kristoffer
Used Register
Is anyone using the 8x32 EL version? Is it a smaller version of the 8.5x42 or does it have some weakness?
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what are the "weaknesses" if any of the 8.5x42 EL? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter 308CAL
- Start date
Just bought one. Could not tell any difference optically between it and it's bigger brother except it has a wider FOV and smaller exit pupil (making for a somewhat narrower view top to bottom). I have read that there is little difference in brightness except in very dim light, but did not test it myself in such conditions. Love the light weight and ergonomics. If it had a little faster focus, it would be the perfect birding bin, at least for my preferences, which prioritize light weight.
Best,
Jim
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Alexis Powell
Natural history enthusiast
I use and enjoy both. Off-axis CA is greater in the 8x32.
--AP
edit add-on: 8x32 has more field curvature.
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I had the 8x32 EL, and sold it when I bought the 8.5x42. It´s a toss-up, really...the smaller one is simply the most comfortable bino I´ve ever held, it fit my hand like a glove. The larger one is obviously brighter, and I think a tad sharper, but with slightly narrower FOV. In most good light conditions, the differences were unobservable to my eyes. Come to think of it, don´t know why I switched.......
kristoffer
Used Register
Oh, the 8x32 sure sounds tempting
I had the 8x32 EL, and sold it when I bought the 8.5x42. It´s a toss-up, really...the smaller one is simply the most comfortable bino I´ve ever held, it fit my hand like a glove. The larger one is obviously brighter, and I think a tad sharper, but with slightly narrower FOV. In most good light conditions, the differences were unobservable to my eyes. Come to think of it, don´t know why I switched.......
Actually I remember now why I switched....I started wearing my glasses more often when birding, and the 8.5x42 offers better "eye-relief". The 8x32 aren´t bad, though, it all depends on the type of frames you have (if you´re a spectacle-wearer). Try the binoculars out with your glasses on.Oh, the 8x32 sure sounds tempting
The big reason they outsell Zeiss and Leica is that they are about $500.00 less expensive. In my opinion the Swarovski 8.5 x42 EL'S are still a notch down optically from the the Zeiss 8x42 FL. Most reviews agree with that conclusion.
Dennis,
When you're talking about this level (performance and price) I don't think anyone
is looking for a bargain. So to say most buy them for the $500 savings is pretty funny.
The reason they sell more is because of the overall package satisfies the purchaser better. Most things come together very nicely in these binoculars.
Yes... the FLs might have a slightly sharper center field and maybe a more neutral color presentation but overall... in the field the Swarovskis win.
A Tour de France winner gets beat in most all of the stages... but overall he has a better performance. And wins.
Better overall. Most purchasers (not reviewers) agree with that conclusion.
Cheers
When you're talking about this level (performance and price) I don't think anyone
is looking for a bargain. So to say most buy them for the $500 savings is pretty funny.
The reason they sell more is because of the overall package satisfies the purchaser better. Most things come together very nicely in these binoculars.
Yes... the FLs might have a slightly sharper center field and maybe a more neutral color presentation but overall... in the field the Swarovskis win.
A Tour de France winner gets beat in most all of the stages... but overall he has a better performance. And wins.
Better overall. Most purchasers (not reviewers) agree with that conclusion.
Cheers
They don;t hold up to Rte 3 traffic, in Boston. A friend of mine's 8.5 x 42 fell off his car roof...and after being stuck in the middle of rush hour traffic traffic they completely destroyed. Other than that I hear they're great! oh...and Swaro gave him another glass for zip....So I guess they're ok
If anyone is looking for a LNIB 8.5x42 EL that is Mint-never taken out of house, I have one posted in the classifieds now at a great price.
I am selling because I prefer my 8x32' EL's. So if anyone is interested in the greatly "flawed" (LOL-wink) 8.5x42--let me know.
Stephen
I am selling because I prefer my 8x32' EL's. So if anyone is interested in the greatly "flawed" (LOL-wink) 8.5x42--let me know.
Stephen
temmie
Well-known member
Exactly.
In every kind of market, be it cars, bikes, computers or cameras, not the best, but the best received average product is most popular.
Law of the big masses. One buys it, the herd follows because they think it is the best.
meeeh. :smoke:
ps: you forgot about the (lack of) chromatic aberration and (better) light transmission of the FL
kristoffer
Used Register
It can be the best-seller because it is the best overall product. It has the least amount of negative attributes, good or very good in all aspects. Like, not the smaller sweet-spot of the FL and better build/grip etc.
John M Robinson
Well-known member
I know our local high end sporting goods store sells all three-four alpha brands and he says Swaro outsells the others two to one. The store manager personally owns an 8x32 EL and a 8x42 Geovid, he likes them all, but in general leans toward Leica. This store sells mostly to hunters, and his take on Swaros popularity, is that the massive marketing in hunting magazines Swaro does is very effective, plus word of mouth from hunting buddys is a strong influence. He says a lot of guys walk into the store intent on buying Swaro, not many compare each binocular in anywhere near the detail we do.
Of course Swaro is very good, arguably the best, but not by a two to one ratio in my opinion. I actually prefer my Leica's to the Swaro EL, but that is just me. I really like the 10x42 SLC but it is too heavy. I don't know why, maybe a sample of one thing, but the 10x42 SLC I looked through was better than the 10x42EL.
John
Of course Swaro is very good, arguably the best, but not by a two to one ratio in my opinion. I actually prefer my Leica's to the Swaro EL, but that is just me. I really like the 10x42 SLC but it is too heavy. I don't know why, maybe a sample of one thing, but the 10x42 SLC I looked through was better than the 10x42EL.
John
I decided to upgrade bins recently and was intent on buying a Zeiss 8x32 FL. But when I compared with Swaro 8x32 EL, I found the Swaro had much superior ergonomics. The Zeiss focus wheel bumped my nose when I tilted the bins down slightly, and they seemed too small for my hands and felt unbalanced. The Swaro was also designed with one-handed use in mind, and since I'm often carrying my scope, this was an important factor. So for me, the Swaro won on the merits; "popularity" was not an issue.
I think another thing, by the way, that contributes to Swaro EL's popularity is the look--I think it's one of the most distinctive and attractive bins out there. The Zeiss FL just look like another bin (until you look through them of course).
My 2 cents,
Jim
falcondude
Well-known member
I don't like Zeiss FL's look either. I prefer Leica Ultravid over Swarovski EL from appearance. But I like the handling of EL better.
Kevin Purcell
Well-known member
The herd mentality is for all people. People buy different bins for all sorts of reasons.
For example ...
birdersworld.com have a report "Optics field test: Specifications, reviews, and rankings of 11 top 8x(ish) binoculars for birdwatching" with 20 bin users testing top bins over a birding weekend (subscriber only unfortunately).
http://www.birdersworld.com/en/Bird...gs of 11 top binoculars for birdwatching.aspx
The interesting thing was not that they put them in a particular order: Zeiss FL, then the Leica HD then the Swaro EL (then Nikon EDG then Pentax ED). But in the field (personal observation in Seattle) the popularity seems to be Swaro, Leica and Zeiss.
View attachment Optics field test: Specifications, reviews, and rankings of 11 top binoculars for birdwatching - Bir
But despite that the most interesting point for me was that 3 of 6 people said they would buy the Leica (the 2nd best view) than the none who would buy the Zeiss. Even though more people said the Zeiss was an upgrade for them than the Leica. For the Swaro EL it was 1 out of 7 buy although 5 out of 6 said it was an upgrade. The only other bins that happened to was the two bottom placed bins (Leupold Golden Ring HD and Bushnell Elite).
The other interesting thing (that points to a herd/brand thinking) is the way other unrelated properties seem to correlated with desire. Look at the eye friendliness and feel numbers. They correlate almost perfectly with image quality. Why would that be? For example, I've tried the open bridge Steiner Peregrine XP and thought they were optically very very good: just a notch below the FL. Their ergonomics is only slightly worse than a Swaro EL. They were easy on the eye too. But they just don't get very good numbers. Because people don't recognize the brand? Or because they associate it with hunters? Same with the Bushnell Elite. I agree with both the view (mid range not top end) and the eye friendlyness (too much ER) ratings but the Feel is rather good (lightweight and open bridge) but that number is in the tank too. Perhaps because they're a Bushnell -- the Rodney Dangerfield of bins? Their focus direction is also in the opposite direction to the others -- I wonder if that influenced the result too?
View attachment Optics field test: Specifications, reviews, and rankings of 11 top binoculars for birdwatching 2 LQ
So I think bin brands at the top have the most "street cred" amongst a lot of birders (and non top bins have anti-street cred ... "what could this person know" is a common filtering device for some birders after "dog sniffing" your bins).
It's a bit like top cars. Leica seem to have the Ferrari brand credibility whereas Swaro is like BMW (street and track drivers like them and they're good overall not many bad points) and Zeiss is like Porsche (very, very good, like the GT3, but that rear engine (or edge sharpness) will take people off the track if you're not careful). Don't try to stretch this too far but it's another example of herd like behavior amongst top brands.
There are plenty of problems with this test: very small sample size and everyone didn't try every bin; not optics geeks (but most birders aren't!); quoting MSRP prices not street prices); and there might be some priming in the question ordering and phrasing (e.g. there is a difference between which bin would you like to have and which bin would you buy plus changing the order between asking about is it worth it or its price and would you buy it might change the outcome too). But the above observation is an interesting one.
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I think the "herd mentality" analogy is both peevish and innaccurate (no offence to anyone). I´m not sure about hunters, but I´d bet that birders, being of the eco-friendly variety, tend not to be "alpha males", are not high earners, and are generally very careful about spending their money, cutting back in other areas before we choose binos. (That´s why we all drive crap cars). I also think most birders don´t "judge" each other one way or another....either by binos or anything else. My own personal experience (and from anecdotal evidence I assume this to be the case with most) is that I deliberated long and hard, and tried what I could, before eventually deciding on the best "overall package" for me. I imagine a birder carefully spending his money, and wanting to try out every bino in the shop, is the store-owner´s worst nightmare. And whether my binos are considered "alpha" or not, or whether other birders carry the same or not, well, I frankly couldn´t give a toss. Porsches are status-symbols. Binoculars aren´t. (Ask any cute blonde). They´re only binoculars, tools for seeing things far away. I obsess about them, sure, but I don´t kid myself into believing that they make me a superior birder, or a better human being. But everyone has different tastes and different requirements. That´s why Communism can´t work (unfortunately!). Enjoy your bins but don´t argue about them, God knows we have enough to argue about on the planet as it is.
). I also think most birders don´t "judge" each other one way or another....either by binos or anything else. My own personal experience (and from anecdotal evidence I assume this to be the case with most) is that I deliberated long and hard, and tried what I could, before eventually deciding on the best "overall package" for me. I imagine a birder carefully spending his money, and wanting to try out every bino in the shop, is the store-owner´s worst nightmare. And whether my binos are considered "alpha" or not, or whether other birders carry the same or not, well, I frankly couldn´t give a toss. Porsches are status-symbols. Binoculars aren´t. (Ask any cute blonde). They´re only binoculars, tools for seeing things far away. I obsess about them, sure, but I don´t kid myself into believing that they make me a superior birder, or a better human being. But everyone has different tastes and different requirements. That´s why Communism can´t work (unfortunately!). Enjoy your bins but don´t argue about them, God knows we have enough to argue about on the planet as it is.
