New Swarovski binoculars soon (1 Viewer)

[Surveyor]

Kimmo,
You may be onto something. I wonder if the thin, flat element might have a gasket/sealant along the edge, strictly for pressurization.

 

[henry link]

Kimmo,

I don't know enough about this to set anyone right. Your guess is probably better than mine. After looking more I think the odd thing is not the o-ring but the protective plate. Why is this needed when the objective doesn't move? I wonder if the glass type in the first element was considered inappropriate for an exterior surface. Too soft or doesn't work well with Swarodur? The plate must be the sealing element like in the 8x30 SLC, as Ron suggests, and it does look very thin for a protective window, as Robert said. Perhaps someone from Swarovski will explain their thinking to us.

Henry

 

[karmantra]

It looks like 22 glass to air surfaces to me and I'm completely boggled by that first thin objective element. I don't get it. I hope they didn't do that solely to make damaged lens replacement less expensive.

If there are 18-22 glass-air surfaces, I can't help but think that light transmission through the new Els is going to be less than the older ELs, even with HD glass and super coatings.

 

[iporali]

I wonder if the glass type in the first element was considered inappropriate for an exterior surface. Too soft or doesn't work well with Swarodur?

I think this could very well be the reason. Isn't the first +element in APO designs the one that is preferably made of these exotic ED/HD/Fl glasses?

Personally I very much like the idea of having a protective blank glass that Swarovski can replace (free of charge - as usual? ) if it is scratched or damaged. A hit that breaks the thin glass would probably leave an unrepairable mark on the front lens anyway. I think I could live with 1% (?) less light transmission for this additional "security".

I also like that the size and shape have become closer to the Leica Ultravids - the only 42mm binoculars I could imagine carrying around. I think this may attract other 32mm bino users too.

Looking forward to Henry's and Kimmo's in-depth analysis of this new binocular model whenever it will be available. :t:

Best regards,

Ilkka

 

[dipped]

OK, so we finally have the full advert release for the new EL.

http://el.swarovskioptik.com/index.php?l=en

It shows cut-aways etc. What's up with that apparently paper-thin front element??????

--AP

Hmm link doesn't work for me - just getting a grey page!

Nev

 

[henry link]

I'm embarrassed to say that after looking at the cut view graphics a bit more I now doubt that there is any glass plate protecting the objective. It looks more like a thin metal baffle or possibly a gasket. It's appearance is confusing because, like the o-ring, it isn't sliced away like the other metal parts. Look at it carefully in the moving "HD lenses" graphic and the "nitrogen filling" graphic. I don't think there is any glass there, just a thin ring.

Nev,

The link is working for me.

Henry

 

[pluvanut]

Link works for me too, but can't find your cutaway views
Help!

 

[NoSpringChicken]

Link works for me too, but can't find your cutaway views
Help!

You have to select 'cut view' at the menu at the top of the page. After that has loaded there is another drop down menu 'hotspots' at the bottom and there you can select 'Nitrogen Filling' or 'Rugged Construction' and one or two others which will reveal cutaway views. Works for me anyway.

Ron

 

[ThoLa]

I'm embarrassed to say that after looking at the cut view graphics a bit more I now doubt that there is any glass plate protecting the objective.
.....

Henry

I am afraid you will to get one of these nice-looking instruments and take it apart!


(yes, the web views are a bit confusing; it looks as if the objectives are set quite deep in the barrels, doesn't it. Good stray light protection?)

Cheers, Tom

 

[pluvanut]

You have to select 'cut view' at the menu at the top of the page. After that has loaded there is another drop down menu 'hotspots' at the bottom and there you can select 'Nitrogen Filling' or 'Rugged Construction' and one or two others which will reveal cutaway views. Works for me anyway.

Ron

Thanks, but sure I'm being dim here.
What you describe works fine for Swaro web site in general, but link to new EL ad brings up different page, without options at top - same page the link leads to.
What am I missing?

 

[NoSpringChicken]

Hmm link doesn't work for me - just getting a grey page!

Nev

Click on the link. When the page opens, click on the work 'Birding' beneath 'The New EL 42'. A new page should open as 'Overview' (menu at top of white bit). To the right of that you should see 'Cut View', which you click on. That should open up another new page with the 'Hot Spot' menu at the bottom.

Good luck.

Ron

 

[Omid]

The thin glass window in front of the objective (if it exists!) is likely put there to protect the fragile fluorite lens. Fluorite optical glass is more sensitive to shock and scratch than regular crown glass. The surface of fluorite elements, even after coating, can be scratched by salt and other chemicals in the environment. That's why fluorite (ED) elements are normally placed "inside the lens" in photographic objectives.

 

[pluvanut]

When the page opens, click on the work 'Birding' beneath 'The New EL 42'.

Bingo! What an enterprising chap.
Such things could drive you insane.
Not that I've got 1600 quid anyway

Cheers, Paul

 

[dipped]

Okay thanks Henry and Paul - link still doesn't work for me on IE but is fine on Firefox. Are either of you using IE?

Nev

 

[npos]

For viewing the Swarovski site, make sure your browsers are up-to-date with a recent edition of the Adobe Flash Player (free download).

N P

 

[Perry Grin]

Apologies if this has been asked before......

Having just looked at the (uk) swaro site, they no longer have the 'standard' EL42's listed. Am I right to assume that the HD's replace these????? Could mean bargains galore for the standard EL's!

 

[ThoLa]

Am I right to assume that the HD's replace these????? Could mean bargains galore for the standard EL's!

1) Yes.
2) Who can tell?

3) A more interesting question is whether we shall have new 32 mm ELs in due course, too ?!

T

 

[angelo225544]

If the front lens is completely flat that would suggest it's really a protective glass plate in front of the true objective; something that is usually done to waterproof a binocular that focuses by moving the objective lens. If that's true then the internal focusing lens used in the current ELs has been eliminated in this new design.

Edge sharpness that's virtually the equal of center sharpness was accomplished more than 20 years ago in the Nikon 7x50 Prostar (though not a wide field design), using a 5 element, 4 group eyepiece combined with a third objective element placed behind the prism cluster. My understanding is that the Canon 10x42 LS also accomplishes it in a 65 degree field, using a 7 element, 5 group eyepiece which includes a doublet field flattener. It's not so impossible to do. It just hasn't been done by Zeiss, Leica or Swarovski, who use relatively simple 4 and 5 element, 3 group eyepieces in their current binoculars.

Hi, Henry. On the subject of the number of eyepiece elements, Leica has listed the total number of lens elements in their 10x32 and 12x50 as 11 on each side, while the rest of the Ultravid/Trinovid lines use 8 or 9. Does this indicate a more complex eyepiece design is used in the 10x32 and 12x50? I am assuming that the 3 element objective and single focusing element I've seen in a cutaway drawing are used throughout, which leaves 7 elements for the eyepiece. I'm very curious what your thoughts are on this, as I have found both the 10x32 and 12x50 Trinovids and Ultravids to have extraordinary center resolution. Thank you for your help...Angelo.

 

[Sancho]

3) A more interesting question is whether we shall have new 32 mm ELs in due course, too ?!

T

I hope not. What with the Recession in Ireland, the inexplicable referendum-rejection of the Lisbon Treaty, and the Condition of my Credit Card, I don't need any more demands on my cash...

 

[Patriot222]

The thin glass window in front of the objective (if it exists!) is likely put there to protect the fragile fluorite lens. Fluorite optical glass is more sensitive to shock and scratch than regular crown glass. The surface of fluorite elements, even after coating, can be scratched by salt and other chemicals in the environment. That's why fluorite (ED) elements are normally placed "inside the lens" in photographic objectives.

Other companies have been using FL/ED glass for years in bins and spotters without that coming up as much of an issue.