I did my EL's a year ago but it was a current model and just a refurbish. I paid around $150 but I think they just cleaned them out and replaced everything that was worn out mechanically and replaced the exterior lenses. My guess is the price difference was for upgrading a few items. I'm not sure why but I have been on a constant search for a pair of old porro prism swaros that I could have refurbished and leave in my truck. I'm in a lot of pawn shops year round looking for deals on guns and I'm sure ill turn up a pair.Just wanted to say that it cost me $300.00 to upgrade my slc 8x30 in August. I feel that it was absolutely worth it. With the upgrade, everything inside and out of the bino is brand new. The swarobright made them considerably brighter, and the colors "pop" now. I decided to have them upgraded because I had just purchased a 1995 slc 7x42, that had been upgraded in 2014, and was impressed by the view, compared to my slc 8x30.