Maven B.2 vs Swarovski EL?

[srodge10]

Has anyone compared these two sets of Binos? Other than price, how does the image quality and build stack up side by side?

 

[Firehawk]

I haven't compared to the newer Swarovision ELs, but I have an older EL 10x42 from before the Swarovision coatings etc. I was surprised at how well the B2 11x and 9x stood up to it. I honestly hoped to see a bigger difference. That said, my Swaro isn't the same as the newest. So...that is what I have seen. Hopefully others will chime in.

 

[CApighunter]

I compared my 9x B2s to my buddies 8.5 ELs. They are close, I felt the ELs edged out the mavens in a smaller more ergonomic package. I’ve since sold the B2s and switched to Zeiss SFs.

 

[PathFinder]

It's not a valid comparison. Put them on a tripod and spend a day (at least 4 hours anyways) in difficult glassing conditions. Glass towards the sun, into the shadows, and use the entire FOV. The differences aren't minimal, they're profound.
Just looking at the center of the image in open daylight is an invalid test. It's like testing a minivan vs a sports car by driving 10mph across a parking lot.

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[Firehawk]

It's not a valid comparison. Put them on a tripod and spend a day (at least 4 hours anyways) in difficult glassing conditions. Glass towards the sun, into the shadows, and use the entire FOV. The differences aren't minimal, they're profound.
Just looking at the center of the image in open daylight is an invalid test. It's like testing a minivan vs a sports car by driving 10mph across a parking lot.

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Pathfinder, which B2 version did you test against the ELs in those conditions? I have used my B2s for years in really tough conditions and have been really pleased with them. I am new to these older ELs, but I never developed eye fatigue with the mavens ever. I regret selling them right now. But an older classic EL is hardly a "bad" consolation prize.

 

[PathFinder]

No idea, I wasn't aware at the time there were different generations. It's been a couple years or so.
My point isn't that Razors/Meopta/Maven are bad, they definitely aren't bad. My point is that I don't think there is a point of diminishing returns yet. Alpha glass has a lot of performance to offer that the next tier down just doesn't offer.

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[Firehawk]

No idea, I wasn't aware at the time there were different generations. It's been a couple years or so.
My point isn't that Razors/Meopta/Maven are bad, they definitely aren't bad. My point is that I don't think there is a point of diminishing returns yet. Alpha glass has a lot of performance to offer that the next tier down just doesn't offer.

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Didn't mean to suggest that there were different generations of the B2, as there have not been. I was referring to which magnification version you personally were comparing with your Alpha glass. Which Alpha were you comparing to the Maven B2? I assume it was the Swarovski EL that the OP was asking for a comparison of?

My point in asking is that I have personally been very pleased with the Mavens I have used for years. I owned my 9x B2 for about 6 years and it has done everything I have asked of it very well. Great at gathering light well into dusk and early dawn. I have spent hours on end looking through it and never had a headache or sore eyes. My buddies have all been using the 11x version of the B2 for 4-5 years. We have used ours a lot from tripods for hours on end.

When one buddy purchased a Swarovski SLC 10x42, he appreciated the weight and size savings, but commented that the optics were not as bright, and offered no real advantage. He kept the SLC because he liked the size and weight. My best friend, who also has an 11x B2, ordered an SLC 10x42 and compared them side by side under all sorts of conditions for about two weeks. He sent the SLC back. He felt like the SLC was slightly better, but really couldn't justify the price difference between the two and returned the SLC.

When I picked up the older EL here locally, I was way excited. I was quite surprised to see both my 9x and buddy's 11x B2 hung right with the EL until well past daylight while playing around two evenings in a row. The ELs are smaller, lighter and are better to the edge than my B2 by a very small margin, but not without looking very closely. The extra magnification of the 11x vs the 10x and 9x was noticeable and the ELs require less fiddling around with the focus, but I certainly don't see the ELs as being a huge improvement in any sort of way. I do prefer the size.

And, fwiw, my experience with the Maven B2 is that it significantly beat out the Vortex Razors (HD version and the original open bridge versions) that I have also compared at length over multiple outings.

I am only going to assume that the newer EL Swarovision must be ALOT better than these older ELs for there to be "profound differences". Either that or me, my best friend, and our other buddy all have eyes that can't tell the differences enough for it to be profound.

srodge10, if you can afford, or justify the spend for the ELs, then you will likely never want for anything different (until you look through an NL ). But, I would also say that the Maven B2 series represents a heck of a lot of optic, compared to some of the most renowned alpha binoculars in the world. I chose to keep my B2 originally when I compared them for over a month against my Leica Duovid 8-12x42. I believed the Maven was better. Best of luck with your decision.

All the best!

FH

 

[Blockcaver]

There is a big difference between the 2002 EL and 2013 Swaro Vision EL 10x42s. We have both at the house so an easy comparison any time I want.

The SV has more than HD coatings...it has the field flattener lenses that really make it sharp to the edge. And resolution is better in the SV as well. The downside is it weighs about 4 oz more on my scale than the old non-SV version.....but is worth the optical performance. That said the old version is a good binocular, but the SV is better to my eyes in all regards. And I probably have spent about a year worth of days packing each around hunting and scouting. These days the old pair are the wife's kitchen binoculars and the SVs go hunting.

 

[Firehawk]

There is a big difference between the 2002 EL and 2013 Swaro Vision EL 10x42s. We have both at the house so an easy comparison any time I want.

The SV has more than HD coatings...it has the field flattener lenses that really make it sharp to the edge. And resolution is better in the SV as well. The downside is it weighs about 4 oz more on my scale than the old non-SV version.....but is worth the optical performance. That said the old version is a good binocular, but the SV is better to my eyes in all regards. And I probably have spent about a year worth of days packing each around hunting and scouting. These days the old pair are the wife's kitchen binoculars and the SVs go hunting.

I figured this has to be the case. I would love to get my hands on a newer SV EL at some point.

I am also not saying the B2 is better than a new SV EL. I am merely stating that there is a lot of punch in that optic. Price aside, it is really impressive. Add the price, and it is a really good buy comparatively.

 

[Blockcaver]

And I should have added that I looked at the the 9X and 11X Mavens (B2) at the sheep show a few years ago and thought they were excellent glass for the price…same with the 10x42 C3 for less than $300 at the time. The B2 class were large and heavy though, similar to my 15x56 Leica Geovids if I remember right. That would be the downside.

 

[grandprix2480]

Nobody who paid two to three times the money is going to admit something else being comparible..

 

[RWT]

I have used a 2010 EL and. 2023 EL side by side. I kept the 2010 version. The flattener in the 2023s required to much fiddiling with the focus to stay in focus. This is spending 2 days sitting at a table an hour per day watching cows a ranges from 100-450 yards. The 2023 gave me a headache The 2010s are still with me. I can state the 2023 appeared to be a little brighter, however the difference was so slight I didn’t see the advantage.

I have some 1998 Lecias that are just a notch below the swaros. Keep them as my back up but they are much heavier. To me the difference is at the edges. The centers of the lense are too close to call.

Can’t say anything about the Mavens I’ve never looked through them.

 

[twall13]

I've owned both. I used a pair of 9x Maven B.2's as my primary binoculars for over 5 years before I got the swarovision Swaro EL 8.5's. When I first picked up the Swaros I was initially disappointed that they didn't jump out immediately as a lot better. Not to say they weren't better, I just had hoped for more based on the price difference. With more time I came to realize that it rang that the Swaros didn't live up to the hype, just that the Mavens are really good for their price point. The more time I spent with the EL's, the more I came to prefer them. I ended up selling the Mavens but they were really great glass. Yes, the Swaros are more clear and have better edge to edge clarity, etc. but to my eyes it was only a little better. The shape of the Swaros and size difference helped sway things their way as well. However, the biggest difference to me was the depth of field. After spending several trips with them and then trying the Mavens out again it became really apparent that it was so much easier to dial in the focus on the Swaros and not have to fiddle with it nearly as much. I never thought about it with the Mavens until I'd gotten used to the Swaros, but after it really annoyed how often I had to refocus the Mavens for very small changes in distance compared to the Swarovskis. If I'd never used the Swarovskis I never would have felt like it was an issue with the Mavens but now it bothers me.

Maven B.2's are great, but Swaro is better in a bunch of little things that end up making it a better glassing experience overall if you really spend time behind them.

I've said it before, if all you use your binoculars for is to pull them up to your face and take a quick glance at things here and there, you don't need anything more than Vortex Diamondbacks. If you put them on a tripod and really spend time behind them, that's when the real differences show up in alpha glass. The same official principle applies here, just not to the same extent.

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[River Reaper]

Buy the Swaros and you’ll never have to wonder again. Buy the Mavens and you’ll always wonder.

 

[Firehawk]

I've owned both. I used a pair of 9x Maven B.2's as my primary binoculars for over 5 years before I got the swarovision Swaro EL 8.5's. When I first picked up the Swaros I was initially disappointed that they didn't jump out immediately as a lot better. Not to say they weren't better, I just had hoped for more based on the price difference. With more time I came to realize that it rang that the Swaros didn't live up to the hype, just that the Mavens are really good for their price point. The more time I spent with the EL's, the more I came to prefer them. I ended up selling the Mavens but they were really great glass. Yes, the Swaros are more clear and have better edge to edge clarity, etc. but to my eyes it was only a little better. The shape of the Swaros and size difference helped sway things their way as well. However, the biggest difference to me was the depth of field. After spending several trips with them and then trying the Mavens out again it became really apparent that it was so much easier to dial in the focus on the Swaros and not have to fiddle with it nearly as much. I never thought about it with the Mavens until I'd gotten used to the Swaros, but after it really annoyed how often I had to refocus the Mavens for very small changes in distance compared to the Swarovskis. If I'd never used the Swarovskis I never would have felt like it was an issue with the Mavens but now it bothers me.

Maven B.2's are great, but Swaro is better in a bunch of little things that end up making it a better glassing experience overall if you really spend time behind them.

I've said it before, if all you use your binoculars for is to pull them up to your face and take a quick glance at things here and there, you don't need anything more than Vortex Diamondbacks. If you put them on a tripod and really spend time behind them, that's when the real differences show up in alpha glass. The same official principle applies here, just not to the same extent.

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I ended up with a SV version of the 8.5 ELs and they are a definite improvement over the older version. Like you, the depth of field difference between the Maven B2 and the SV ELs is real. Honestly, could have used the Maven B2 all my days and been happy, but the new ELs are better, even if slight. Like you mentioned, several things add up to make the difference noticable.

I like the form factor better and I think that ultimately they are an easier viewing experience than my 9x B2 was.

FH