Hi Szabolcs,
I'm talking in all cases of the final versions as sold as Swarovskis: 7x42 finally discontinued (the 'Neu') in 2010 and 8/10x42 discontinued (WB) in 2020, just after I bought them. My 7x42 was pre-owned from another Bird Forum user and was the last observed example as mentioned by John Roberts below: no. D8013 84600. John posted the following as usual very well-researched reply to me in this link ... It is well worth revisiting the whole thread as you will get the experience of very serious birders as well as the more purely technically minded:
Going back in time through Swarovski posts, prompted by the news of discontinuation of 8x and 10x 42 SLC models, I came across this old thread: https://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=75127 Now I am a bit of a sevens fan -- don't have a Swarovski seven though -- and wanted a bit of advice...
www.birdforum.net
"Hi Tom (post #1),
In relation to changes to the SLC 7x42 . . .
• In mid 1992 production of both the 7x42 and the 10x42 commenced (the 8x42 SLC was only introduced in 2010, along with the all new 10x42)
The earliest x42 I’ve observed is a 10x42 model numbered D6226 07783, and the earliest 7x42 is D6237 10189
• By early 2003 at the latest, Swarobright/ dielectric prism coating was present on the 7x42 SLC (it was indicated on the box label)
It’s present by D7303/ but not D7027 (and it was introduced on the 10x42 by early 2001 at the latest, by D7103/ but not D7039)
n.b. Swarobright was introduced progressively across the SLC line over several years - it seems that each model required a different combination of coatings
• At the start of 2005 the ‘neu’ rubber armour covering was introduced across all the SLC line (observed from D7503)
• By mid 2007 Swaroclean was introduced across all the SLC line (the box label was marked ‘Easy to Clean’, with the earliest observed D7727/ but not D7721)
• At the start of 2009 the Swarotop/ anti-reflective coatings were updated (so D79 on)
See Dale Forbes' comments in post #29 at:
Swarovski EL 42 60th anniversary coating
The original x42 models were discontinued in 2010. The last observed 7x42 is D8013 84600, and the last observed 10x42 is D8033 87526
- - - -
Across the life of the original SLC x42 series there were 3 different rubber armour coverings:
- the original single colour coating with distinct ‘shoulders’, in either green or black
- the updated single colour coating without the ‘shoulders’, in either green or black
- the 2 colour neu coating in green and black
See the 3 versions on the x30 models, in the third image in post #11 at:
Slc 8x30
n.b. RA coatings are often replaced during servicing, so they are only indicative as to dating a unit and therefore it’s original features, see post #12 in the link
- - - -
The 7x42 SLC is known for it’s optical quality including a large ‘sweet spot’. There are lot of threads on the forum with positive comments
And it seems that Swarovski made a special effort with the 7x42, since at it’s introduction it was competing with the likes of the Zeiss 7x42 Dialyt and the 7x45 Night Owl,
and the Leica 7x42 BA
This is reflected in the notably greater weight of the 7x42 SLC compared the 10x42 - an extra 2.8 oz/ 80 g - which implies significantly more glass was used
John
p.s. by sometime in 1999 Swarodur/ hard external lens coating was present on the SLC line (using Wayback, by then it was listed on the Swarovski website on the SLC line)
- so all production from 2000 on (D70 on) will have Swarodur"
Hope this helps!
Tom