces.

More importantly: I can easily avoid glare in all my Swarovski binoculars (exception: Habicht) by paying a tiny bit of attention to my handling of the binos. This is also true for the NLs ( also, b.t.w. for the NL 10x42; the 12x42 I cannot say).

Do Swarovski binoculars handle a bit differently than e.g. Leica Ultravids? I do in fact get that impression (I do have a number of Leicas to compare). I am almost tempted to say that the handling of the Leicas, esp. the Ultravids, is a bit more „robust“ than the one of the Swaros.

On the other hand, no Leica binocular that I know offers the immersive, crisp and brilliant image that the NLs offer. I do love my Ultravids, esp. 7x42, 8x42 and 8x50, but the width of the NL‘s FOV and their off-axis sharpness are unmatched. And, as I said, glare is not really an issue for me in the NLs. It is easily avoidable (an opinion probably shared by many; Jan can better talk about how well the NLs sell, but the local dealer here and the one I often use in Bern have complained about delivery times, so I guess the NLs are selling rather well).

Just my 2 ct. And now I shut up.

Canip

Please don't shut up, Canip — your cents (sic) and experience are appreciated. (PS: I love that UV 8x50, by the way!)

Tom