Swarovski NL Pure Binoculars 
Review

by Michael and Diane Porter (2021)

The great new Swarovski NL Pure

For years, the Swarovski EL was one of the top binoculars for birders. In almost every movie that had a birding scene in it, the Swarovski EL was the binocular you saw. It was synonomys with elite birding.

Now there's a new hero in town. It's still a Swarovski. But now it's the new Swarovski NL Pure.

It's stunning from the moment you meet it. We've never seen a binocular with a shape quite like the NL Pure. Mid way along the barrel, the diameter narrows. What is different is that in this binocular, the narrowing is along the diagonal. It's a startlingly pleasant sensation. You feel as if this binocular was made for to fit your hand.

The optics?

Swarovski hasn't explained what they've done to improve glass. But they must have done something. The view is transcendently transparent. As perfect an optical quality as we can imagine.

The field of view is even wider than the comparably sized Zeiss Victory SF binoculars. For example, the 10x42 SF has a 360-foot field of view at 1000 yards, but the 10x42 Swarovski NL Pure offers up 399 feet. More than a 10% increase. 

The forehead rest

We think it's the ergonomic shape that moves 12-power into the usable range for birders. But Swarovski also provides an optional accessory that dramatically improves the stability of the view. It's a surprisingly simple gadget, the Forehead Rest. 

Press the rest against your forehead to stabilize the view. The distance is easily adjustable to fit your face. Many people find that this allows them to have a steady image even at 12 power. (Some people like to get one for their 10x or 8x NL Pure as well.)  

Versions 

Swarovski makes the NL Pure in several versions:
8x32, 10x32, 8x42, 10x42, 12x42

The NL Pure 12x42 is something new. Until now, most elite birders have chosen 8- or 10-power binoculars, in order to get the maximum in stability and wide field of view. However, the 12x42 NL Pures have changed the landscape forever. We were amazed to find that the 12x42 provided a nice, steady view.

See pricing on the Swarovski NL Pures here