Please do a valid Review on Swarovski NL

[SecretSpot]

what are your thoughts on the engineered astigamatism on the nls? Starting At about 70% from center there starts a ring around the view that cannot be resolved and then the last 10% is flat and sharp again. To me its frustrating when glassing still from a tripod and looking around the picture and seeing a less than clear area outside center field of which will not become clear no matter focus adjustment. If you havent noticed this- now you will. From my reading it is done on purpose to lower the "rolling ball" affect while panning. This is a common feature on zeiss sf models and im pretty disappointed its apparent in the nl.

There is a picture of this on a review floating around. Im actually really surprised not many complain about it. Compared to my els the flatness and sharpness across the entire image is slightly disappointing. I actually got rid of a pair of zeiss victory because of this reason. Really only noticable while glassing perfectly steady off a tripod.

Having a gigantic FOV is great but when the whole view isnt sharp man it just seems useless to have that extra fov and makes me want to pull out my els.

Here is the link explaining it.

Swarovski 8x42 NL Pure Review

scopeviews.co.uk

 

[PredatorSlayer]

I am an outlier here and will probably get some hate…I think the NLs are over rated. I spent 10 days elk hunting in colorado switching between my buddies 12x42 NL pures and my Santiam 15x56s. The deal breaker was when my buddy and his NL pures spotted an elk under a tree 2000 yards away. I pull up my Santiams and was like dude, its is clearly a rock. Buddy is adamant its an elk - I hand him my Santiams and he is like, damnit, its a rock.

I personally don’t know why the Santiams don’t get more love. I just added some 12x50’s to my line up - they are really really good.

The NL pures are good - they just aren’t $3k good. There is a lot of the swaro name priced in there.

 

[mighteywhitehunter]

This is a 3 year old thread that you revived.... If you want something other than peoples opinions you can look at the specs on Swarovski's website and compare them to any other bino of your choosing. Or you can buy a pair and see for yourself.
They are the best non-ranging bino out there, and in my opinion, are the best binocular made.
Get over the analysis paralysis.

 

[kaboku68]

The Nikon HG 10X42 binoculars have field flatteners that provide that same immersive view that the Zeiss SF, Swarovski Swarovision and even the Noctavids have field flatteners. These are an additional six slim lenses that create an effect of taking the sweet spot in the center and spreading it out to the outside edges of the field of view. They are not as bright as some binoculars and do not have the eye relief that some binoculars in this class have but they are sharp and you can find them on sale sometimes and they are often overlooked.

The Leupold Santiam BX-5 binoculars are very good. They are sharp and are sharper with much more of a true color than a lot in this class. They also are easy on the eyes without having the eye strain that many binoculars in this class do. They are designed to pan well in hand. I haven't looked at the 15Xs but I can imagine that they are very good and would be a great alternative to a spotter.

The Zeiss Conquest HDs are sharp. They have a bit of a bluish tint to their image but they are nice on the eyes. They have decent eye relief. They pan well. I ran the Zeiss Victory 10X42 F for probably 10 years and was never wanting. The Conquest HDs are the closest thing to those Victory binoculars. They have a loutec coating that repels rain. I have had a pair of 8X30HD Conquests and they were a fantastic moose binocular that were handy and would be a wonderful stand binocular. One of the local LGS had a Model 52 B Sporter and the shop owner didn't have much money into the gun. He traded me for the binos and a knife and I would do it any day. I am ordering a pair of 8X30 SFLs and I have heard that that family of binos is a bit better and is very light and easy to hold. The SFLs are made for hand held panning so I am excited about that. I also had a pair of 10X42 Conquest HDs that I gave to my father and I examined them in great detail. They were extremely good. The German made Zeiss Conquest HDs are some of the toughest binoculars made. There is a youtube video of a guy who uses them for beach volleyball and then drags them behind his pickup. So if you are hard on your kit, this is the binocular that you could use the rest of your life and it would probably continue to provide you with great service.

The next binocular family up are the Vortex Razor UHDs. These are the best binoculars and one of the best products that Vortex makes. They are made in the same LOW factory that produces Nightforce and Zeiss Conquest Riflescopes and are good. They are big and heavy. They have a design like the Zeiss SF. It is longer than a lot of binoculars that it competes with. I have the 10X50, 12X50 and the 18X56 UHDs. They all function very well. The 12X50 UHDs that I have are my favorite of those three. The 18s do not have the eye relief that the others do but for big eyes they are good. They are not as good in my view as the 15X SLCs and I haven't looked at the Zeiss or Leupold Santiam offerings. The UHDs are very good for panning. They have a large sweet spot. They focus easily. I used the 12X UHDs to correctly identify a full curl ram at 600 yards last season. Being just not that lucky, I had no tag, sheep rifle and was sick with covid but I saw it and its two buddies who were also full curl rams from the road in an open tag area. The 12X allowed me to see that it was right at 39 and 9 years old with four inches broomed on the left and five inches broomed on the right. Many people who have purchased the UHDs come back extremely happy. While they are bigger and heavy they perform much like the Swarovski SLC HDs that have been discontinued. You can find them on sale and while they are big, chunky monkeys they can dance. They are the second best product that Vortex produces with their trailguide merino hiking socks being the only thing better. I think that people who don't have preconceptions about alpha binoculars and just look at binos would be hard pressed to say that they aren't great and they are just some of the easiest binoculars to focus and work great off of a tripod.

I have a blind spot about the Meopta Meostars but I can say that I like Meopta products and know that many of the Zeiss and Kahles products were done in Meopta factories. The box store I work at doesn't carry the higher end Meopta but I have looked at the Cabelas brand version of the Meopta and they were very sharp, had a great fov, but did not have the eye relief of the alphas and seemed not quite as bright. Maybe I didn't have the best pair but I tell what I see and that is what I experienced.

They very much have a similarity to the Swarovski SLCs and if that is where you are heading for they are excellent. Many people will get a great price through Cabelas/BassPro points and the build quality is there. My guess is that you could take them to hell and back and if you really don't give a rat's ass about the label then here you go. They offer probably the best retail /insider price discount for what you get but its hard to get their magic industry insider list. I just imagine that you see the ELs and NLs in gun writer pictures but you see a lot of meopta's with guides and outfitters. They are no longer underrated or unknown like Dr. Optic or GPO but they are out there as the kissing cousin of the alphas.

 

[Reed104R]

K
Thanks for sharing your excellent and objective analysis!!!

 

[kaboku68]

I am sorry if I skip over Kowa Genesis, GPO, Maven, Tract, Steiner, Dr. Optic. I trust the information that I hear about the quality of Maven and believe that they offer some amazing products. I hear more about Tract riflescopes. Steiner seems to put most of their energy in project development into high end rifle scopes and their more directed porro prism marine style binoculars. I do know that they own Burris and Burris has some binos that compete with the Vipers and lower end razors. Burris generally has products that are built tough. GPO is an interesting concept but I have ever had the opportunity to look through them. Dr. Optic was a big alternative to Zeiss in the 90s and still make great Spotting Scopes.

 

[JP100]

Ile chime in with my 10 cents.
Honestly the NLs are the best glass i have used period.
I am a guide, and use Leica(10x42 geovids) and through clients I get to look through all kinds of glass, across all kinds of conditions.

I have had the chance to look through 5 pairs of NL pures now, some 10x and some 12x, in lots of different conditions.
They are noticeably better than other glass I have used, how much better? well thats hard to say.
With glass, you pay 50% more for maybe a 5% increase in performance.(maybe less)
no one out there is saying the swaros are almost as good as 'x' brand......its always the other way around......remember that.......

 

[kaboku68]

Drum Roll-- Alphas.

It might be good to start with the Swaro SLCs. The revised SLCs are extremely great binoculars. They let in light and provide super color rendition. They are incredibly sharp. People with perfect vision and young eyes will prefer SLCs to any Swaro product with a caveat that the porro prism habicht 10X40 WA are not well distributed in North America and might give any binocular a run. SLCs do not have the eye relief that many of the other alpha binoculars have and were discontinued. Know that a used pair of SLCs is better than many of the binoculars previously mentioned. Swarovski continues to make them under the Kahles brand so they can continue to provide product support. The Kahles-SLC binocular would continue to be a very good choice for a young hunter or somebody who wants a very good binocular and doesn't need the top, top features.

The Leica Ultravid and Ultravid + binoculars are also extremely sharp. Leica optics in my view give a very neutral color in their image. People who are very discerning and note the slight greenish tint of Swarovski or the slight bluish tint of Zeiss dote on Leica. Guides who use them alot and spend a significant amount of time behind the glass also like the Ultravid and Ultravid +. The 8X32 Ultravids are fantastic binoculars for moose. They gather light and give a large sweet spot. They are easy on the eyes. This quality is something that there is probably not an English word for. The Germans probably have a word for it. Some binoculars are just set in a way that eye strain is reduced and you can just sit behind them for hours. The full size Leica Ultravids are made in Germany but the compacts are made Portugal but I believe that they still have r/d structures in Germany. The coatings and the focus controls are very good. They are durable. They stay in culmination. Customer service used to be a real pain in the azz. People would overlook or may perhaps look beyond the Leica line because of all of the difficulty of working with their customer service. That has changed. Leica offers a no fault warranty for at least 10 years. I have a pair of Leitz 8X20 compact binoculars that I picked up at a pawnshop for 60 dollars and I sent them into to Leica and they fixed them up to top standard. Price wise Leica is very competitive. Their compacts are very good and have superior light gathering and great image.

The Noctivid binoculars are outstanding. They are made in Germany and are the best that Leica makes. They have one field flattener lens compared to the multiple lens system employed by Swarovski and Zeiss. They gather light well and are very sharp. They have great build quality and in some ways are as sharp or maybe sharper than some of the NL binoculars. People who have good eyes that prefer a very neutral image like the Noctivids. They aren't as expensive as the Zeiss SFs or the NLs and should be closely and carefully examined if you are in the market for flagship best of the best binoculars. Many people prefer the Noctivids to any other binocular. They don't give up much but they are limited for eye relief compared to the other two. The Zeiss SFs are probably a bit sharper for image and the Swarovski EL provide a bit more eye relief than the Noctivids but if you are seeking best quality glass they presently are a very cost effective choice for an alpha binocular.

The Swarovski EL binocular is one of the best binoculars ever made. I used to tell people that you could buy the best watch in the world for 3 million, the best car for 12 million but it was 2400.00 to buy the best binoculars ever made. The Swarovski EL binoculars are the standard that all alphas are judged by. I has changed over its product lifespan to incorporate many technological innovations. The ELs are extremely soft on the eyes. You can sit and watch things for hours with very little eyestrain. This is important if you are getting up on a ridge and just observing for hours and hours and do not want head aches or strange dreams which can affect sleep if you glass with sub par binoculars for too long.

They have an open bridge design and you will find them very comfortable in your hands. You can grab an old pair of ELs and you will still grin and just enjoy. They are a fantastic alpha binocular. They offer excellent sharpness, color rendition, durability, adjustibility and work so well when you are panning a landscape. They offer incredible eye relief and the field flattener technology called Swarovision work to elimination the pincushion effect. The image in the ELs is sharp from edge to center. They gather light extremely well and in some ways to my eyes, they slightly correct vision. People with astigmatism will actually prefer the ELs to NLs. There are some elements of ELs that I do need to get into. The coatings on the Swarovski binoculars have a greenish tint that very much picks up stuff in areas with green color. They are wonderful for this. They are also very good for picking up images near dawn or near dark.

The field flattener technology causes a different image in some peoples eyes that is called the rolling ball effect. It looks like you are looking through a water filled glass ball and it takes a minute or two for your brain to remap and to get used to it. Some people can not get used to it and it impacts them longer. The Leica Noctivid does not have as much of this rolling ball effect and is much more subtle in this area. The SFs and NLs also seem to have less of this effect. It is a deal breaker for some.

The Swarovski EL Binocular is different from the Swarovski EL Legend Binocular that is being manufactured and sold today. The 8X32, 10X32, 12X50 and the 10X50 EL Binocular are the same but the 8.5 and 10X EL binoculars have been changed with some cost saving measures. These cost saving measures do not change the outward elements of the binocular but EL 8.5X42 and 10X42 assembled previously had more eye relief and a slightly different image. They are still close to the previously made ELs but there are some subtle differences. They are still the best deal going in the Alpha world. They do require you to modify to put a tripod adapter on and this is a deal breaker for some. I will stand behind the statement that they are extremely good and will be the best binocular for the money for salty old farts and maids who have eyes that are not what they used to be. I had a guy in our store who basically started crying because his teenage daughter had left his ELs on the hood of his truck and he had lost them during a stop looking at sheep. He could notice the difference between the new ones the old ones and he did buy the new ones.

The EL 10X42 and 8.5X42 Legend Binoculars are still amazing. They offer excellent focus controls and are super comfortable for both ergonomics and for glassing for extended periods of time.

 

[Kenn]

I have the 10X42 NLs and love them. I also use Zeiss SFs and a 15X56 SLC. All great binoculars but one thing I notice, and is mentioned on Birdforum, is that they tend to fog up quicker than others. On a cold morning I screw the eyecups all the way in to allow air circulation but that doesn't cure it, it just delays it a couple of minutes.

 

[kaboku68]

I have loved Zeiss products for most of my life. They have a sharpness that I have found that I could use for glassing and often find game that others had to borrow my optics to find. I still am a very solid Zeiss Fanboy. I have only slowing been moving and experimenting with Swaro and Leica glass. The Zeiss image has always been just super sharp.

When I was in Junior High more than 30 years ago my brother and I were allowed to get Weatherby Vanguard Rifles in 300 Win Mag with the scopes of our choice. I thought I was being smart by getting a Tasco 3-9 scope and using the difference on paperback books while my brother who read less went all in with a Zeiss 4X diatyl rifle scope. He was right. It was a wonder. He shot a lot of critters with his outfit. It got ran over by a nodwell and Zeiss sent him a new scope.

I have one of those 4X on a Sako Vixen 222 and it is still wonderful. I wish Zeiss would stop with the Hubble Business and just go back to extremely reliable fixed power scopes that are set and forget and can just kill chit out to 400 yards. I am going to guess that people would beat a path their way if they did that.

Zeiss makes a couple of lines of alpha binoculars. They make the HT line of binoculars that are really made for hunting in low light situations. They are optically a bit better than SLCs and can compare with the ELs and SFs but they do not have the ff technology and instead just really go after light transmission more than any other attribute. HTs are still made and they rock. They are heavy and they aren't as commonly sold as the other Zeiss lines but they shouldn't be discounted.

The Zeiss SFs are an amazing binocular. They are sharp and ergonomic. They are longer than the ELs or NLs but they are super sharp and are soft on the eyes. You can look through them for a long time and just be comfortable. The SFs are a story of Lust and Love. It is the reverse of the Hapsburg story and I think that the story is worth it so people understand the SFs for what they are.

During the age of empires when every empire was seeking to make colonies around the world many of the empires relied on their access to the sea to travel and set up trade relations with other nations. The Hapsburg rulers of the the Austrian-Hungarian Empire had no ocean access but the King had many beautiful daughters who were witty, smart, educated, and were gracious. The King married his daughters to the leaders of many of the different empires and while many of the Kings of the Empires had trade connections through their connections to their colonies tied to the Ocean, the children of these kings were tied to the Austrian empire and Austria-Hungary had trade connections and power through those royal relationships.

Fast forward to near present, a young very gifted optical Austrian engineer who was pivotal on the design and the improvements of the Swarovski EL binocular was at a trade show in Germany. He met a vivacious attractive young lady who he fell in love with. Her last name was Zeiss and she was part of the Zeiss family. Well love conquers all and the young engineer moved to Germany and became part of the Zeiss design team. They incorporated many of the innovations of the EL binocular in the Zeiss SF binocular but there were some differences. The SF binocular was designed for sitting and glassing for extended periods.

The SF binocular does have a bluish tint and while it has a magnesium body it does not seem as heavily armored as the HTs or the Swarovski EL/NL binoculars. They are very easy to focus and have less rolling ball effect than the ELs. They have decent eye relief but not as much as the ELs. As a product, there is very little variation of the qualities of an SF binocular. They are all exceptional. They are easy to focus and have an incredible sharpness. They are the only binocular that can throw a hat in the ring for comparing with sharpness with the NL Pure binocular. Some people complain that the SF design can exhibit flaring. This has been especially connected with the smaller SF 10X32 and SF8X32 binoculars. I have never observed this. The SF binocular is made in Germany and has a 15 year full protection warranty but I have never had a Zeiss product that would not be supported with a full return. They are old fashioned and it might take some time but Zeiss is a top company and they have a top shelf team. I would not feel handicapped by a pair of Zeiss Victory SF 10X42 binoculars for any hunting situation in the whole world.

That being said my eyes have changed during my life and I have grown to love the Swarovski view more than any other brand. That is not to say that I don't love Zeiss. I am just ordering a pair of Zeiss 8X30 SFL binoculars and I look forward to using them and will treasure zeiss products for the rest of my life. They make amazing products.

 

[kaboku68]

So you have rode through this thread so far and are wondering what I really think of the NL Pures.

They are the best binocular ever made. I have not have had the opportunity to look at the 10X32 or 8X32 NL Pures. I do not like the diopter system that is incorporated in the NL Pures. I think that they are less eye glass friendly than the old style ELs may more friendly than the EL Legends 10X42.

The 8X42 NL Pures give an immersive experience that allows you to see more than 180 degrees of field. You can pan with these and notice things in the corners and on the periphery of the field of view and it is crystal clear. They work incredibly in low light. They just pick up images and are sharp, sharper than any of the others that I have mentioned. God forbid that I have a house fire but if I lost everything, I would be calling Joseph Cavacallero to order a new pair of 8X42 NLs. I think for enjoying the outdoors that there is no better model of binocular and the huge field of view and the sharpness that is inherent in the NL Pures comes through best on the 8X42 NL Pures. The visual sharpness of image is a singular feature that people often do not talk about when they are discussing binos. The NLs deliver. In some ways, it reveals a world that is sharper than when when you look at the natural world without magnification. I don't know how those Austrians do it but I imagine that their motto like the eyes of a hawk are actually partially realized in this binocular.

I figure that I am in near my prime at 54 years old- this means that I can still be functional in the backcountry but I hurt more, and I go slower but I am also more realistic and not as dumb- so I get hurt less. Maybe you call this being woodwise but I find that 8X power binos are almost perfect. I think that I mentioned that I got a pair of 8X42 NL pures first and I traded them for a pair of 12X NL pures. I often think that I may have jumped the gun on that decision. However, I really like those 12Xs off of a tripod so I can beat myself up too hard.

The 10X NLs are perfect if you are going to use the NLs in conjunction with a spotter. They still deliver that fantastic image and you don't need the FRP to really see things well. You don't get that immersive view that you get with the 8X NLs but you can't kick that image to the curb either. It is super stable and sharp. The 10X NL Pures resolve images better than the 12X50 ELs with much, much greater field of view. They would be fantastic off of a tripod and the Outdoorsman's bino stud works perfectly without any kind of binocular modification. The 10X NLs can read the sign off of Ranger's Roost on the top of Birch Hill from the front of SW145. This is two miles. The 10X NL pures have great eye relief and can pan well. You can take a pair of the 10X and look through the entire image and you don't have to center the image to see it extremely well. It doesn't have the rolling ball effect of the ELs and has a reduced amount of hand shake compared to other alpha binoculars. I have compared the Zeiss SFs, the Leica Noctivids and the Swaro NL Pure 10Xs directly with each other and the NL Pures are sharper. Some people might prefer the other binoculars but if you get them properly set up for your eyes they truly are fantastic.

The 12X NL Pures are magical. You basically get 14X binoculars that can be handheld yet have the same field of view that you get with an alpha 10X from the other brands. The 12Xs with the FRP elicit the "Holy Puck, or long WOOOW!, or "My Gawd". You can look through them all day. They focus close and will track things at a distance. They have near perfect color and image resolution. They are extremely comfortable and are easy to go to the image. This means that the eye pieces are such that it is easy to mount them and find something that you notice from your naked eye. In fact, they are extremely easy to mount and find things. They fit very well in the hand and offer decent eye relief. The only short fall that they have is that they are expensive. They really come into their own when you add the extra accessories and are much more positively impacted by the FRP and the bino stud but they can take your hunting to another level. I use binoculars all the time and feel that I should know what is the very best and use the best. These are the best. I could go with an EL Range TA or a Leica Geovid Pro but I would rather have a seperate rangefinder and my NLs.

The full size NLs truly revolutionize the sports optics industry. I would like to reiterate that they have a learning curve but once you understand how to use them that they have no peer but Swarovski knows this and charges you accordingly.

 

[Kenn]

As a binocular nut case I really enjoyed the write ups. Thanks Kaboku68

 

[kaboku68]

Secret Spot. Yes. On the NLs there is a part of that strange raccoon ring in the field on NLs but I have found that it appears on a case by case basis and there is variation on this within NL binoculars. The center of the optical field and the outer edge of the field is slightly sharper than that area betwixt and between. It is less noticeable on some binoculars than others and I would caution folks that a really super example of a Noctivid might be better than a Monday Morning hang over special NL. One of the issues with buying alphas is that you have to examine them closely with other binoculars that are alphas, non-alphas and of the same type and be able to look at reference points and use critical examination to figure out one that is the way.
I rue the day when I will not be able to do this. I also note that for some reason that the binoculars that are obtained directly from the manufacturer tend to be "the best" examples of each individual product.

 

[SecretSpot]

Im finding my head position affects this astigmatism even with slight adjustment. With els i use eye cups all the way down and force the eye cup rim into my eybrows looking through them almost through the periphery above my center vision. Im finding to get the best image with my 8x42 NLs i have to look through them very sqaurely to the center of my eye. This isnt the case with my 10x42el or 12x50 el. I find it very interesting that you believe the quality control with even alphas can vary so much also. I do believe there are very good examples of certain binos but its frustrating to think a $3300 binocular isnt 99.9% the same as others leaving the same factory. Given they are the best finest binocular in the world. I suppose Germans like to drink and there is a possibilty some folks at swaro do a poor job at work following a festive night.

 

[kaboku68]

Eye placement and adjustment is key on NLs. Notice that I told OP that NLs are not for the timid. You have to learn how to use them and then they are on a different level. I still would choose them over any other binocular. I am interested on how Leica and Zeiss are going to respond. I am also very curious if Maven will go all in and create a truly alpha binocular. I know that Nikon has some binoculars - the SE Edges- that were considered alphas and then discontinued them.

 

[SecretSpot]

Yeah im also intrested in zeiss' response to the alpha lineup. A flatter sf perhaps, a more aesthetically pleasing body design. I wish i knew an insider that knew an expected date of something new. Im also curious if and when swaro is going to try and top there (A/B/S)TX line of spotters. I have an ATX 85 and i cant picture improvements on that. I enjoy your write ups. Its exciting coming across another optics junky like myself as it seems i rarely meet one in person. I could BS about optics all day.

 

[SecretSpot]

I have the 10X42 NLs and love them. I also use Zeiss SFs and a 15X56 SLC. All great binoculars but one thing I notice, and is mentioned on Birdforum, is that they tend to fog up quicker than others. On a cold morning I screw the eyecups all the way in to allow air circulation but that doesn't cure it, it just delays it a couple of minutes.

I wonder if its because the size of the eyepiece glass. Its probably obvious but youve gotta keep your glass warm. I use an enclosed harness and if its extremely cold ill put my outter layer over my harness.

 

[justin davis]

NL Pures are an amazing bino. The best I’ve ever used. Just amazing to look thru

 

[Spiral Horn]

I wonder if its because the size of the eyepiece glass. Its probably obvious but youve gotta keep your glass warm. I use an enclosed harness and if its extremely cold ill put my outter layer over my harness.

The external fogging is a known issue. Primarily because Swarovski has become dedicated to environmental concerns and has discontinued the use of some compounds and elements their partners consider environmentally unsafe. The NL does not use the excellent SwaroClean external lens coating (Zeiss still uses LotuTec and Leica AquaDura). This, among a few other nagging issues kept me on the fence about buying one (armor deteriorating, focuser stiction). As @kaboku68 points out, the feel, finicky eye position and glare are things owners will just have to get used to - I’ll add external fogging to that list. Having done some comparison of the NLs I personally find them at their best on cloudy days - none better.

As I’m always interested in crisp optics I finally just broke down and ordered an NL 10x42 (was offered a great deal and couldn’t resist). It will be interesting to find out if, over time, I prefer it over my Zeiss Victory SF = we’ll see. But I‘m going into it with eyes-open.

As far as Zeiss deploying a new bino to top the NL. Personally think it was genius to go in the direction of targeting the void left by the retirement of the SLC and simultaneously target the CL line = the new SFL does just that. IMO they hit a home run here. Mid-size and semi-compact was a better bet, and they are selling quite a few in both the 40mm and 30mm.

To date, my favorite Swarovski is the SLC - love the view, handling, etc. I wanted to love the ELs but they just did not work for me. The jury is still out on the NLs. Yes, they are an engineering marvel and push specs to the limits of physics, but how well they suit me in the field under various weather and lighting conditions is the ultimate test.

 

[Spiral Horn]

I find it very interesting that you believe the quality control with even alphas can vary so much also. I do believe there are very good examples of certain binos but its frustrating to think a $3300 binocular isnt 99.9% the same as others leaving the same factory. Given they are the best finest binocular in the world. I suppose Germans like to drink and there is a possibilty some folks at swaro do a poor job at work following a festive night.

Swarovskis are made in Austria, not Germany.