New Swarovski zoom scope & eye piece. (2 Viewers)

[PhilW]

I've heard through the grapevine that Swarovski are introducing a new titanium bodied 'scope and a new zoom eyepiece.

The zoom eyepiece for the new top Kowa is superior to the Swaro one and this has prompted them to plan this change. A sum of £500 is being rumoured.

Anyone get any further news?

 

[JSO]

I don't know about a new scope. However, they have a teaser on the web regarding a new pair of binoculars coming out in August:

http://www.swarovskioptik.com/dimensions/

 

[ColonelBlimp]

Credit crunch? What credit crunch?

 

[PYRTLE]

I've heard through the grapevine that Swarovski are introducing a new titanium bodied 'scope and a new zoom eyepiece.

The zoom eyepiece for the new top Kowa is superior to the Swaro one and this has prompted them to plan this change. A sum of £500 is being rumoured.

Anyone get any further news?

New style x 20 - x 50 ww eyepiece due to be on sale next spring, prototype was on show and or being discussed I believe, unfortunately I could not get along this year.

 

[dogfish]

The new Swarovski 25x to 50x was on show at the Birdfair. The Swaro staff said it was aimed at digiscopers, not sure in what sense. I only had a quick look, not enough to form an opinion. Had a longer look at the Leica 25 to 50 on the new 82mm scope; it's a fine eyepiece, v sharp, v wide view, superb colour fidelity.
The new Swaro scopes are optically the same as the ATS series, but with a lighter body.

Sean

 

[henry link]

Sean,

Did you see any FOV specs for the new Swarovski zoom?

Henry

 

[PYRTLE]

Some basic information on the swarovski optik website in relation to the new scopes, now called the ATM/STM - guess to do with the fact that the body is magnesium, about 100g lighter

 

[iporali]

Sean,

Did you see any FOV specs for the new Swarovski zoom?

Henry

From the Swarovski News releases:
"As a further innovation, SWAROVSKI OPTIK has added to its eyepiece range a 25-50x W which will be available from April 2009. In addition to a weight of only 295 g, this new wide-angle eyepiece (field of view 42 m/1000 m) offers an impressive comfortable wide angle view across the entire magnification range. A unique optical system with aspherical lens ensures an edge-to-edge viewing experience in sharp detail. Like all SWAROVSKI OPTIK eyepieces it is watertight and can be fitted to all the telescopes of the ATM/STM and ATS/STS series. "

- Looks like they have managed to squeeze out one meter more than Leica. Now, it would be nice to see the ER specs.

Ilkka

 

[henry link]

Thanks Ikka. I had trouble finding this information because it's not posted on the US version of the Swarovski website yet. I found it first on the German version, then the International English version. Besides lower weight apparently there are improvements to the coatings of the new scopes.

Looks like we will have Leica and Swarovski going head to head with wide angle zooms. Zeiss, Kowa and especially Nikon, are you taking note?

Henry

 

[PhilW]

Cheers all. Looks like my source was spot on!

 

[garry1366]

Thanks Ikka. I had trouble finding this information because it's not posted on the US version of the Swarovski website yet. I found it first on the German version, then the International English version. Besides lower weight apparently there are improvements to the coatings of the new scopes.

Looks like we will have Leica and Swarovski going head to head with wide angle zooms. Zeiss, Kowa and especially Nikon, are you taking note?

Henry

But Zeiss already have the class leading wide angle zoom!

G

 

[dogfish]

From the Swaro brochure picked up at the Bird Fair: Field of view 42-27m at 1000m (FOV with spectacles 60-70 degrees); eye relief 17mm.

Sean

 

[kristoffer]

I really really like my ats-65hd with 20-60x and wouldn't want go down to only 50x magnification. But maybe most of the birding community don't agree with me about that.

 

[PhilW]

After using my 30 x wide angle I haven't used the zoom for at least 2 years!
Anyone want to buy it??

 

[iporali]

But maybe most of the birding community don't agree with me about that.

I am sure most of the birding community agrees that the birders should have the tools they need and like. There has been some of us who have kept complaining about the tube-like views through the zoom eyepieces at low powers. Now I am very happy to see that we have been offered a choice.

Best regards,

Ilkka

 

[Jaff]

I really really like my ats-65hd with 20-60x and wouldn't want go down to only 50x magnification. But maybe most of the birding community don't agree with me about that.

I agree with you. While it would be nice to have a choice of zooms instead of the standard 20-60x I wouldn't want to see it scrapped in favour of 50x zooms.

Ironically enough everyone was saying when the 880 series came out that it should have had a higher powered zoom than 20-60x to make use of it's 88mm but now lower powered zooms are being praised, make up your mind I say!

 

[henry link]

But Zeiss already have the class leading wide angle zoom!

G

The Zeiss zoom won't be class leading anymore, although to be fair it's FOV should be compared to the new ones over their more limited magnification range. At 25-50x it has an apparent field of about 55-65 degrees compared to Swarovski's 60-70 degrees and Leica's 58-80 degrees. Then of course you can zoom up to 60x with a 70 degree field with the Zeiss, but not the others. It's too bad these new zooms stop at 50x. That's just not enough for most people to see all the detail produced by an 80-88mm objective. Even 60x is not enough.

 

[StuartReeves]

After using my 30 x wide angle I haven't used the zoom for at least 2 years!
Anyone want to buy it??

Nope, my 30XW is more than enough for me. Out of curiosity I looked up the field of view of the 30XW and at 42m at 100m it is the same as the new zoom at the 25X end.

 

[KorHaan]

I use 23x WA exclusively on my 65 Diascope. I think birding is more fun with a wide angle fixed mag eyepiece. No more zooms for me. I enjoy being out in the field, the rest doesn't matter.

Ronald

 

[iporali]

Ironically enough everyone was saying when the 880 series came out that it should have had a higher powered zoom than 20-60x to make use of it's 88mm but now lower powered zooms are being praised, make up your mind I say!

Well, not everyone - our optics experts like Henry and Kimmo would apparently like to *see* the improved resolution that comes with the larger objectives. But is resolution really what the birders need the most? I know I don't. As I have said earlier, I usually can't even use my current zoom at 60x because of atmospherics - which leaves me with a zoom range from narrow 20x to no-ER 45-50x. You can make high powers from a low power (by using boosters etc), but you can't make wide FOV from a narrow one. I am happy that Leica and Swarovski have found this potential market and seem to take it seriously, but I think the new wide-zooms are primarily targeted to fixed-EP users rather than satisfied power-zoom users.

Best regards,

Ilkka :t: