CharleyBird
Well-known member
Readers will have seen Roger Vine’s review here
http://www.scopeviews.co.uk/Swaro12x42NLPure.htm
and Holgar Mertlitz's comments here
https://www.juelich-bonn.com/jForum/read.php?9,448229,448410
In January temptation won out.
I found all three NL models stocked at Cambrian Photography Ltd, called them, and the 12x arrived next day.
Comparisons between my Swarovski 12x42 and Leica 12x50 follow, with, if you prefer, a two line conclusion at the end.
I’ve used the 12x50 Leica as my go-to for about a year and it’s a fine view, in particular the centre part where the bird usually is. It’s a big heavy binocular that needs both a considered hold for a steady enough view and a method of carrying them that avoids neck ache. However the Ultravid models are generally compact with an understated elegance and tactile armour I like. I particularly like the fun 10x32 for fit in one hand, though if I could keep only one binocular it would probably be the easy to use all-rounder 7x42. I also find the rather serious Leica 12x50 barrels a nice fit for my hands.
The Swarovski is a different entity, obviously lighter and smaller. The curvy shape may look awkward in photos, but out of the box it is an intuitive grasp, and they feel better balanced than the Leica which is suddenly a bit of a lump! The Swarovski focuser causes no fumble, it is easier to locate and smoother to operate, and images snap in. Changing direction is effortless, in fact it’s so good I’ve since tested it against all my other binoculars. It is the best feeling focuser I’ve ever tried.
I spend some time finding my ocular position, two stops in, and getting used to the smaller exit pupil position. Ideally my sweet spot may be between one and two stops in. This Swarovski personal-fitting was a fussy endeavour, a far fussier process compared to the Leica which has firmer but fewer ocular clicks and a larger exit pupil (but don’t forget the Leica poor eye relief if you wear glasses).
Things that are worth learning take time.
And then using the Swarovski looking down the garden, I experience what I’d read about and was hoping for. Swarovski have actually manufactured a quality portable 12x with a pleasantly wide FOV and which (at least for me) is noticeably easy to hold. I can hold them steady enough in the standard grip. This is very different to the Leica.
I resolve to tackle the strap, having read the tales and watched the video. It takes about five minutes fiddling around fitting one side of the neck strap, and then literally five seconds to fit the other.
And I reckon the zip of the field bag is going to scrape the armour sooner or later.
Next day, cloudy weather brightening, I walk to my local park filled with anticipation. On arrival the lake has a flock of black headed gulls seemingly everywhere, on the water, perched in the surrounding forest trees, and flying around.
The Swarovski 12x FOV view is immediately wide, you really notice the significant difference to the Leica. Following swooping gulls so much easier with the Swarovski. And the white bodies are, well, NL Pure white. It is very like looking through an open porthole. The light is from behind so I swing round and examine the bare branches against clouds looking for CA, none discernible (there’s some at the edges of the Leica), I look for distortion, none discernible (there is some fall off to the edges of the Leica), I look at the view for colour fidelity, brightness/clarity and everything seems better with the Swarovski. (I had a thought that the view is a lovely neutral somewhere between the crystalline clarity of the 7x42 FL and the lush colours of the 7x42 UV+, just twice as close, and then started laughing at myself).
I relax, stop cosseting them, forget the price, and enjoy watching gulls.
“January brings the snow, makes your feet and fingers glow…” and a whole week passes before a sunny day.
Shortly after 3pm I positioned myself in a spot overlooking a school playing field, supporting my elbows on iron railings on the roadside path. The sun would be at about 20 degree altitude and my view is through a small area of leafless trees across a glistening field mostly covered by melting ice & snow, with the sun beyond.
The playing field is cut into the hillside and surrounded by trees on all sides, light reflecting from the icy snow. Light ‘bouncing about’ you would say, and straight in my eyes (should have worn my sunglasses).
I get an unobstructed view, being able to carefully look left, right or under the winter sun, while also able to move to stand in the shadow of a tree trunk. A good testing area?
The Swarovski showed negligible veiling glare, but significant yellow/orange peripheral flare at the lower portion of the view. With the small exit pupil in these 12x42, moving the eye will cut down the flare but causes increasing blackouts. Otherwise the view remained clear with notably low veiling glare.
The Leica showed far less flare on only the very lower portion of the view but still had some faint yellow. They did however have shockingly bad veiling glare. I was rather surprised at this white out, and spent some minutes swapping binoculars, trying to get rid of the Leica veiling glare to no avail.
A reality check, viewing at right angles away from snow and sun, showed everything returned to normal. No flare or veiling glare in either binocular.
In this quite severe (almost artificial) testing situation there is no doubt in my mind that the new Swarovski controls veiling glare far better than the older Leica, but the Swarovski does produce peripheral flare when low sunlight falls directly onto the objectives.
I wish I’d compared my other two UV at the same time (with thicker thermals and a valet to help).
A jay at 250m distance was a mere speck in the shade of the wood at the furthest edge of the playing field. I first noticed five wood pigeons pecking the grass nearby and actually only saw the nearby jay through the binoculars. I stood in the shade of an oak and used both binoculars to examine the bird.
The Swarovski showed more detail, both better shape and brightness for identification.
Unsurprisingly then, the new Swarovski provided a superior resolution to the older Leica.
And again, the wider Swarovski FOV was evident, and when unsupported by the railings, gave a steadier view compared to the Leica.
The NL Pure 12x has proved better in every way except one i.e. when low sunlight is directly on the objectives producing peripheral glare. It is the first Swarovski I’ve truly liked, so much so I may get an 8x.
http://www.scopeviews.co.uk/Swaro12x42NLPure.htm
and Holgar Mertlitz's comments here
https://www.juelich-bonn.com/jForum/read.php?9,448229,448410
In January temptation won out.
I found all three NL models stocked at Cambrian Photography Ltd, called them, and the 12x arrived next day.
Comparisons between my Swarovski 12x42 and Leica 12x50 follow, with, if you prefer, a two line conclusion at the end.
I’ve used the 12x50 Leica as my go-to for about a year and it’s a fine view, in particular the centre part where the bird usually is. It’s a big heavy binocular that needs both a considered hold for a steady enough view and a method of carrying them that avoids neck ache. However the Ultravid models are generally compact with an understated elegance and tactile armour I like. I particularly like the fun 10x32 for fit in one hand, though if I could keep only one binocular it would probably be the easy to use all-rounder 7x42. I also find the rather serious Leica 12x50 barrels a nice fit for my hands.
The Swarovski is a different entity, obviously lighter and smaller. The curvy shape may look awkward in photos, but out of the box it is an intuitive grasp, and they feel better balanced than the Leica which is suddenly a bit of a lump! The Swarovski focuser causes no fumble, it is easier to locate and smoother to operate, and images snap in. Changing direction is effortless, in fact it’s so good I’ve since tested it against all my other binoculars. It is the best feeling focuser I’ve ever tried.
I spend some time finding my ocular position, two stops in, and getting used to the smaller exit pupil position. Ideally my sweet spot may be between one and two stops in. This Swarovski personal-fitting was a fussy endeavour, a far fussier process compared to the Leica which has firmer but fewer ocular clicks and a larger exit pupil (but don’t forget the Leica poor eye relief if you wear glasses).
Things that are worth learning take time.
And then using the Swarovski looking down the garden, I experience what I’d read about and was hoping for. Swarovski have actually manufactured a quality portable 12x with a pleasantly wide FOV and which (at least for me) is noticeably easy to hold. I can hold them steady enough in the standard grip. This is very different to the Leica.
I resolve to tackle the strap, having read the tales and watched the video. It takes about five minutes fiddling around fitting one side of the neck strap, and then literally five seconds to fit the other.
And I reckon the zip of the field bag is going to scrape the armour sooner or later.
Next day, cloudy weather brightening, I walk to my local park filled with anticipation. On arrival the lake has a flock of black headed gulls seemingly everywhere, on the water, perched in the surrounding forest trees, and flying around.
The Swarovski 12x FOV view is immediately wide, you really notice the significant difference to the Leica. Following swooping gulls so much easier with the Swarovski. And the white bodies are, well, NL Pure white. It is very like looking through an open porthole. The light is from behind so I swing round and examine the bare branches against clouds looking for CA, none discernible (there’s some at the edges of the Leica), I look for distortion, none discernible (there is some fall off to the edges of the Leica), I look at the view for colour fidelity, brightness/clarity and everything seems better with the Swarovski. (I had a thought that the view is a lovely neutral somewhere between the crystalline clarity of the 7x42 FL and the lush colours of the 7x42 UV+, just twice as close, and then started laughing at myself).
I relax, stop cosseting them, forget the price, and enjoy watching gulls.
“January brings the snow, makes your feet and fingers glow…” and a whole week passes before a sunny day.
Shortly after 3pm I positioned myself in a spot overlooking a school playing field, supporting my elbows on iron railings on the roadside path. The sun would be at about 20 degree altitude and my view is through a small area of leafless trees across a glistening field mostly covered by melting ice & snow, with the sun beyond.
The playing field is cut into the hillside and surrounded by trees on all sides, light reflecting from the icy snow. Light ‘bouncing about’ you would say, and straight in my eyes (should have worn my sunglasses).
I get an unobstructed view, being able to carefully look left, right or under the winter sun, while also able to move to stand in the shadow of a tree trunk. A good testing area?
The Swarovski showed negligible veiling glare, but significant yellow/orange peripheral flare at the lower portion of the view. With the small exit pupil in these 12x42, moving the eye will cut down the flare but causes increasing blackouts. Otherwise the view remained clear with notably low veiling glare.
The Leica showed far less flare on only the very lower portion of the view but still had some faint yellow. They did however have shockingly bad veiling glare. I was rather surprised at this white out, and spent some minutes swapping binoculars, trying to get rid of the Leica veiling glare to no avail.
A reality check, viewing at right angles away from snow and sun, showed everything returned to normal. No flare or veiling glare in either binocular.
In this quite severe (almost artificial) testing situation there is no doubt in my mind that the new Swarovski controls veiling glare far better than the older Leica, but the Swarovski does produce peripheral flare when low sunlight falls directly onto the objectives.
I wish I’d compared my other two UV at the same time (with thicker thermals and a valet to help).
A jay at 250m distance was a mere speck in the shade of the wood at the furthest edge of the playing field. I first noticed five wood pigeons pecking the grass nearby and actually only saw the nearby jay through the binoculars. I stood in the shade of an oak and used both binoculars to examine the bird.
The Swarovski showed more detail, both better shape and brightness for identification.
Unsurprisingly then, the new Swarovski provided a superior resolution to the older Leica.
And again, the wider Swarovski FOV was evident, and when unsupported by the railings, gave a steadier view compared to the Leica.
The NL Pure 12x has proved better in every way except one i.e. when low sunlight is directly on the objectives producing peripheral glare. It is the first Swarovski I’ve truly liked, so much so I may get an 8x.
