Swarovski EL 10x50 vs. Zeiss & Leica
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ก.ค. 2024
- I put the Swarovski Swarovision EL 10x50 binoculars through their paces in Peru's Valle de Candamo rainforest in Bahuaja-Sonene National Park, Puno Department. A high-end set of binoculars represents a significant investment. Is it worth it? What do you get for the money?
The EL binoculars are specially designed to eliminate "field curvature," a distortion across the field of the view which becomes apparent when panning. I didn't cover this topic in the video, but when panning, some distortion is still evident, however it's not significant and certainly not distracting.
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That noise at the start almost destroyed my ears.
bighand69 Mine too!!! I almost fell off my chair!!
+1, get the defibrillator!
The diopter adjuster has a lock on it, once you adjust it to your eyes push it in the turn the lock to the lock the position, when you put it ln your bag it won’t change
My Leica 10 42 are astonishing, too.
Ok. Now, how if you test not mid but top of the line binoculars from the three brands with same dimensions (i.e. 10×50 all three)?
This video has made my purchase decision so easy, I was confused weather to buy such an expensive pair of binoculars but you are right getting these will give me a kick and motivate me to go out and explore which I seldom do.
It's not like they're going to be obsolete in 30 years. I've never regretted my purchase.
How about opticron T3 it's nice to ufo-gaze in the blackest night, because of light receiving.
Can Swarovski correct the CA if sent in?
How does Minox compare?
Wish I could afford the EL! Wish I could afford the SLC. Looking at the Conquest HD or potentially a used Victory FL in 8x42 if I can find a pair in basically perfect condition at a good price.
I have both the Swarovski 8.5×42 EL's and The Zeiss conquest HD 8×32.
The Swaro's are definetly sharper across the entire view. But the Conquest's are smaller and lighter. Which comes in handy when you wanna travel lightly.
And they are really good binos with a nice sharp center. If you can't afford the EL's: go with the conquest's.
The binos that you are carring on your shoulder cost the same price of a house in my country.
João Paulo Carvalho lol... what do you live in a shed?
I have a SVAROVSKI SLC 10x42, watching europeans birds’is’simply amazing, 10x42 ifor watching night sky is amazing also.
A almost $3000 USD it's way past my budget. Will admit they are impressive, had a chance to look thru a pair some years back and I liked what I saw, just not the price.
Watch the torture test on Zeiss Conquest HD's. I bought a pair after I saw the test.
They are clearly tough as hell.
Jonathan, thank you for the informative video on the 3 pairs of Binoculars. Could you tell myself which Binoculars are your personal favourites please? Have you looked through the new Leica Noctivid model, and if so will you be doing a review of these type in the future?I have a pair of Swarovski 10X42 EL, Leica 8x32 BN and a pair of compact Leica 10x25 BCA. Jonathan, I'd like to know your personal favourites.
I love my Swarovskis the best, but I haven't tried the Noctivids yet. I'm out of the market for full-size binos for about the next 30 years.
Looks like a fun trip. You need a harness my man!
50mm vs 42mm is not slightly more light, it is 41.7% more light.
Czar Zenana
Yep. Thank god someone can do maths here.
Also more weight. Thereby more shaking of the image.
What is your opinion on the nikon prostaff 7 10 by 42? Thanks
Never used them.
Tbf, you’re comparing a top of the ranger swaro to a mid range Zeiss ans Leica. You need to compare 10x50 ultravids and 10x50 victories for it to be a valid comparison.
Love your style though and it was a good review of the swaro - just no point comparing it to mid ranger bins.
Thanks. I'm not a professional reviewer. I found myself with those binos all at once and decided to do a video. I'm probably done doing any sort of gear reviews. IMO the space is already saturated.
@@GetOutsideYourself I don't know - I can't get enough gear reviews haha. There are lots of reviewers out there, but I've never seen anyone field test them in a jungle!
Oh, wow, you were in Peru!
Great review! How would you compare the Leica to the Zeiss?
Kind of apples and oranges since the Leica is 30 years old, but optically it's excellent and I think shows a better build quality.
Thanks!
The new ELs have a lock for the diopter setting.
Interesting that you didn't mention edge to edge sharpness.....I have the 8x42 Conquest HD's, and while the contrast and sharpness in the center is excellent, the sharpness falls away half way to the edge of the field - although not badly. I had a look through the 10x32 Swaro EL's and they were tack sharp all the way to the edge - some people are less concerned about edge sharpness than others, but I really enjoy it. The Macaw's are something I'd like to see one day.
Thanks for your comment. I'm one of those people for whom it's not a huge deal because unlike photographic images, it's easy to just move the subject to the sweet spot in real time. So unless it's terrible, I don't really notice. For me, it's about fringing and sharpness, plus brightness and colors. The Conquests are great binos, and a terrific value. You get what you pay for with the Swaros, however.
Apparently the Swaros are the only binos with edge to edge sharpness. Of course, they cost more than one of my monthly mortgage payments. But I do have a Swarovski spotting scope that is truly outstanding bought on sale as the newer models were being introduced. I'm not a hard core birder looking for a 700 list but I do enjoy watching them.
How easy to hand hold are the 10x50s?
Fine, very comfy.
If you are on a budget and want no ca, try kowa genesis.
I'm a Kowa genesis fan and agree that eliminating CA is their strongest point. They are built like a tank but are quite heavy (the 10.5x44 version is anyway). The 10x33 however does everything well and go with me on every trip.
I have the 8x32, I can’t manage to keep 10x steady enough due to upper body difficulties and the 32 is light enough for me to use. But I’m only birding here in the U.K. so I’m pretty sure my needs aren’t as challenging as yours.
8x32 are really ideal. I find the 10x50's too heavy to take on extended trips these days, so I got a pair of mini Leica 8x20's, but I think if I had some 8x32's that might be the nice middle ground.
That's pretty radical, dropping down to an 8x20. ???
in 2017 I bought a fujinon fmtr-sx 7x50 new for $570. Best investment and price/quality. Still using it to this day and enjoying it. Buying binoculars from $3000 is crazy.
Wouldn't the Zeiss Victory series be a direct competitor to the Swarovski?
Yes. I just ran into a group of high-end birdwatchers all in their 70's+ and they all had Swaros and Leicas, but curiously no Zeiss.
U should hv shown in close view, can't see binoculars clearly
The dark, (I mean bright), and lonely path in pursuit of optical perfection. I'm in.
I bought the very same Zeiss about three years ago...made in Hungaria I believe. Same as you, I had issues with the eyecups. Zeiss fixed it but, honnestly, they didn't feel 100% solid afterwards. Optically the Zeiss was OK, no collimation or other "China made" flaws...but I somehow was disappointed with the Zeiss...I probably expexted to see sunshine while it was pouring rain. I sold it after a few months, bought a Steiner...never looked back. Steiner is optically just as good as the Conquest...but built like a tank. For a 30% lower price.
Thanks for the tip. I've been looking at some Steiner compacts for backpacking. They're much cheaper than the Zeiss.
Bert Landry agreed. Swaro is...another league. Period.
Actually a Trinovid or a Conquest shouldn’t have been used for points of comparison. The Swarovski EL should have had a peer to peer face off - The Ultravid HDs and the Victory SF.
The ELs are indeed good - by themselves. But so are the other alphas.
As per Chromatic Aberration is concerned, no glass is free from it - not even the best long lenses. From what I have seen, lenses optimised for large apertures are probe to CA under the right conditions.
All said, nice review.
@spinozasdreams Have you tried them? I have both, and prefer the Ultravid HD’s imaging to the EL. Not everyone loves field flatteners. 🙂
I like to buy a Leika Binocular, I live in Cusco Peru...
Ask a gringo to sell you one!
Thanks for the review… so, why the 10x50? and not the 10x42? 🙄
My 10x42 were stolen last month, so I am looking to get a new pair… perhaps the 10x50 might be a better match but I’m not sure.
How about hand holding them and shaking images? I know that the 10x42 it could be bad after a hike for example…
Heavier binos like the 10x50's will attenuate the shaking more than lighter ones, and be brighter for dark settings. You can find a set of binos for any need, and for me 10x50's check all the boxes.
@@GetOutsideYourself Thanks for your answer!👍🏻👍🏻
Your intro sound gave me tinitus
The sound is offensive at times.
nice comment
This was not helpful for me, because you did not compare the Swarovski with the Zeiss Victory HT 10x54 binocular. The Geovid or Ultravid 10x42 or 10x50 compared with the Swarovski would be much better than using a 30 year old Leica. Thanks anyway. At least I know that you like the Swarovski 10x50. That is helpful to me.
I have the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD. They are decent. I have not looked through and compared them to the top models of the top brands. As I've used them, I've been most annoyed by the eye cups retracting as I walk around. Every time I want to look at something, I have to screw out the eyecups. Obviously, if I hung them upside down, the eyecups would stay where I want them.
As for viewing quality, here's a thought. Figure out how much time you spend looking through binoculars each week, on average. Then look at your budget. Multiply the minutes you average each week by what your budget can afford. If the most you can afford is $100 and you look through bino's 100 min per week...get the best $100 bino's you can find. If you average only 10 min per week, you don't really need the $100 bino's. If you can afford $1000 on bino's, follow the same formula. 100 min per week justifies $1000...10 min per week equals $100 bino's. If you can afford $3000 bino's (Swaro's), same deal. If you can afford about $1000, but are looking through bino's 300 min per week...yeah, I get that you want the Swaro's. Anyway, that's my take on how much binocular to get. It's budget, but also time of usage. 10 minutes per week does not justify Swaro's.
Nice review , Swarovski are nice quality and warranty, The 10X50 is not my first choice due to the weight . I think the Swarovski EL 8x32 or 10x32 would be better for long walks or hiking because after long use you will feel the weight of a big 10x50 and as you get older into your 50s and up you will really notice the weight .The Leica Ultravid HD 10x42 or 7x42 is the best of both worlds because it is the lightest and smallest 10X42 and still lets in good light , plus it has aqua dura coatings that prevent water and humidity from getting on the lens .So that would be better for jungle situations and when viewing in the rain, that is a coating Swarovski do not have . Only Zeiss has it called Lotu tec and Leica with Aqua Dura, Even some cheaper Bushnells have a rain guard coating similar to Aqua Dura. I prefer Leicas because to me they have the best looking build quality ,and they go more into small details like the multi click stop eye pieces ,which are the best of any binocular. Swarovski uses a floating type step eye pieces which are ok but they can still drop down .All are nice but I prefer Leica , just my opinion .
+Mark JG Great information. Thank you.
The swarovsky 8,5 × 42 is a good choice. Not too heavy
Man,.. I appreciate this. Just bought my first Swaros. CL 10x32 for deer season last Fall. LOVE them!!As a matter of fact I had more fun watching wildlife and seeing things I’ve never seen before and I did deer hunting although I love deer hunting and I will never stop.
I think that your Swaros are more fairly compared to the Zeiss FL.
For sure. But those were the binos I had, so . . .
@@GetOutsideYourself i have some old Trinovid 10x50 BA..Hard to hold steady..heavy, but i just can't get rid of em.
zeiss give a richer image for my eyesight browns are much deeper
I have the Zeiss Victory FLuorit 10X56 and did compare it with the top of the lines from Leica and Swarovski on the Photokina in Germany in 2014 And believe me its the best binoculars in the world.
Interesting. It would be fun to get it out in the real world for a proper test, side-by-side.
Have to agree that the latest zeiss just a notch ahead of the swarovski binoculars in 2017.. Absolutely shocked how they got them so sharp with no CA or rolling ball effect..
Agree with the commenters. Zeiss Victory t* fluoride binoculars are the best in the world in 2018. Zeiss Conquest is not in the same league as Swarovski EL, including in price. Zeiss Victory are the champions.
RIP my ears, thanks
PS, zeiss makes the glass for both the Swarovski and the leica =) Zeiss makes all high quality german glass. they might use other's specification, but pricepoint is the giveaway here. you get what you pay for when you buy german glass, so you can expect if zeiss puts out a 2000 bino and swar does also, they are going to perform the same. it's the ergos and construction that will be different.
I'm pretty sure each company makes its own optics, although you'll get no argument from me on the quality of the German optics (or in the case of Swarovski, Austrian optics).
Zeiss is out of business but the other 2 are still around.
@@GetOutsideYourself All of the big 3 binocular companies (Zeiss, Swarovski, and Leica) use Schott glass which is owned by the Zeiss Foundation. Each company uses its own coatings but all are top quality.
The Zeiss Conquest uses Japanese glass which may explain why you thought the Schott glass in your Swarovski was superior.
@spinozasdreams When Zeiss first had Schott make HT glass for their Victory line, they refused to sell it then finally sold it to Leica.
Zeiss (Schott) has glass available that's superior to anything out there but doesn't release it because of cost and weight.
Zeiss is in the business to make money like anyone else so they choose to share their glass with those who will pay.
@spinozasdreams Don't blame you there; Swarovski is known to have the best coatings of the big 3 while Leica seems to be the most rugged. Zeiss is good in both areas though and Swarovski is plenty rugged too.
It’s diminishing returns isn’t it. I have Hawke Sapphire 10x42s. They are excellent. These Swarovski’s are obviously a bit better. But 10% better for 10 times the price. The Hawkes are beautifully built and should last 30 years with no problem. Do you really need that extra 10% given that shake and all the other things that bugger up image quality are more of an issue than the difference in these optics. if you have infinite cash to throw at it why not . Otherwise try the latest Hawkes.
IT'S A TORTOISE, NOT A TURTLE
Robert Kirk your mom is a tortoise
Ultravid
Swaro is the best.
给我吧
沙雕
ELs are mid$line ?? stop reviewing binos please...
Please stop commenting if you’re not going to watch the video properly. He wasn’t talking about the ELs.
I have the zeiss conquest 10x42 and the victory 10x42 ht's , I sold my Swarovski's because of the superior light transmission of zeiss. For 1000 $ the conquest hd's are a steal. For the best binoculars in the world the zeiss victory line cannot be beat
@matt hofer
I've compared them, Swarovski is the best (the 10 x 50)
Leica noctivid, hands down.
Always, Nikon is mentioned! Note
that he didn't say anything about optic comparison w/ The Nikons. Anything from europe/germany are always over rated, just like the cars that are built there. They're junk!
Well, I have to disagree with you there, except maybe with regards to Italian and British cars, and Audis, and maybe Volvos, OK and possibly Peugeots. I think I did mention the quality of the Nikons, however, didn't I? Maybe that was my other binocular video where I reviewed the Zeiss specifically. The Nikons are perfectly fine, for the price, but there is very big difference in build and image quality once you jump up to the ultra-premium category. Whether that price difference is worth it or not obviously depends on the individual, but I just wanted to point out whether the quality lives up to the expectation.
Troll. You probably don't have either models, Nikon or Swaros.
@@XJarhead360 My thoughts.I started with cheap and old Russian BPC binoculars,later had oportunitiy to buy and use Steiner Military 7x50R,and from last weekend,Leica Trinovid 8x50 BA from '90s.I think that this one will stay for long time with me. ;-)
@spinozasdreams Sadly no longer in production.
This is too biased for my viewing. Pun intended. Swarovski overpriced and over rated
They're pretty damned expensive, that's for sure. As for biased, how? If something's good, I'll say it. The judgment as to whether it's worth the price is up to the individual.
The truth is that there's not a big difference between hawke for £150 and Swarovski for £1500, people buy the name and convince themselves they are better. I've tried them out from top price to bottom.
Edge to edge clarity is a con, the human eye always blurs your peripheral vision anyway. Ed glass doesn't work, don't take my word for it listen to the guy in video he has a pair of Swarovski that must of cost thousands and still finds CA present, which he claimed doesn't bother him but admitted earlier that once he started noticing it that it became an issue.
Ziess, Swarovski, lieca are what fools wear around they're neck to show off down the birding club 😂
I was looking through some Wingspan bins for less than 200.00 dollars and they were quite good. I would like to compare the Swarovski to them in the field and try to find the difference.
You could get 3-4 different bins at different sizes for the 1200.00 dollars instead of spending 2000-3000 for 1.
Thats the biggest bullshit i've ever heard. I have an EL and let me tell you, there is no comparison. It doesnt matter what light i get, its always crystal clear.
Take a look at the tests, including transmission graphs and CA scores, on www.allbinos.com/
You are clearly wrong, BTW. it's spelt Leica !
Gareth lewis if you think so... Go buy a 200 dollar Hawke and be happy you saved so much money. The rest of us who don't have glaucoma and can appreciate the image sharpness across the whole field will have to make do with the overpriced Swarovski.
Gareth lewis
You’re the type of guy to drive past a Ferrari in your Hyundai and shout out, “My car is just as good as yours.”
You get what you pay for. The best stuff is always gonna be overpriced but it’s worth it.