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Swarovski

EL 32mm Swarovision

New in 2012

Review by Diane Porter

The brilliant lightweight

Swarovision 32mm TanOnce in a while, everything seems to  come together to make an exceptionally wonderful product. I think that's happened in Swarovski's new EL 32mm Swarovision binoculars.

It weighs only 20 ounces, half a pound less than the 42mm versions. And it's only 5.3 inches long, a whole inch shorter than the 42mms.

Just as bright as a 42mm binocular

Even though this binocular has 32mm objectives, it is magnificently bright.

A binocular's brightness depends on how much of the light that enters it gets through to your eyes. And that depends on the quality of the glass, the anti-reflective coatings, and its ability to trap or baffle any internal reflected light.

The Swarovision design, with new, ED glass, does a great job. In normal daylight you can't tell any difference in brightness between the 32mm and the larger, 42mm binocular. (For more on this subject, read "How Much Light Gets in Your Eyes.")

All the resolution your eyes can see

I love the experience of putting high-end binoculars up to my eyes and seeing that, magically, everything looks realer than real. Brighter and clearer than regular life. And that's what I found when I looked through the new 32mm Swarovisions. A stunning view, with a super-human sharpness.

I did a resolution test with a doubler behind each eyepiece, comparing the 10x32 Swarovision EL and the 10x42 Swarovision EL. I could not see any difference. They got equal scores. The bigger, heavier binocular did not provide any better resolution.

20mm — what a relief!

I've been carrying a larger, heavier, 10x42 binocular for years, because it was the only way I could get a high-end 10-power binocular with enough eye relief to work with my eyeglasses. But the 10x32 Swarovision EL now has 20mm of eye relief. I think I'm switching. I no longer need to carry the extra size and weight.

Both the 8x32 and the 10x32 Swarovision EL binoculars have 20mm of eye relief. That means that no matter what kind of glasses you have, you'll still get to see the full field of view. (If you're not sure what eye relief is all about, and you wear glasses, learn about it here.)

Wider field of view.

There's another bonus. The 32mm has a wider field of view than the 42mm. Many people are surprised to learn that.

Swarovision El Binocular Model 8x32 8.5x42 10x32 10x42
Field of view at 1000 yards 423 ft 399 ft 360 ft 336 ft

 

 

The wider the field of view, the more immersive the experience. A wider field of view also makes it easier to spot the bird. (If you would like to learn more about field of view, read about it here.)

No reason to carry a full-size binocular any more

When traveling, you may not always want valuable optics dangling from your neck, so it's nice to have a binocular that will tuck into a purse or cargo pocket. You never know when a birding opportunity will arise. Though it comes with a nice case, the Swarovision is so well armored and waterproof that you don't need it. Lens covers are all it needs for protection, even when you tuck it in a pocket.

At just 20.6 ounces, you don't even need a harness. The wide, comfortable neck strap that comes with it is all you need. These new 32mm Swarovision binoculars fulfill the aphorism. Sometimes, small is beautiful, and less is more.

It's available in two colors: sand and green. Personally, I like the sand color best. It's an earth color that blends in well with many natural environments. It's nice to have an option other than black or green.

Included Accessories\Included with the binocular:

Rainguard
Tethered objective lens covers
Neck strap
Case
Snapshot adapter

Price info

Copyright 2012 Diane Porter

 

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Birdwatching Dot Com

Please call us toll free 800-779-7256 for advice on choosing scopes or other birding products.
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Email: dporter@lisco.com
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Copyright 2012 Michael and Diane Porter.