Are 16 year old Swarovski binos worth it?

[Rich.maes]

I have the chance to buy a set of 2003 Swarovski 8.5x42 EL for $1,000. Wondering if that’s a good deal? How would they compare to the latest model EL?

 

[Hatchet Jack]

I’d say so. They are still going to be as good or better than todays $1000 binos and in 10 years they’ll still be worth $1000.

 

[Trr15]

I’ve seen a lot of swaro binos for sale on this forum and others and I’d definitely say the market value of those is more than $1000. If they’re in good shape I’d scoop them up.


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[Unoboats]

Great deal

 

[BRTreedogs]

Long as there in good shape I'd snag them

 

[UpTop]

I’m definitely on the other side of this one. I’d save a little more for a newer pair.

 

[CatfishKev]

I don't even see the point in spending that kind of money on any glass less then 12 power. Spending a grand on glass in my opinion is only worth it when your glassing big country. If you live someplace where there is big country to glass with a tripod get a good pair of 10, 12, or 15 power. For 8s any $300 pair of glass will be plenty good. Just my opinion.

 

[.270]

I bought the same binos but manufactured in 2001 on ebay for 900 bucks four years ago. One of the best deal I think I have came across. I sent em into swaro and they went through and add another coating for around 100 buck if I remember correctly. The glass is great for being almost twenty years old.

 

[Rich.maes]

I bought the same binos but manufactured in 2001 on ebay for 900 bucks four years ago. One of the best deal I think I have came across. I sent em into swaro and they went through and add another coating for around 100 buck if I remember correctly. The glass is great for being almost twenty years old.

Thanks for the input

 

[Rich.maes]

I don't even see the point in spending that kind of money on any glass less then 12 power. Spending a grand on glass in my opinion is only worth it when your glassing big country. If you live someplace where there is big country to glass with a tripod get a good pair of 10, 12, or 15 power. For 8s any $300 pair of glass will be plenty good. Just my opinion.

I’m kinda feeling the same way. I might just go for the new 15 slc and stick with my leupold 10s for my chest

 

[Rich.maes]

I’d say so. They are still going to be as good or better than todays $1000 binos and in 10 years they’ll still be worth $1000.

Thanks for the input I figured I might snag em for the deal

 

[2five7]

I don't even see the point in spending that kind of money on any glass less then 12 power. Spending a grand on glass in my opinion is only worth it when your glassing big country. If you live someplace where there is big country to glass with a tripod get a good pair of 10, 12, or 15 power. For 8s any $300 pair of glass will be plenty good. Just my opinion.

Man, I could not disagree more. To say that having 1.5x less magnification means you can go from high end to bargain basement just doesn't make any sense. Also, you can glass big country with 8.5's no problem.

Years ago, I made the switch from 12x Pentax to 8.5 EL's, much better bino in every way possible, including "big country".

 

[stevevan]

Man, I could not disagree more. To say that having 1.5x less magnification means you can go from high end to bargain basement just doesn't make any sense. Also, you can glass big country with 8.5's no problem.

Years ago, I made the switch from 12x Pentax to 8.5 EL's, much better bino in every way possible, including "big country".

Buy 'em. They are excellent binos with superb glass. Far better than anything you could buy new in the $1000 range of todays offerings. I might add I've had great service from Swarovski as they'll inspect, clean, and do minor repairs for free. I'm also a big fan of the 8/8.5 magnification. Switched from the 10x versions to the lower powers. Found they were better in low light and more importantly I could use them better without the shakes of the higher powers and really not give anything up in viewing. If more magnification is needed I'll use a tripod mounted spotting scope.

 

[NoWiser]

I don't even see the point in spending that kind of money on any glass less then 12 power. Spending a grand on glass in my opinion is only worth it when your glassing big country. If you live someplace where there is big country to glass with a tripod get a good pair of 10, 12, or 15 power. For 8s any $300 pair of glass will be plenty good. Just my opinion.

Man, I wholeheartedly disagree with this statement as someone who owns a pair of $300.00 Nikon 8X and also owns 8X SLCs. There is not even a comparison between the two. I'm a big fan of good 8X glass and think they are far underappreciated.

 

[204guy]

Laughing, $300 binos are just as good as 16 year old Swaros, until you use them for 3 hours straight and then you feel like gouging your eyes out with a spoon to make the headache stop.

 

[MNman]

I got a set of “hand me downs swaro’s” and let my ego get in the way as they where “old.” Went out and bought a pair of vortex from Cabela’s before last years elk hunt. Learned a lessson the hard way. Don’t let your ego get in the way of using “older equipment” when they are the quality and built to last like swaro’s.

 

[nastynick]

I got a set of “hand me downs swaro’s” and let my ego get in the way as they where “old.” Went out and bought a pair of vortex from Cabela’s before last years elk hunt. Learned a lessson the hard way. Don’t let your ego get in the way of using “older equipment” when they are the quality and built to last like swaro’s.

I have a pair of 7x30 SLC that are like 30 years old from my father in law. I sent them to Swaro for a clean. It only costed me shipping to Swaro. They cleaned them up and they’re like new. I would probably only trade them out for another pair of alpha binoculars .

 

[Loco4dux]

I would update your chest binos before I bought Swaro 15's. Seems like a fair price if they are in good shape I'd buy them. Although, you can get newish SLC's for 3-500$ more dollars "used". I have 30 yr old Zeiss binos that I would use over Maven, Vortex, Leupold, nikon etc etc.

 

[247247]

Two years ago I bought a pair of ten year old 8.5x42 swaros best thing I've ever done. So crisp and easy on the eyes. Glassing for 6+ hours in them is not a chore at all.

 

[Tomly]

A lot of the big optical advances were pulled together by the late 90s. Sure, there have been modest improvements at the margins, but ten year old alpha glass is still going to perform extremely well.