Just thought I'd go out on a limb here and make some comments about the focuser or focus wheel - or whatever you prefer to call it - on four Swarovski binoculars, all of which I've tried and one of which I own (NL Pure 8x32).
I'm nowhere near as experienced as many here, but I've had such helpful responses to several previous comments that I feel okay about giving my views here. Though, of course, I'm happy to be told I'm wrong. And none of this is to suggest anyone should avoid Swarovski. On the contrary. The NL Pure I have is stunningly good.
The four are: NL Pure 8x32, CL Companion 8x30, CL Pocket 8x25 and Curio.
This issue has cropped up recently - if only briefly - in one or two other threads. At least one person (sorry, forgotten his name) agrees with me about the CL Companion. To put it simply, the focusers on all are generally smooth, with varying degrees of firmness, depending on the binocular. But I've come to the conclusion that all are less smooth, or more firm (if only a little), when focusing at around 25 feet. I have experienced this on all four. I'm absolutely certain it's the case. It is slightly less obvious on some (NL Pure, probably because it has the larger wheel) than others (CL Pocket and CL Companion).
If you focus on an object hundreds of yards away, or a hundred feet away, for example, and move the focuser backward and forward a little, it's smooth/easy. But then draw the focus back to approximately 25 feet, and it is firmer when you go slightly backward or forward. There is more resistance and a slightly different feel to it (drier, for want of a better word). It's sometimes quite subtle, but it's there. The resistance is more noticeable at that distance, though focusing at less than that distance (which I rarely do) the focuser is in general less smooth than it is at greater distances. I recently asked others here whether their Curio is slightly firmer at that distance, and no one thinks it is. But, as I say, I am certain it is, both on the Curio and the other three. But I'm not saying it's a fault.
If I'm right, and happen to be just about the only one here who notices it, perhaps it could be because of the internal mechanism. Maybe the increased resistance is due to some part of the mechanism which is only deployed at shorter focus distances. Or a cog which meets greater resistance at that point. I've never seen a video or article showing the dismantling of a Swarovski binocular. I wonder whether it differs much or at all from other binocular manufacturers in internal design. I can't remember what the focuser is like on a relative's Ultravid 10x32. I'll check it next week. On a low cost Vortex binocular I've had for a long time, the focus compared to the NL Pure has always been really firm, too firm in fact after using the Swarovski.
I'm nowhere near as experienced as many here, but I've had such helpful responses to several previous comments that I feel okay about giving my views here. Though, of course, I'm happy to be told I'm wrong. And none of this is to suggest anyone should avoid Swarovski. On the contrary. The NL Pure I have is stunningly good.
The four are: NL Pure 8x32, CL Companion 8x30, CL Pocket 8x25 and Curio.
This issue has cropped up recently - if only briefly - in one or two other threads. At least one person (sorry, forgotten his name) agrees with me about the CL Companion. To put it simply, the focusers on all are generally smooth, with varying degrees of firmness, depending on the binocular. But I've come to the conclusion that all are less smooth, or more firm (if only a little), when focusing at around 25 feet. I have experienced this on all four. I'm absolutely certain it's the case. It is slightly less obvious on some (NL Pure, probably because it has the larger wheel) than others (CL Pocket and CL Companion).
If you focus on an object hundreds of yards away, or a hundred feet away, for example, and move the focuser backward and forward a little, it's smooth/easy. But then draw the focus back to approximately 25 feet, and it is firmer when you go slightly backward or forward. There is more resistance and a slightly different feel to it (drier, for want of a better word). It's sometimes quite subtle, but it's there. The resistance is more noticeable at that distance, though focusing at less than that distance (which I rarely do) the focuser is in general less smooth than it is at greater distances. I recently asked others here whether their Curio is slightly firmer at that distance, and no one thinks it is. But, as I say, I am certain it is, both on the Curio and the other three. But I'm not saying it's a fault.
If I'm right, and happen to be just about the only one here who notices it, perhaps it could be because of the internal mechanism. Maybe the increased resistance is due to some part of the mechanism which is only deployed at shorter focus distances. Or a cog which meets greater resistance at that point. I've never seen a video or article showing the dismantling of a Swarovski binocular. I wonder whether it differs much or at all from other binocular manufacturers in internal design. I can't remember what the focuser is like on a relative's Ultravid 10x32. I'll check it next week. On a low cost Vortex binocular I've had for a long time, the focus compared to the NL Pure has always been really firm, too firm in fact after using the Swarovski.
FWIW....Nikon Monarch HG not much better.....Zeiss SFL excellent
