I recently picked up the 10x52's. We have quite a few pairs of bins around the house but no NL 8x42 or 10x42 at the time of the big 52's arrival. I've used them extensively since I've gotten them and carried them for about 6 hours yesterday starting around 7am. Here's a few of my thoughts....
They are big (at least relatively so for a long time bird watcher). I purchased them over the 42's for the large exit pupil for easy viewing and less eye strain. I also bird quite often in low light... I like to get out on dreary days, and often times go looking for owls in the early morning or sit back over the bay and watch the seabirds & ducks in the last few minutes of light in the day... These are very bright when compared to other alpha level 42's in the house. I've noticed the largest difference on nasty days which I thought was interesting. Looking down into the thickets yesterday watching a thrush I thought, damn, there is so much more feather detail, color, contrast. Just felt like cheating. So mission accomplished, to my eye the brightness is noticeable.
Turns out they are easy on the eyes... 6 hours was my longest continual use so far, and at no point did I have a hard time with alignment or did I get strain or headaches. I never even thought about it actually. I was curious if I would as my most common walk around pair are 7x42 UVHD+ with a 6mm exit, so good news there.
The image is exceptional as you would expect from a pair of Swarovski's, super crisp, great contrast and color... nothing to leave you wanting. It feels like a view that is best in the business. They are however not immune to the swaro glare. My wife is the big swaro fan in the house and adores her 8x32 NL's but it had been awhile since I bought a pair for myself, it doesn't bother me really, but was immediately noticed.
The feel in hand is great with the tight waist, I purchased the monpod/tripod adapter and have used them on the monopod once while watching horned lark only because I sat out in the field for a couple hours. Otherwise I have not felt like it was necessary at all.
Yesterday the family was gone and I had the whole day to myself, at the end of my walk I started to notice the weight just a little on my shoulders (after about 6 hours or a little longer wandering). I got back to the truck, had a lunch, then did just short of a 10 mile trail run. Moral of the story is I did notice the weight but it didn't keep me from completing my planned route. I had told myself it was fine to cut out early after being on my feet all morning and scouted a bailout plan on the map but it wasn't necessary.
Final thoughts on what was supposed to be a short bullet pointed post is, I'm very happy at the moment. The 10x52's make an excellent pairing with the 7x leica's I'm so fond of. I'm happy to have sprung for the extra size and weight of the 52 and would do it again. My two gripes (one of which i talked about on another post) are the lousy rain guards, and very surprisingly from the other swaro products in the house, the focus wheel is not breaking in very well and is feeling a bit sticky, and now almost feels like its got a little play back and forth. Going to wait a little while longer for full break in before reaching out to swarovski.
If you got to the end, thanks for reading my ramblings.
-Zach