I agree this thread has "drifted." Let me try to get it back on track. I was #6 on the list of people who pre-ordered the 8.5X42 Swarovison from Eagle Optics. I used them about 2 or 3 times in the field and a few times from my deck and ultimately ended up returning them because the sharpness of the field was not even. Let me describe this carefully.
I had to really look for the issue and I didn't even see it until the second or third time I used them. The center field sharpness was amazing. But that was expected. What really attracted me to the new Swarovision EL's was the "flat field" or edge-to-edge sharpness. So I was really paying attention to this, and I compared carefully to 2 other binoculars I own with very large sweet spots (see next paragraph). I would dial in a subject in super-sharp focus dead center, then shift the field of view from side to side and see how the sharpness held up as the object moved nearer to the edge. Looking very carefully "off axis," I was able to see that there was clearly a very slight drop in the sharpness/contrast on the right side of the field compared to the left (and I'm not talking about the extreme edge). I even turned the binoculars upside down (with the focus knob on the bottom) and the effect was reversed (sharpness was very slightly less on the left). This convinced me that it wasn't my eyes. So even though I didn't think this was something I would notice when actually birding or using the binoculars, this was the reason I ultimately decided to return them. After Eagle Optics received them back, they said they could pretty easily see the issue I described (within the 30 day return period). I haven't heard anyone else report this, so I think it was probably an uncommon defect due to "sample variation." Assuming that I could receive a different sample without this issue, I needed to decide, apart from this issue, "do I like these well enough to keep them?"
I am fortunate to own a lot of really fine optics. In fact I decided to rename myself "opticoholic" on this forum ("...MY NAME IS BIFF AND I'M AN OPTICOHOLIC..." I'm hopeless, but at least on this forum I know I'm not alone). I compared the Swarovision EL's to my Nikon 8X32 SE's and my Swarovski 7X42 SLC 'new'. Both of these are models highly regarded for large sweet spots. The new Swarovision beat them both easily for edge sharpness. But the Swarovision still has a sweet spot: even though the sharpness off center is incredible, it still doesn't match the unbelievable sharpness center field. But I'm beginning to feel that I've been too obsessed with edge sharpness. I don't think my brain notices the very edges of the field being a little soft, and even if the edges were perfectly sharp, I wonder how much it would enhance the view that I experience. As I continue to seek that perfect binocular for myself, I'm starting to pay more attention to the total 'gestalt' and simple "effortless comfort when viewing."
The rolling ball effect was not an issue for me. I had to really work to even notice it.
The overall image quality and "vivid detail" in the Swarovision image was stunning, as good or better than both the SLC and the Nikon SE. I'm not sure my eyes can always tell the difference, but if I had to pick one, the Swarovision would win (as it should). Focusing was not perfectly smooth, but acceptable. I think it would have smoothed out more with use. The focus was plenty fast for me. I actually like the slightly stiff but very smooth and slower focusing of the old Nikon SE best (the extra slowness takes a tad longer to lock in, but it feels like I can really dial the focus in more precisely).
I wear glasses and the eye relief was adequate for me, though I want to say, not by much. The SLC which is supposed to have 19 mm eye relief seemed to have more than the Swarovisions with a quoted "20 mm." I think the 20mm might be measured from the surface of the lens and maybe ~2 mm of eye relief is lost from the generous soft rubber ring that you actually rest against your glasses. Anyway, it was still a comfortable and full circle view with glasses.
I'm not able to hold a 10x binocular without being distracted by the shakiness. And the better the binocular and the more incredibly sharp the view is, the more I tend to notice the shake when trying to see small details clearly. I'm not distracted by shake most of the time with my 8x Nikon SE's, but they fit in my hands wonderfully and are super comfortable to hold. My interpupilary distance is pretty tight, so even though the Swarovisions have an "open bridge" the barrels are pretty close together for me and the whole binocular is pretty long and slender. So I needed to offset my hands slightly when holding the new EL, with my right hand closer to my head controlling the focus knob and my left hand slightly further out, but for the most part my hands cradling the whole binocular rather than each barrel. This was comfortable and I was getting used to it. Although I did notice that I needed to work harder to hold the binoculars steady (compared to the 7X SLC's and the 8X SE's), overall I was feeling that the greater magnification would compensate and the trade off compared to 8X would be a net plus, especially when trying to pull in details on distant birds. But getting back to what I said above, for "effortless comfort viewing," the Swarovisions leave a little to be desired for me personally. I still really like the steady view and huge exit pupil of 7x when holding binoculars for extended periods, and the Swarovisions don't feel as great in my hands as the SE's, though as I said, I think I was getting used to them.
I really like the solid build quality of Swarovski binoculars. Like my SLC's, the EL's felt like they would last forever, but much lighter weight (and with more than twice the close focus, which is not hugely important to me, but a good thing). I agree with others that the eyecups should have more intermediate stopping points. Fully extended without my glasses on, the eyecups feel almost too far out for me to see the whole circle. But the 1 intermediate stopping point is good, and for me since I would always use them all the way down with glasses, it's a non issue. The ocular lenses on the Swarovisions really are HUGE; personally I think that is pretty cool, but I'm a binocular nut. Like many others, I do NOT like the hard plastic rain guard. On the other hand, the tethered objective covers are superb, nice soft thick rubber that feels like it will never break or damage the objectives. The case that comes with the EL's is pretty cheap. These things deserve a better case with some substantial thick padding (or a hard case).
So, did I ask them to send me a replacement? Almost... Here's the really crazy ending to my story, and proof that I really am a hopeless idiot. While waiting for the binoculars to be shipped back to Eagle Optics, I started looking hard at the Swarovski ATS 80HD spotting scopes on sale, and I decided to spend my money on one of those instead, because I was able to get the old sale price, $923 less than the newer model ATM scope with the same optics & coatings. I've often admired these scopes, and it just felt like the right time to buy, with the sale price on the scope and a new state of the art 25-50X eyepiece now available. So I started out buying insanely expensive binoculars and now, with the expensive eyepiece, I'm spending a little more on a spotting scope. I'll just have to suffer with the SE's and the SLC's a while longer... Jeeze somebody help me!
