New Coatings on NL ? (1 Viewer)

[ticl2184]

As all of you know I haven't been a great fan of the NL since it was launched in 2020.
Although I love Swarovski products my original review HAD to repory both the good and the bad otherwise, it wouldn't have been fair.
For those that can't remember I reported significant glare, image softeness at 80 % from the centre, Also known as the (Absam Ring,) Kidney beaning and Blackout at the eyepiece plus a easily knocked DIOPTER setting. This plus a significant increase in price prevented me from buying them, However things have changed.

Since 2020 I have been continually testing any NL I can get my hands on. Thus far I have tested at least a dozen of each of the NL's apart from the 12x42 which I've only tested about 5 or 6 times.

After spending several hours with the 8x32 and 8x42 NL's at London Camera Exchange in Winchester today I am happy to report (IN MY OPINION) that several of the original issues I had have been resolved.
I can report that Glare has been significantly reduced to the point where it actually appeared more obvious in my old 8x32 2nd gen EL. Image softness has also been improved with clean and crisp FOV without any image softness. Blackout or Kidney beaning is also massively improved. It actually reminded me of my old 10x42 2nd Gen EL's.
The DIOPTER setting is also firmer and less easily disturbed.

Sadly I can't report the same improvements on the 12x42 NL and 10x32 NL which I tested on Tuesday the 5th of July in Guildford and in London on Saturday the 9th. Unfortunately I haven't been able to get my hands on a pair of 10x42 NL's so can't report if any change has occured..

Anyways that's my report, As usaul this is only "my opinion" but I like to think I'm fair in my reports..
In the meantime if anyone wants a pair of 8x32 2nd Gen EL's I'll be selling them to fund a nice new pair of Burnt Orange 8x32's.

PS. Does anyone know if the Orange NL's are more desirable than the green. I'd like to get the Orange but might get the green if the Orange will be more difficult to sell when the time is right ...


PPS.

Some images of the test today below. I took the opportunity to weigh the NL's, but taking images of the glare was nigh on impossible due to the height of the Sun and lack of a tripod.
Apologies.....


Cheers
Tim

 

[Viraj]

I think Swarovski intended to make Orange models for hunters. Of course there are no restrictions for birders to buy them. However, birds can clearly see the orange from distance but herbivorous mammals can't clearly differentiate orange from green.

I didn't check many NLs before I buy one. However, my 2022 produced NL 8x42 gave me kidney beans more often than other binoculars I have. Is there a significant sample variation among different units? I think there should not be a noticeable sample variation of binoculars at this price point.

 

[Vespobuteo]

New coatings? Probably not, since the introduction, but new compared to the EL:s, rather seems that your brain and haptics have gotten used to the NL:s....

Increased quality control? Perhaps, there's a reason I tend to wait a year or even more to let the companies get their stuff together in new models...

But sample variation might still be an issue, especially if you count the pandemic in..

 

[Canip]

rather seems that your brain and haptics have gotten used to the NL:s....

👍👍

 

[ticl2184]

New coatings? Probably not, since the introduction, but new compared to the EL:s, rather seems that your brain and haptics have gotten used to the NL:s....

Increased quality control? Perhaps, there's a reason I tend to wait a year or even more to let the companies get their stuff together in new models...

But sample variation might still be an issue, especially if you count the pandemic in..

Thanks for your reply.

Cheers
Tim

 

[Bentley03]

I can't comment on any change to the coatings, but I do perceive an improvement in the fit of the objective covers and, in particular, the rainguard, which is now (on 2022 manufactured instruments) less prone to dragging up the eyecups each time it's taken off (that's on both x32's).

 

[ReinierB]

I can't comment on any change to the coatings, but I do perceive an improvement in the fit of the objective covers and, in particular, the rainguard, which is now (on 2022 manufactured instruments) less prone to dragging up the eyecups each time it's taken off (that's on both x32's).

That is interesting. Is only the rainguard changed? My 10x32 is manufactured this year but still I have this issue. A new rainguard will fix this problem?

 

[Bentley03]

That is interesting. Is only the rainguard changed? My 10x32 is manufactured this year but still I have this issue. A new rainguard will fix this problem?

Same design, same huge awful black lump of rubber, no less hard and brittle, but I now find it to be usable. My copies may simply be from a different batch from the ones I experienced on instruments manufactured in 2020 and 2021, but they do slide off rather than needing to be dragged off.

I may just have been lucky, but I won't be switching to an aftermarket alternative on either of them.

 

[horukuru]

I think Swarovski intended to make Orange models for hunters. Of course there are no restrictions for birders to buy them. However, birds can clearly see the orange from distance but herbivorous mammals can't clearly differentiate orange from green.

I didn't check many NLs before I buy one. However, my 2022 produced NL 8x42 gave me kidney beans more often than other binoculars I have. Is there a significant sample variation among different units? I think there should not be a noticeable sample variation of binoculars at this price point.

I used the orange briefly last Wednesday and didnt see any problem with the colour in regards with the birds in the rainforest. Had a Red-naped Trogon less than 4 metres away from me and it didn't bother it as well with other birds etc

 

[Canip]

I think Swarovski intended to make Orange models for hunters…..

….. so that hunters don‘t accidentally shoot other hunters …😉

 

[Viraj]

….. so that hunters don‘t accidentally shoot other hunters …😉

And they don't easily loose their binoculars 😃

 

[Bentley03]

A young family walked past me while I was carrying my orange NL's a couple of weeks ago and one of the children pointed out to the other that 'that man's got toy binoculars!' The mother intervened saying she was sure they were real, but that they did probably belong to one of my children.

Ouch...😉🤣

 

[Swissboy]

I used the orange briefly last Wednesday and didnt see any problem with the colour in regards with the birds in the rainforest. Had a Red-naped Trogon less than 4 metres away from me and it didn't bother it as well with other birds etc

Maybe it took it for a flower?

 

[horukuru]

Maybe it took it for a flower?

Better

 

[AlphaFan]

I think Swarovski intended to make Orange models for hunters

Really do not think that is the case, at least not here in the USA. The marketing blitz for the NL Pure was the most deeply saturated ever witnessed in my lifetime for any optical device. However, in all of the ads directed toward the hunting community I don‘t remember seeing the burnt orange identified or highlighted as the “hunter’s model.” Also, most in the hunting community are pursuing crepuscular species with large objective lenses and twilight performance an imperative (orange NLs are only offered in 32mm). The burnt orange is also not the precise shade most commonly associated with field safety. Lastly, I know scores of hunters who have proudly declared their purchase of a new NL Pure, but precisely zero fessing up to owning an orange one.

 

[John A Roberts]

To illustrate AlphaFan's post . .

While not necessarily clear in some photos . . .

The NL x32's optional colour is burnt orange, and the EL Range TA's option is bright orange (as with the original EL Range).

. . . so an aesthetic orange verses a safety one?

🍊vs 🍊from the Swarovski site:

John

 

[William Lewis]

To illustrate AlphaFan's post . .



View attachment 1465401


John

The bright orange is very RNLI. 50p worth - I think binoculars should always be a functional colour and am not quite sure the n.l's have nailed that in orange at least.

 

[UTGrad]

Really do not think that is the case, at least not here in the USA. The marketing blitz for the NL Pure was the most deeply saturated ever witnessed in my lifetime for any optical device. However, in all of the ads directed toward the hunting community I don‘t remember seeing the burnt orange identified or highlighted as the “hunter’s model.” Also, most in the hunting community are pursuing crepuscular species with large objective lenses and twilight performance an imperative (orange NLs are only offered in 32mm). The burnt orange is also not the precise shade most commonly associated field safety. Lastly, I know scores of hunters who have proudly declared their purchase of a new NL Pure, but precisely zero fessing up to owning an orange one.

I concur. The orange that North American hunters wear for field safety is a bright, fluorescent orange. I think the Swaro orange is a nifty option but not targeted for hunters.

 

[John A Roberts]

Swarovski offers a range of outdoor/ lifestyle clothing and gear, that has the same burnt orange colour as a style component.
A 21 page catalogue of the various items can be found at: SWAROVSKI OPTIK

And see an image showing both the clothing and the NL x32, from: Ready for the adventure with our new GEAR collection
So at least in part the binoculars are aimed at the same niche market.


John

 

[AlphaFan]

Appreciate the main point that Tim was trying to make with this thread as well. The NL Pure was the first device that Swarovski was heralding as completely PTFE free (this was highlighted in their company reports) This of course demanded the implementation of new lens coatings, gaskets, seals, and new materials in high-friction areas such as the focus mechanism. While I’m in favor of controlling significant environmental impacts, the question remained if those newly substituted materials would be equal to PTFE features in field performance or would they result in some degradation of function. I can say that when I was face-to-face with Swarovski reps at multiple trade shows it was a topic they absolutely did not want to discuss.

Although I’ve yet to buy one, I’ve spent a good deal of time looking through and comparing the NL Pure to other premium offerings. This is not a comprehensive review and only my personal observations noting a few surprises that may be related to coatings and non-PTFE; and as has been said numerous times “everyone’s eyes are a bit different.“ A few things that stood out to me were - (1) the 8x42 offered the most comfortable view and obviously so to my eyes (although the FOV was far beyond what I could absorb); (2) I did see glare (was looking for it) and in addition did not like how the image handled reflective surfaces - curiously, I found the NL Pure image absolutely stellar and at its best in overcast conditions; (3) handling a number of different samples I did notice a variation in overall resistance, resistance in different focus directions, and overall smoothness of the focus mechanism; (4) I live in a very high humidity area and did notice my friend’s NL Pure tended to externally fog more easily than other binoculars in the group. NOTE: All of my observations were with very early production samples.

Both here and on other internet sites there have been reports of glare, external fogging, and sudden changes in stiction of the focus mechanism after saturation. While these issues may simply be quality control and sample variation (especially with early production samples). Those reporting their experiences were often gaslit and scorched to the point of discouraging anyone else from reporting issues.

Very happy to see Tim’s report of improvements he’s seen in newer samples of the NL Pure. Based on direct experiences with SW reps, if they did recently implement changes/upgrades to manufacturing materials and coatings SW would not likely announce it. But Tim’s report may make me re-visit the line.

Thanks Tim, appreciate your honesty and courage to report your actual observations/preferences. Further evidenced by your public declaration in committing to buy an orange one 😉