Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Scopes and Optics => Topic started by: 300wsm on December 27, 2010, 11:20:10 AM

Title: Swarovski
Post by: 300wsm on December 27, 2010, 11:20:10 AM: Getting tired of the weight on my SLC 8X50's. Just put them in the classifieds. I think I'll replace them with the EL's but am also considering Leica or Zeiss. My only reason is to shed the weight. They are great for glassing from the truck but packing 40 oz. around the neck all day is a little overboard. Any suggestions on a replacement pair of equal quality would be great. I want to go to a 8 or 10 X 42.
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: huntandjeep on December 28, 2010, 05:19:05 PM: swarovski slc 10x42s 30.7 oz.
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: halflife65 on December 28, 2010, 05:22:54 PM: :yeah: That's what I ended up. The only thing that I regret about them is that I didn't buy them sooner.

Saving for a Swaro spotter now. I guess you don't need to be sold on Swaro quality - you have a pair already and the alternatives that you listed are in the same league. I've heard nothing but good about all three of them.
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: alanger on December 28, 2010, 05:25:51 PM: id go with the EL's
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: halflife65 on December 28, 2010, 05:27:17 PM: Quote from: alanger on December 28, 2010, 05:25:51 PM
id go with the EL's

Yeah, I probably would've, too, if I wasn't balancing the cost of the binos (but still staying in the "high end" league) with other necessities, like a better spotting scope. If it's no object, the ELs are where it's at.
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: YoungBuck on December 28, 2010, 05:32:27 PM: I have Nikon 10x50's that are great. And cheap :twocents:
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: huntandjeep on December 28, 2010, 07:48:08 PM: i just bought my 10x42 slc's before christmas should have done it years ago. I thought about the 10x42 el's but the slc's are aboutr $1000 cheaper is there really that much of a difference between the two to justify the other 1000.
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: MuleySniper on December 28, 2010, 08:03:19 PM: The only diff I noticed between the ELs and the SLC's were the EL's were a tad bit lighter. I love my SLC's, not sure if I'd ever spend the extra cash on some EL's. I don't have any reason to upgrade now. Maybe in a few years if Swaro ends up putting out a range/bino deal like the geovids.
MS
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: 300wsm on December 28, 2010, 09:24:19 PM: That's what I was wondering, if the only difference between the SLC and the EL was the weight???
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: high country on January 03, 2011, 05:15:00 PM: if you get a chance to peek through the nikon edg's....I encourage you to do so. I sold off a whole fleet of leica's after buying these. there are some of the first run edg's that can be had for around a grand if you hunt around. they really put it together on these......from a guy who never pushes nikon except out the door, these are top shelf bins.
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: 300wsm on January 05, 2011, 09:23:34 PM: Quote from: high country on January 03, 2011, 05:15:00 PM
if you get a chance to peek through the nikon edg's....I encourage you to do so. I sold off a whole fleet of leica's after buying these. there are some of the first run edg's that can be had for around a grand if you hunt around. they really put it together on these......from a guy who never pushes nikon except out the door, these are top shelf bins.

I hear you on the Nikon. I've had a pair of Monarchs for a few years and have a tough time telling the difference between my Swarovski's during the day. It's at first light and last light that I can tell the difference. I will check out the edges.
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: GWP on January 05, 2011, 09:48:22 PM: Had Leupolds, tried a few different types, sold them and bought the EL's and a pair of the mini 10X. Like 'em both. Thinking I should sell my Leupold spotting scope and get the Swarovski now.
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: high country on January 05, 2011, 09:55:37 PM: Quote from: GWP on January 05, 2011, 09:48:22 PM
Had Leupolds, tried a few different types, sold them and bought the EL's and a pair of the mini 10X. Like 'em both. Thinking I should sell my Leupold spotting scope and get the Swarovski now.
if you are talking spotters, give the kowa prominar series a peek.......areguably the best and priced very well.
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: Steve C on January 06, 2011, 12:18:59 PM: I just finished a comparison of the nes ZEN ED spotter alongside a Kowa Prominar. The review is linked in the ZEN ED 20-60 thread below.The Kowa is certainly my recomendation for the "top dog on the porch in the alpha spotter category". Somebody bought it for somebody's christmas present, but a local dealer had a Swaro 80mm spotter I was hoping I could find a way to work into the comparison, but it didn't work out.
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: 2506 on January 06, 2011, 05:57:47 PM: Swaro EL 8.5x42. Ive had mine for a couple years. I love them. would like to buy the newer model with the hd glass but thats a little $$$$$!!!
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: longrange7mm on January 26, 2011, 06:18:59 AM: Quote from: high country on January 05, 2011, 09:55:37 PM
Quote from: GWP on January 05, 2011, 09:48:22 PM
Had Leupolds, tried a few different types, sold them and bought the EL's and a pair of the mini 10X. Like 'em both. Thinking I should sell my Leupold spotting scope and get the Swarovski now.
if you are talking spotters, give the kowa prominar series a peek.......areguably the best and priced very well.

:yeah: cant agree more
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: Ironhead on January 26, 2011, 07:09:34 PM: Maybe try a binocular harness, not many people hang them from their neck anymore.
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: columbiaman on January 30, 2011, 03:25:17 PM: Quote from: Ironhead on January 26, 2011, 07:09:34 PM
Maybe try a binocular harness, not many people hang them from their neck anymore.

+1.
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: couesbitten on January 30, 2011, 09:05:57 PM: :yeah: I was just looking at the Swaro website, there's only 5 oz. difference between the SLC and EL in 10X50, and 11 oz. in the 10X42. Is that really going to make a difference in how you feel at the end of the day? Hell the upgrade will take more weight than that at of your wallet. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: addicted on February 03, 2011, 08:10:39 AM: check out the european bino harness made by nigeloh. dont get all stretched out like the crooked horns over time.
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: huntandjeep on February 03, 2011, 07:53:09 PM: Ive used the same crooked horns on 4 different sets of binos and they havent stretched. Probley 6 years old.
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: addicted on February 03, 2011, 09:15:36 PM: congrats. I love the product. i've just felt some that have gotten really soft over the years.
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: couesbitten on February 03, 2011, 09:21:18 PM: Try using the bino harness from Nimrod, top straps are not elastic, so no stretch, no bouncing when you walk, etc. They're awesome!
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: addicted on February 04, 2011, 08:13:03 AM: Quote from: couesbitten on February 03, 2011, 09:21:18 PM
Try using the bino harness from Nimrod, top straps are not elastic, so no stretch, no bouncing when you walk, etc. They're awesome!

same concept with the nigeloh's. i'm not sure which would cost more in the states.

nigeloh also makes a cool double shoulder rifle sling that keeps the rifle tight and centered on your back. a good thing for a pusher in a drive hunt crawling up steep hills to get to game.
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: BlackTail on February 08, 2011, 03:31:34 PM: Just so people are comparing "equal" models, Swarovski had the SLC Neu in 10x42 which retailed for around $1,699 and the EL in 10x42 which retailed for around $1,999 (both can be had cheaper now if you can find them on sale). Not a difference of $1,000. I've heard from a couple different sources that the glass in these two models were virtually identical and the only real difference was the weight savings in the EL that came from the open bridge design. Now, Swarovski makes the 10x42 SLC in HD which retails for around $2,129 and the 10x42 EL Swarovision (which is HD, the old EL was not) which retails for around $2,479. Again, not $1,000 difference. I would venture to guess the glass is very similar in the two HD versions.

Swarovski also just realeased a 10x50 and 12x50 EL Swarovision! My 10x42 EL's might be in the classifieds soon!
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: high country on February 08, 2011, 03:57:03 PM: get some 15x56's in hd/ed/swarovison.....I would be all in.
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: BlackTail on February 08, 2011, 05:23:33 PM: Quote from: high country on February 08, 2011, 03:57:03 PM
get some 15x56's in hd/ed/swarovison.....I would be all in.

Those would be breath taking! Both to look through and at the cash register!! :yike:
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: high country on February 08, 2011, 06:17:07 PM: I have the non ed ones now. It pisses me off that my nikons are so much brighter.
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: Black Ghost on March 10, 2011, 05:30:13 PM: check out ebay right now, some good deals on there for the EL 10X42
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: GWP on April 09, 2011, 12:10:53 AM: Checked the Swaro against the Leupold Gold Ring Spotting scope (I have). With the Leupold you can see a leaf clearly at 100 yards. With the Swarovski's you can see the leaf’s VEINS in detail. I think I saw a bug taking a dump on it as well! Should have never done that. I WANT, I WANT!
Title: Re: Swarovski
Post by: jjhunter on April 09, 2011, 06:37:40 AM: I am waiting for the 15x HD Swarovsion as well. I love my non-HD 15x - couldn't imagine them with HD glass.