Used swarovski pricing

KDtrey5

FNG
Joined
Aug 20, 2020
Messages
20
Someone near me is selling some 2018 10x42 ELs for $1100 (got them down from $1400) and some 2010 10x42 SLCs for $1100 (guessing I could get them down more). I'm buying them for hunting purposes and assuming they are using them for birding. Is that a good price for the ELs? Does their warranty transfer to new owners?

Edit: I just noticed in the picture the ELs have the black metal inside, so they are not the swarovison version. Still worth it?

Second edit: Apparently they have the new ELs AND old els, plus the SLCs. Going to try and grab the new ELs for 1100.

Finale edit: I bought the newer ELs for 1100. They appear to be in great shape. Lots of use, but from an older birdwatching couple, not hunters. I am hopeful that means the mileage (literally been around the world a few times it sounds like) doesn't show as bad as me dragging them through half a dozen hunting seasons.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Jun 7, 2023
Messages
723
Location
Wyoming
I would say that's an excellent price for the ELs. If they're in decent shape, go for it.

Swaro's warranty is excellent. I don't believe they care if you're the first or third owner. They'll refurbish their optics for a small fee of maybe $200 to $300. My buddy does it with his 10x42s every 8 or so years.
 
OP
K

KDtrey5

FNG
Joined
Aug 20, 2020
Messages
20
I would say that's an excellent price for the ELs. If they're in decent shape, go for it.

Swaro's warranty is excellent. I don't believe they care if you're the first or third owner. They'll refurbish their optics for a small fee of maybe $200 to $300. My buddy does it with his 10x42s every 8 or so years.
Thanks for the response! What do you think based on the edit I just made (appear to be the non swarvision version, so likely older than 2018).
 

pods8 (Rugged Stitching)

WKR
Rokslide Sponsor
Joined
Mar 12, 2014
Messages
4,842
Location
Thornton, CO
They need to call/email and release the serial numbers from swaro to you (if they previously registered them) and then they'll be registered in your name. The nice thing about swaro is while they don't nessesarily fix everything for free or just give you a new product they do tend to offer to rebuild/refurbish optics for a reasonable fee. I have an early 2000s set of ELs (irrc) that got all new lens in them for like $250 right before I bought them 5ish years ago.
 
Joined
Jun 7, 2023
Messages
723
Location
Wyoming
For $1,100, I'd still do it if I wanted Swaro glass. Now, if you want the absolute best, get the newest version you can afford.

Truthfully, I would skip Swaro entirely and buy a set of SIG's image stabilized binos for hunting, and I say this as the owner of 8x32 SV and 15x56 HDs. Knowing what I know now, the benefits of image stabilization are impossible to ignore. You will spot more animals with the optically inferior, much less costly, Chinese-built IS binoculars than you will the best Austrian-made NL Pure. It pains me to say that, too...
 
OP
K

KDtrey5

FNG
Joined
Aug 20, 2020
Messages
20
They need to call/email and release the serial numbers from swaro to you (if they previously registered them) and then they'll be registered in your name. The nice thing about swaro is while they don't nessesarily fix everything for free or just give you a new product they do tend to offer to rebuild/refurbish optics for a reasonable fee. I have an early 2000s set of ELs (irrc) that got all new lens in them for like $250 right before I bought them 5ish years ago.
Guessing there is no way for me to call and do that? Does that mean they will basically be upgraded to the swarovision?
 
OP
K

KDtrey5

FNG
Joined
Aug 20, 2020
Messages
20
For $1,100, I'd still do it if I wanted Swaro glass. Now, if you want the absolute best, get the newest version you can afford.

Truthfully, I would skip Swaro entirely and buy a set of SIG's image stabilized binos for hunting, and I say this as the owner of 8x32 SV and 15x56 HDs. Knowing what I know now, the benefits of image stabilization are impossible to ignore. You will spot more animals with the optically inferior, much less costly, Chinese-built IS binoculars than you will the best Austrian-made NL Pure. It pains me to say that, too...
I really want to buy more Leica glass, but harder to find local and used. Not interested in SIG glass (I have looked through it). This is a spontaneous purchase, not a need.
 

pods8 (Rugged Stitching)

WKR
Rokslide Sponsor
Joined
Mar 12, 2014
Messages
4,842
Location
Thornton, CO
Guessing there is no way for me to call and do that? Does that mean they will basically be upgraded to the swarovision?
You call to register it in your name, IF the prior owner had it registered they need to verify the serial number is released to you is all. If they never registered it then that isn't an issue.

I don't think it will be swarovision, it'll just be fresh lens/coatings. There might be a more expensive option to totally overhaul them, dunno. Mine aren't swarovision (to my knowledge) but they're nice and crisp, I have no complaints and happy to know that when the lens get scratched over time I can get them overhauled again for an affordable price.
 

WRO

WKR
Joined
Nov 6, 2013
Messages
3,441
Location
Idaho
For $1,100, I'd still do it if I wanted Swaro glass. Now, if you want the absolute best, get the newest version you can afford.

Truthfully, I would skip Swaro entirely and buy a set of SIG's image stabilized binos for hunting, and I say this as the owner of 8x32 SV and 15x56 HDs. Knowing what I know now, the benefits of image stabilization are impossible to ignore. You will spot more animals with the optically inferior, much less costly, Chinese-built IS binoculars than you will the best Austrian-made NL Pure. It pains me to say that, too...

The Fov is the limiting factor on the image stabilization glasses. I’ve ran them both.

They serve a purpose, but they aren’t the end all be all.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:

WRO

WKR
Joined
Nov 6, 2013
Messages
3,441
Location
Idaho
The els are a steal, same glass as the current els.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
OP
K

KDtrey5

FNG
Joined
Aug 20, 2020
Messages
20
You call to register it in your name, IF the prior owner had it registered they need to verify the serial number is released to you is all. If they never registered it then that isn't an issue.

I don't think it will be swarovision, it'll just be fresh lens/coatings. There might be a more expensive option to totally overhaul them, dunno. Mine aren't swarovision (to my knowledge) but they're nice and crisp, I have no complaints and happy to know that when the lens get scratched over time I can get them overhauled again for an affordable pric

You call to register it in your name, IF the prior owner had it registered they need to verify the serial number is released to you is all. If they never registered it then that isn't an issue.

I don't think it will be swarovision, it'll just be fresh lens/coatings. There might be a more expensive option to totally overhaul them, dunno. Mine aren't swarovision (to my knowledge) but they're nice and crisp, I have no complaints and happy to know that when the lens get scratched over time I can get them overhauled again for an affordable price.
Got it. Thank you!
 
OP
K

KDtrey5

FNG
Joined
Aug 20, 2020
Messages
20
The Fov is the limiting factor on the image stabilization glasses. I’ve ran them both.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
So which did you prefer? I've used my cousins NLs and they were very nice.
 

WRO

WKR
Joined
Nov 6, 2013
Messages
3,441
Location
Idaho
So which did you prefer? I've used my cousins NLs and they were very nice.

I currently run the NL. 12x42s and like them, but for the money I would buy those 10’s all day long.

I’m going to switch up to running 8’s and 14s next year. FOV is hard to ignore in medium sized country..
 
Joined
Dec 2, 2017
Messages
1,194
Location
Northeast Pa
I have the Swaro and Leica bins in various powers. The Leica Ultravid HD and HD+ are every bit as good as the latest EL's. I do like the view of the Leica's much better (no field flattener lenses), just as sharp and the colors are more vivid. You can typically get the Leica's for less since they are less popular with hunters, who might not know what they are missing, but much more popular with the birders who do know what they offer. However, they are a bit harder to find since the birders seldom sell what works.
 
Joined
Jun 15, 2016
Messages
2,861
I have the Swaro and Leica bins in various powers. The Leica Ultravid HD and HD+ are every bit as good as the latest EL's. I do like the view of the Leica's much better (no field flattener lenses), just as sharp and the colors are more vivid. You can typically get the Leica's for less since they are less popular with hunters, who might not know what they are missing, but much more popular with the birders who do know what they offer. However, they are a bit harder to find since the birders seldom sell what works.
Believe I have seen some comments elsewhere about game being easier to spot due to the warmer Leica color palate. Do you agree with this? I had some Trinovid HDs that were solid but didn’t seem different from my wife’s Zeiss conquest HDs. I haven’t looked through the higher end stuff though. Maybe this only comes into play with Ultravid and Noctovid.
 

Davyalabama

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Feb 23, 2023
Messages
111
Your swaro warranty will cover the same glass, they don't upgrade it. I've read on many different forums the reasons for buying xyz binoculars or not to buy xyz. The swaro warranty seems to be top notch as well as their products over Leica and in most circumstances Zeiss, lately. The ELs even without swarovision are still great glass. You did well, don't go try to what if the buy now. You have great glass, does it fit your eyes and what you want? Don't look at the rest. We all know if we start looking, or we start nitpicking what we have, we know we will be spending more money. If you do this, just throw the money down on NLs, do not look at anything else, just go buy them, there isn't much else anywhere close, except maybe the Zeiss, but then you will worry about the warranty in 10 years. If you give a mouse a cookie.
 

WRO

WKR
Joined
Nov 6, 2013
Messages
3,441
Location
Idaho
The 12X NL Pure is tough to beat. For a one-optic solution, they sure are nice. But I'm with WRO on using 8X and 15Xs. To me, that's the way to go with traditional binos.

I’ve been running them for 2 years, kept my EL 12x50s to compare too.. the NLs are just that much better. I had my hunting parter, who’s a die hard 15’s guy compare my NLs to his SLCHD on our last trip out. His comment was, the NL’s were just better Like looking through your own eyes compared to the SLCHDS. He’s picking up a set of 14s this winter.

I just want a set of 8’s for the big FOV
 
Top