HillCountryMan
FNG
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2025
- Messages
- 3
Hey guys,
I have been purchasing and testing out numerous optics in order to find a new pair of chest binos. I've narrowed it down to the Swarovski EL Range TA's in either an 8x32 or 8x42.
I don't have the ability to purchase both at the same time to try them side by side, and I can't find any stores around me who have the EL Ranges in stock to see them in person, so the only option is to simply order a pair and try them out.
As such, I ordered a pair of EL Range TA 8x32s that came in a few days ago and I like a lot of things about them. The size is really nice, the buttons work well, the image looks good, and the overall build quality seems to be pretty solid. That said, I did run into a couple of issues with them right out of the gate.
One issue I found was the rangefinding capability. I had a really hard time breaking the 1,000 yard mark with these binoculars, and they are rated for 1,640. I also had a very hard time getting them to give me ranges on simple things, like all of my neighbors' large trash bins that are anywhere from 15-80 yards away. I did read that sometimes a new battery can remedy many of these issues, so I bought a new CR2 battery and after swapping the battery out, I was able to get much better ranges. In fact, I can now consistently hit the side of a building that's 2,022 yards away, thus passing the expected max range, so that made me feel a lot better about them. They still have a hard time hitting green trash bins whereas my 10 year old Vortex Ranger 1,300 hits them every time, but it is a little better with that now after the battery swap. Still not where it should be, but passable.
The other thing I noticed immediately that is more concerning to me was how stiff the focus wheel is. Going from right to left isn't so bad, but going from left to right is way stiffer than any of the other optics I've tried so far. I've never handled a pair of binoculars with a focus wheel that's anywhere near as stiff to turn as these. It bothers me so much that I find myself not wanting to focus on something unless I absolutely have to since the focusing experience is so poor. I've never owned a pair of Swaros before, so I don't have any past experience to compare this to. But either way, it's been an unenjoyable experience thus far when it comes to the focusing mechanism.
I called and spoke with Swarovski about it a couple days ago and they felt that perhaps something was wrong with the pair I received and that I should return them in exchange for another pair. Before I do that though, I want to make a decision on whether to send these back for another pair of 8x32s, or to go ahead and try the 8x42s.
For context, I'm a bowhunter primarily, but I do put in for rifle hunts every year and would like to have a pair of RF binos with ballistics to help me take longer shots on animals like aoudad, elk, mule deer, or even whitetail in places like west Texas. Nothing over 600 yards (my personal ethical cap), but up to that distance would be nice. To help me do this, I plan to put a Swarovski Z5i+ 3.5-18x50 BT Riflescope (4W-I) on my 7mm Mag to give me access to a ballistic turret to use alongside the EL Range TA binoculars.
When it comes to the 8x32 vs 8x42s, I really like the size of the 8x32s. I haven't been able to hold a pair of 8x42 EL Range TAs in hand (or even the 10x42s), so I don't have experience with those to compare the 8x32s to. But, the 8x32s feel great either way.
That said, I do understand that the 8x42s will give me better lowlight performance (4 mm vs 5.25 mm exit pupil diameter), as well as a slightly wider FOV (419 ft vs 405 ft). The field of view advantage probably isn't that noticeable, but the lowlight potentially could be. I also wonder if the eye box will be more forgiving on the 8x42s with the larger exit pupil diameter, or if that won't really make a difference. The 8x32s aren't bad, but I do feel they can be a little picky at times.
Swarovski also told me on the phone that the 8x32s (and 10x32s) do not have Swarovision or the HD elements that are found in the 8x42 and 10x42s, but according to them that wouldn't be super noticeable except for at lowlight, or potentially when looking at the edges of the frame (no field flattener inthe 8x32 or 10x32 bins). The 8x42s could, according to them, also have slightly better overall color / contrast, but again, they claim not a huge difference. Laslty, the 8x42s have a larger claimed overall max RF range with a little bit more of a tight beam past 1,000 yards.
To summarize, it looks like the 8x42s are a better binocular in almost every way, but you are gaining over a half pound in weight to get them, plus some extra height and width compared to the 8x32s (according to the specs I've read online). I don't know though without seeing them in person what to make of the size differences, or how much of a difference the lowlight will be, or even how much of a difference I'll see when it comes to the overall image differences between the two. It's really hard to know any of this when I'm having to buy blind and can't compared side by side.
As such, I wanted to ask for your experiences. Do you have a pair of the EL Range TAs? If so, what pair do you have? Do you like the 42s vs the 32s, or vice versa? I'm looking for some guidance on what to do when I send my pair back which it looks like I need to do due to the tight focus wheel (unless that's normal).
Thanks for your input!
I have been purchasing and testing out numerous optics in order to find a new pair of chest binos. I've narrowed it down to the Swarovski EL Range TA's in either an 8x32 or 8x42.
I don't have the ability to purchase both at the same time to try them side by side, and I can't find any stores around me who have the EL Ranges in stock to see them in person, so the only option is to simply order a pair and try them out.
As such, I ordered a pair of EL Range TA 8x32s that came in a few days ago and I like a lot of things about them. The size is really nice, the buttons work well, the image looks good, and the overall build quality seems to be pretty solid. That said, I did run into a couple of issues with them right out of the gate.
One issue I found was the rangefinding capability. I had a really hard time breaking the 1,000 yard mark with these binoculars, and they are rated for 1,640. I also had a very hard time getting them to give me ranges on simple things, like all of my neighbors' large trash bins that are anywhere from 15-80 yards away. I did read that sometimes a new battery can remedy many of these issues, so I bought a new CR2 battery and after swapping the battery out, I was able to get much better ranges. In fact, I can now consistently hit the side of a building that's 2,022 yards away, thus passing the expected max range, so that made me feel a lot better about them. They still have a hard time hitting green trash bins whereas my 10 year old Vortex Ranger 1,300 hits them every time, but it is a little better with that now after the battery swap. Still not where it should be, but passable.
The other thing I noticed immediately that is more concerning to me was how stiff the focus wheel is. Going from right to left isn't so bad, but going from left to right is way stiffer than any of the other optics I've tried so far. I've never handled a pair of binoculars with a focus wheel that's anywhere near as stiff to turn as these. It bothers me so much that I find myself not wanting to focus on something unless I absolutely have to since the focusing experience is so poor. I've never owned a pair of Swaros before, so I don't have any past experience to compare this to. But either way, it's been an unenjoyable experience thus far when it comes to the focusing mechanism.
I called and spoke with Swarovski about it a couple days ago and they felt that perhaps something was wrong with the pair I received and that I should return them in exchange for another pair. Before I do that though, I want to make a decision on whether to send these back for another pair of 8x32s, or to go ahead and try the 8x42s.
For context, I'm a bowhunter primarily, but I do put in for rifle hunts every year and would like to have a pair of RF binos with ballistics to help me take longer shots on animals like aoudad, elk, mule deer, or even whitetail in places like west Texas. Nothing over 600 yards (my personal ethical cap), but up to that distance would be nice. To help me do this, I plan to put a Swarovski Z5i+ 3.5-18x50 BT Riflescope (4W-I) on my 7mm Mag to give me access to a ballistic turret to use alongside the EL Range TA binoculars.
When it comes to the 8x32 vs 8x42s, I really like the size of the 8x32s. I haven't been able to hold a pair of 8x42 EL Range TAs in hand (or even the 10x42s), so I don't have experience with those to compare the 8x32s to. But, the 8x32s feel great either way.
That said, I do understand that the 8x42s will give me better lowlight performance (4 mm vs 5.25 mm exit pupil diameter), as well as a slightly wider FOV (419 ft vs 405 ft). The field of view advantage probably isn't that noticeable, but the lowlight potentially could be. I also wonder if the eye box will be more forgiving on the 8x42s with the larger exit pupil diameter, or if that won't really make a difference. The 8x32s aren't bad, but I do feel they can be a little picky at times.
Swarovski also told me on the phone that the 8x32s (and 10x32s) do not have Swarovision or the HD elements that are found in the 8x42 and 10x42s, but according to them that wouldn't be super noticeable except for at lowlight, or potentially when looking at the edges of the frame (no field flattener inthe 8x32 or 10x32 bins). The 8x42s could, according to them, also have slightly better overall color / contrast, but again, they claim not a huge difference. Laslty, the 8x42s have a larger claimed overall max RF range with a little bit more of a tight beam past 1,000 yards.
To summarize, it looks like the 8x42s are a better binocular in almost every way, but you are gaining over a half pound in weight to get them, plus some extra height and width compared to the 8x32s (according to the specs I've read online). I don't know though without seeing them in person what to make of the size differences, or how much of a difference the lowlight will be, or even how much of a difference I'll see when it comes to the overall image differences between the two. It's really hard to know any of this when I'm having to buy blind and can't compared side by side.
As such, I wanted to ask for your experiences. Do you have a pair of the EL Range TAs? If so, what pair do you have? Do you like the 42s vs the 32s, or vice versa? I'm looking for some guidance on what to do when I send my pair back which it looks like I need to do due to the tight focus wheel (unless that's normal).
Thanks for your input!
