BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!

Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="tynedale" data-source="post: 3268193" data-attributes="member: 128518">As a former scientist (now retired), with a reasonable knowledge of research principles, the issue (as has been stated eloquently already) is that there is no agreed measurable standard for the focus system, it is largely down to personal feel and therefore will inevitably remain subjective.However on occasions I trust my own personal judgment, so here is my experience with Swarovski focusers. First, I do not own an Alpha but for the past two years have been using a sub-alpha which for me at least has an ideal focuser – super smooth, just enough range, just enough tension and no slop – but perhaps lacks the FOV and optics of Swarovski and Zeiss top end. It nevertheless provides me with a personal benchmark as regards ergonomics. I am therefore in the market, but in no particular hurry, to upgrade to an alpha, in part waiting to see how the SF launch variability settles down. Over the past 18 months I have travelled to Innsbruck on 4 occasions and each time have tried out Swarovski SLCs  (I live somewhat remote from a UK Swarovski dealer and Zeiss are not so close either) so it is a convenient opportunity. •    At the flagship Swarovski store (amongst the mass of so called jewelry) they have the full complement of binoculars on display – on each visit I have tried the SLCs (I am susceptible to RB so no EL), result, all had what for me were unsatisfactory focusers - sticky / gritty to greater or lesser degree and/or with noticeable variable tension depending on which way it was turned•    At the main optic store in the town (2 visits), again tried  SLCs’  – similar outcome, on one occasion one SLC was marginally acceptable •    At a large hunting store (1 visit) tried another SLC, it was the worst of the lot, and one Zeiss HT 8x42, near perfectFor those who may suggest that they were the same demo models, unlikely as I was assured they changed them reasonably frequently as a result of their periodic sales, I cannot quantify. I enquired whether potential buyers questioned the focus mechanism, the answer in the two main stores was that most people did not comment, of those that did most were reassured that they would “bed in ok”.  It seems a few – again I cannot quantify the number – were put off buying. I have never asked about returns. There is no conclusion here except for me – so far I have not tried a Swarovski that I would feel confident in buying based on my personal empirical evidence and when set against my own personal benchmark. I plan to try an SF on my next trip in October, the Optic store now have them in stock, so it will be between this and an HT as I plan to buy on this occasion. I do not intend to try any more Swarovskis’. It seems if sales hold up despite this apparently well known issue the company is unlikely to embark on what might be a costly permanent fix – presuming they see it this way. I am however surprised that they had not ‘quality assured’ stock in at least their home territory store. I will therefore prove a ‘lost’ potential customer.Barrie</blockquote>

Verification