Looking at upgrading (1 Viewer)

[GrampaTom]

So are the EL models that are pre 2020 the ones that have the 1.3 short focus?

yes

 

[Rg548]

Those Aurora's are very good.... make sure you are happy with the small increase in optical performance for what will be a big outlay.
You're going to have to go 'top tier' to see a difference. And it won't be a huge one!

 

[Evan Atkinson]

Those Aurora's are very good.... make sure you are happy with the small increase in optical performance for what will be a big outlay.
You're going to have to go 'top tier' to see a difference. And it won't be a huge one!

They are very good indeed, they produce a lot of detail and good in low light. Like I have mentioned a few times I will see if the differences are justifiable for me to make the move because there might not be many benefits for me to justify the cost. Though I do not agree with the 'top tier' reference in my opinion.

Evan

 

[SGBirder]

So are the EL models that are pre 2020 the ones that have the 1.3 short focus?

Along with changing the included green field bag to a thin cotton dust bag for thr newer models

 

[Hilltopper]

No-one in this thread seems to have mentioned that you would see a significant difference in magnification if you go down from 10x to 8x. I have used both magnifications in the field over many years and wouldn’t now go back to 8x. If you can find a used pair, try Zeiss 10x40 SFL. I think you’ll be impressed in comparison with the Opticrons.

 

[Evan Atkinson]

No-one in this thread seems to have mentioned that you would see a significant difference in magnification if you go down from 10x to 8x. I have used both magnifications in the field over many years and wouldn’t now go back to 8x. If you can find a used pair, try Zeiss 10x40 SFL. I think you’ll be impressed in comparison with the Opticrons.

I'm aware about the difference in magnification and I might still end up staying with my Opticrons or going for another pair of 10x42s. It really is just down to what I end up testing in the field. I have heard good thing about the SFL's but they don't appeal to me.

Evan

 

[Evan Atkinson]

Update: I wasn’t able to get to Cley Spy, but I did pop into the shop at Titchwell RSPB and they did have a pair of 8.5x42’s Field Pro but not the 2016 model that I was after. The chap there told me that the ones with the 1.3m focusing distance have gone up in value because not a lot of them were made and the current EL’s were less desirable due to their 3.3m focusing distance. Looking through the 8.5’s I was amazed at how bright and sharp the subject was (in this case it was a Woodpigeon sat on a log about 20m away) and how there was virtually no chromatic aberration. The focus wheel was very smooth and they fit in my hand’s surprisingly well for what I thought would be a smaller binocular. They were about 2cm longer than my Opticrons. The one thing I couldn’t get behind was the weirdly positioned indents in the armour where your thumbs are presumably meant to go but I’m sure over time I would be able to adjust to that. I did see they had a pair of 10x42’s as well which I had a look through and it was a very similar view through the binoculars. Both the 8.5’s and the 10’s were basically the same length but I found that I much preferred the eye relief of the 8.5’s compared to the 10’s. I didn’t bother looking at the NL section. It looks like I will be picking up some 8.5’s soon but I would like to test them just a little bit more.

Evan

 

[fazalmajid]

The EL SV was the most popular Alpha binocular for a long time, I doubt the number made is an issue, unless he was talking specifically about the late FieldPro variant (personally I’d pay extra not to have FieldPro). More likely their current owners just like them and don’t want to sell them used. I’d reconsider the NL if I were you, even if it means waiting a couple of years longer, they are truly spectacular.

 

[Evan Atkinson]

Update 2: I'm making the move to the 8.5x42 EL's. I was able to test them for longer against my Opticrons at Dungeness RSPB and the difference was extremely promising. The dark area's behind the feeders were bright and sharp and there is virtually 0 chromatic abberration, even with very thin twigs against a bright white background. They were also much more comfortable to the eye than my Opticrons which is something that can become a bit of an issue over time in my experience. The only downside is the grip position, much like I mentioned in my previous post, but the chap who was working there has the same pair and he said that you get used to it over time. So yeah, I will be making the move and will either make a new thread or post them here when they arrive.

Evan

 

[GrampaTom]

The only downside is the grip position, much like I mentioned in my previous post, but the chap who was working there has the same pair and he said that you get used to it over time.

Evan

Nice choice. I re-read your earlier above as well. Your use of the word “presume” is important. Could’ve used assume as well. I did the same with mine. The chap is right. If you think of the indents as a place you’re supposed to put your thumbs you are right the whole thing is kattywhompous. Rather think of them as sort of memory grooves (way too marketing sounding sorry), they then make sense. Eventually they fade into some unconscious notion of where your hands want to be and serve just fine.

I ain’t selling mine. Still are most common alpha I see out and about. Though do see more and more NLs as well each year.

Enjoy

 

[Patudo]

Enjoy your new binos Evan. I get to use my brother's 8.5x42 Fieldpro regularly and it's outstanding; never fails to impress even though my own binoculars are pretty decent themselves. You don't have to use the thumb indents (and I never do), I do like the way you can wrap your hands firmly around the open bridge, and I find the 8.5x magnification gives me a slight but noticeable increase over 8x while not being as shaky as 10x. Image quality is exceptional even by today's standards, it has pretty much everything you could wish for. My brother's example, at least, has to be the sharpest handheld binocular I've ever used or even tried, with tremendous detail and definition, very bright to the point he has to wear sunglasses in some conditions, and I like the much-derided (at least by certain folks on here) flat field which works really well for the birding I do. It's a great birders' glass almost no matter what birding you do, a true modern day classic - easy to see why it was popular from its first iteration. It and previous versions are a large part of the reason why Swarovski is the best-selling alpha brand and IMO it is a worthy inheritor to the mantle of the great oldies like the 7x42 Dialyt.

Opticron did a good job with the Aurora range (I liked the 8x42 demo at Birdfair quite a bit more than the 10x42 which I found quite difficult) but even they would wholeheartedly admit they are not aiming to compete at that level. The Aurora gives you everything you really need for birding but its lower price than its competitors (Zeiss Conquest, Monarch HG etc) reflects its build quality, or at least perceived build quality to me, not being at the same level; and while I think its image quality is in the same ball park as those, and certainly good enough that it'll be your birding knowledge rather than the optics that make the difference in getting IDs, it's not the best in that group.

I've always liked to have the choice between 8x and 10x and I think the 8x42 Aurora and something like a 10x42 EL would have been a great combination to have; the larger exit pupil of the 8x42 Aurora should make eye comfort easier, while the superb quality of alpha optics really make themselves shown in 10x, which I still prefer for longer distances. But the 8.5x42 is, absolutely without a question, great. You quite probably don't need anything else - my brother doesn't - and it wouldn't surprise me if you sold on your 10x42 Aurora for funds to put towards something like a good scope. IMO there's a good reason why Swarovski went back to 8x and 10x for the NL range - they realized they'd sell more binoculars!

 

[Evan Atkinson]

And here they are! In brand new condition and for a very good price too. Will pair nicely with my ATS 25-50x80 and I will have my first proper days birding with them on the weekend hopefully.



Kind regards

Evan

 

[Evan Atkinson]

First weekend of birding with the new bins along the North Norfolk coast. Absolutely incredible, and certainly a very good decision so far. Only thing I have not gotten used to yet is that I need to be very gentle with twisting the eyecups upwards so that I can see through the binoculars, because if I twist it to hard I am basically untwisting the whole eyecup which is what you would do if you needed to clean them. Maybe over time they won''t be so easy to untwist and will go into position easily.

Edit: Another thing, has anyone got any suggestions for a case for these binoculars? Really not very sure on how safe they will be in that little pouch thing that Swarovski supplied with the binoculars.

Kind regards

Evan

 

[Maljunulo]

You need to screw them in a bit more tightly if you are having this problem.

After they bottom out, give them an additional firm twist.

If you are the type of person who twists doorknobs off, get someone else to do it.