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Where premium quality meets exceptional value. ZEISS Conquest HDX.

KAHLES HELIA S 42 is available for $1499 from europe (1 Viewer)

Hello everyone. My first post here.

I have looked at your forums for so many years.

So much good information here.

I sold my Steiner Peregrine's this past winter and was down to a new Bushnell Elite Hd 10x42 . The Bushnell has nice glass but I have never been fond of the plastic diopter set up, I always seem to move it inadvertently.

Read reviews of the Swarovski SLC and the Leica Trinovids. I thought either would be a nice step up from the Bushnell, and have always wanted a very nice binocular.

When I noticed the Swarovski 8x42 SLC did not seem to be available anywhere I stumbled on these threads on the rebranded SLC under the Kahles name. I have a helia Rd reflex sight from Kahles that I like, and their scopes I have seen are fantastic.

I ordered the Kahles Helia S 8x42 this morning, hopefully will have it in a few days to give it a going over.

Thanks for all the info on this forum.

Craig
I think you will love it. SLC series is one of the best views i have seen even compared the binoculars priced higher than SLCs.
May i ask where did you buy it?
 
I think you will love it. SLC series is one of the best views i have seen even compared the binoculars priced higher than SLCs.
May i ask where did you buy it?
Hope I enjoy it. Have read so many good things about the SLC.

EL's were available , a bit more expensive, about 40 percent over the helia S price. I do pan a bunch and was worried I would get the seasick feeling I have read about .

I ordered through the Optics Trade EU site. I ordered from them recently, and the items arrived at my door in Alberta Canada in 4 days, from Slovenia! I have had items that arrived in my city take that long to get delivered to my house. I think the delivery charges were more than I paid for my first couple of binoculars however. Worth it to me for hassle free delivery.

The people there answered many of my questions in a timely manner on my previous purchase. They were quite helpful. I prefer to buy local when I can, but items like this are just not available here at the moment.
 
It they’re the same view of the 2019 slc you won’t miss anything other than maybe fov from the SF or NL. The 8x42 slc I’ve been using is the best overall view I’ve seen in an 8x42, incredible dof, resolution is unsurpassed, brightness and contrast is also unsurpassed to my eyes. These are not only alphas but best of the best alphas in image quality short of a dudd imo. Can’t wait to hear your feedback, hoping it’s as good as mine.
 
Wouldn't you know it I did find a Swarovski SLC 8x42 in stock in Canada, same price as I paid for the helia S with shipping. I thought I hit every website in this country. Ugh.

Ah well I am sure the Helia will be brilliant. I do prefer the color of the Swarovski a bit more.
 
I contacted the great folks at Optics trade, mentioned I had found some Swarovski SLC 8x42 in my province , for even a better price than the new Kahles are being sold for, and asked if it would be possible to cancel the Kahles order . The order had not been shipped.

They replied back as soon as they opened and said no problem at all. Very gracious of them. I have ordered from them recently and had great service.

So at 2am I ordered the Swarovski SLC. I think from all the reviews I should.be pleased.

Closest I have had to alphas were my old closed bridge Steiner Peregrine's. I did really enjoy those.

Thanks again and will let folks know how they are when they arrive in a couple days.


Craig
 
The SLC finally arrived today. They seem quite nice. Nice strap and case with them . Eye relief is very good, no problem with glasses.

Focus wheel has a lot of travel, a couple turns anyway . It seems to use most of it up out to around 150 meters, haven't been able.yo.lpok much past that .

Lighter weight than I was expecting too!

I can see why people were upset they discontinued these and why they are being marketed by Kahles now.

Will take them to the woods this week to see how they do.

Thanks again !
 
It says made in Germany on Zeiss Conquest HDs but we know there is a strong contribution by a global partner as this was openly stated by the former head of Zeiss Sports Optics USA. The declaration about where an article is made usually depends on where the greatest value is added so there can be other locations contributing significantly.

Lee
Lee,

I think Vuitton sew the soles on their women's shoes on in France and then claim they are "Made in France". Value is added where you want it to be added, such is the magic of modern accounting.

Of course a cynic and a marketing specialist might both agree that the greatest value of a Louis Vuitton shoe is added at the moment they glue on the "Louis Vuitton" label :)

I hope you are getting pleasure from your SF. I am using my UV daily, with enjoyment.

Edmund
 
Lee,

I think Vuitton sew the soles on their women's shoes on in France and then claim they are "Made in France". Value is added where you want it to be added, such is the magic of modern accounting.

Of course a cynic and a marketing specialist might both agree that the greatest value of a Louis Vuitton shoe is added at the moment they glue on the "Louis Vuitton" label :)

I hope you are getting pleasure from your SF. I am using my UV daily, with enjoyment.

Edmund
You make some good points Edmund. And providing Louis Vuitton standards are maintained then that is OK.
I have really bonded with my SF32s and will shortly be taking the 8x32 to Ardnamurchan in Scotland but I will also be taking two Meopta MeoStars for a change of flavour as well as an Opticron Verano 8x32 to review.

Glad you are enjoying your Uvid and hope you get a solution to your Victory Pocket problem soon.

Lee
 
You make some good points Edmund. And providing Louis Vuitton standards are maintained then that is OK.
I have really bonded with my SF32s and will shortly be taking the 8x32 to Ardnamurchan in Scotland but I will also be taking two Meopta MeoStars for a change of flavour as well as an Opticron Verano 8x32 to review.

Glad you are enjoying your Uvid and hope you get a solution to your Victory Pocket problem soon.

Lee
Lee,

One of my first memories when I was 4 was an older cousin - about 6- who dragged a toy suitcase full of toy cars wherever he went, and then unpacked, played, meticulously repacked. I think you are an adult version of this memory, albeit with a heavier suitcase full of binoculars. I wish you enjoyment :)

Excuse me, as I get older, I find my distant memories grow on me.

Edmund
 
Lee,

One of my first memories when I was 4 was an older cousin - about 6- who dragged a toy suitcase full of toy cars wherever he went, and then unpacked, played, meticulously repacked. I think you are an adult version of this memory, albeit with a heavier suitcase full of binoculars. I wish you enjoyment :)

Excuse me, as I get older, I find my distant memories grow on me.

Edmund
I've been told the only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.
 
Talked with a guy today from Swarovski, he said the Kahles is a Swarovski slc, same glass, same everything, just a different color under a different name and at a cheaper price. Maybe we’ll get a review soon.
 
Talked with a guy today from Swarovski, he said the Kahles is a Swarovski slc, same glass, same everything, just a different color under a different name and at a cheaper price. Maybe we’ll get a review soon.

…Just a brief glance at the Helia S reveals: this is the former 8×42/10×42 Swarovski SLC in a slightly modified outfit! An extended comparison confirms that finding. The Helis S has all the mechanical and performance characteristics of the SLC.
 
zzzzzz, post 76,
The Helia S 8x42 is the SLC in another coat, but it is exactly the same binocular and my guess is that it is made by Swarovski since everything necessary to make this binocular is already there. And not to forget: Kahles is part of Swarovski.
Gijs van Ginkel
 
So here we are about a year after release of the "new" Helia S, and it still appears not to be sold in the USA. That's a huge market for Kahles/Swaro to be totally ignoring, and makes no sense to me. Not that their thinking often does. Does anyone have one of these by now, and is the quality still the same? No case and poor strap, but according to web info, Helia S lenses still have hydrophobic coating as NL/EL no longer do (I'm unsure about SLC 56). What a fine binocular to consign to limbo.
 
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