Blind study test--Who Makes the Best 12 Power Binocular? (UNBIASED)

[Chad Dembinski]

Hey Everyone,

With the recent release from Zeiss of the new updated SFL line we decided to test them out next to some of the more popular 12x on the market!

This was a fun one for us here at the shop and tried to get everyone from different backgrounds and skill levels involved.

Let me know what you think and I think you will be as surprised as some of us were with the outcomes.

If you have any suggestions on similar test or any other videos you would like to see let me know!

Cheers,

 

[Wyominal]

Great test. This was fun to watch.I would like to see you throw the NL‘s into the mix and see what the outcome is.

 

[MuleyFever]

Can we get the cliff notes on this test?

 

[scottbot]

Can we get the cliff notes on this test?

consensus was zeiss 1st, then swaro, then vortex

 

[RockAndSage]

Hey Everyone,

With the recent release from Zeiss of the new updated SFL line we decided to test them out next to some of the more popular 12x on the market!

This was a fun one for us here at the shop and tried to get everyone from different backgrounds and skill levels involved.

Let me know what you think and I think you will be as surprised as some of us were with the outcomes.

If you have any suggestions on similar test or any other videos you would like to see let me know!

Cheers,

Dudes.

You get credit for blind-eval concept and just putting out the content, but it's a serious WTF when you put out the newly released SFL 12x50, against Swaro ELs, that were first released in 1999. Let's do this with the NLs next time.

 

[Wyominal]

Dudes.

You get credit for blind-eval concept and just putting out the content, but it's a serious WTF when you put out the newly released SFL 12x50, against Swaro ELs, that were first released in 1999. Let's do this with the NLs next time.

I think they are comparing optics near the same price point. The ELs have just aged really well. I wonder how much the cost in 1999.

 

[180ls1]

Dudes.

You get credit for blind-eval concept and just putting out the content, but it's a serious WTF when you put out the newly released SFL 12x50, against Swaro ELs, that were first released in 1999. Let's do this with the NLs next time.

S&S archery have a review comparing those on youtube.

 

[Chad Dembinski]

Great test. This was fun to watch.I would like to see you throw the NL‘s into the mix and see what the outcome is.

We appreciate that and we wanted to try and keep it around the similar price point and I would say the NL's are close to being in a league of their own right now and just wanted to compare stuff we thought was similar and see what the outcome would be.

Thanks again for watching and your feedback!

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

I think they are comparing optics near the same price point. The ELs have just aged really well. I wonder how much the cost in 1999.

That would be interesting to know. Couldn't find anything, nor could google AI but a bird watching forum post mentioned the the EL's "blasted through" the $1k mark when they were introduced. Another search found the SLC at $999 around that time.



Also found a swaro history slide deck of sorts. Kind of jumbled chronologically and, unfortunately, no catalog images from the 1999 release. Neat stuff.

https://www.hoferwaffen.com/images/optics/Swarowski_en.pdf

 

[Chad Dembinski]

That would be interesting to know. Couldn't find anything, nor could google AI but a bird watching forum post mentioned the the EL's "blasted through" the $1k mark when they were introduced. Another search found the SLC at $999 around that time.

View attachment 890114

Also found a swaro history slide deck of sorts. Kind of jumbled chronologically and, unfortunately, no catalog images from the 1999 release. Neat stuff.

https://www.hoferwaffen.com/images/optics/Swarowski_en.pdf

Thats cool!

Another interesting piece of history with those SLC's is that our original founder of Outdoorsmans had a part in the SLC 15x56 coming to life.

He went to Swarovski at the time and told them he needed a higher power binocular for hunting out west and using off a tripod. They called him crazy, said no way, but he said he would order every one they made and eventually they listened!

I was told that Floyd had put in an order for all the stock they originally made and the rest is history. Pretty cool story about our history in the optic world.

 

[wind gypsy]

And the early ELs did not have "swarovision" with the flattened view that they are known for now. I think it was 2009ish they started with that?

 

[seand]

If that’s the case, the title of the review is definitely misleading

We appreciate that and we wanted to try and keep it around the similar price point and I would say the NL's are close to being in a league of their own right now and just wanted to compare stuff we thought was similar and see what the outcome would be.

Thanks again for watching and your feedback!