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Where premium quality meets exceptional value. ZEISS Conquest HDX.

EL 8.5x42 vs EL 10x42 (1 Viewer)

Those things cannot be measured, just subjective opinion, another example of arrogance.
How many panes of glass do you look through when doing your comparisons.
Jerry
I didn't acutually measure sharpness.
I say whether it is better then other bino (mostly with similar size and price and almost always in same magnification)in comparison.
as I have done in every review I wrote.

and what is panes meaning?
 
I sure hope this is right, as I have no way of knowing.

I typed in “pane of glass”.

유리창
yes I searched and get the same word. 'window'
I just wondered wether there are different usuage like last time I get confused in meaning of 'chime'
so I have to ask him back about the exact meaning he used the word
 
and what is panes meaning?
A pane is a single sheet of glass. So in colder climates a "window" can be double or even triple pane, with space in between for insulation.

I still wonder why the NL was not made in 8.5 as opposed to 8x.
Or why it has such a slow focuser? To me this says it's not primarily designed as a birding binocular. But now one model has to do it all.
 
Hi All, getting back to the original question I asked at the start of this thread :) - just wanted to write a quick update here after I have actually tested the binos in the field (and arrived at the results that i did not expect). Caveat - I only express my opinion as a birder and not as an optics specialist - hence these just my personal impressions.

So I contacted the local Swarovski representative and asked him whether I could test the EL 8.5x42 in field conditions. He said that I could, but he also suggested that I have a look at the NL Pure model (he had 8x32 available). I was a bit skeptical (thinking he might be just pitching a pricier model), but why not give it a try?

So we went out and tested 3 bino models: my current Nikon Monarch 7 (I have the older, recently discontinued model), Swarovski EL 8.5x42 and Swarovski NL Pure 8x32. We tested in a city park, viewing distance of 50-100m, sunshine with scattered clouds.

My impressions were as follows:

1. The difference between NL Pure 8x32 and EL 8.5x42 turned out to be MUCH bigger than i had expected. NL Pure model was much brighter, offered a wider field of view (which i didn't think i really needed - but when you try it is really nice) and overall viewing experience was considerably more comfortable;
2. EL 8.5x42 had this "rolling ball effect" what you scan the area at mid-long-distance. This was not really comfortable (although I guess this is something one could get used to);
3. Amazingly, the difference between EL 8.5x42 vs my current Nikon Monarch 7 appeared to be not as big - and definitely not as noticeable as between the two Swarovski model. Yes, the Swarovski EL model did "perform" a bit better - but, in my humble view, not good enough to justify the 4-times price difference (I bought my Nikon Monarch 7 for about USD 450 in the USA back in 2017).

Takeaway from the above - I am now considering two alternatives:

1. Buy the NL Pure 8x42 model (despite it being really expensive, in my view);
2. Stick to my current Nikon Monarch 7 binos - which, I have to give it to them, are a truly high-quality product for their price!

The option I will not be considering any longer is buying EL 8.5x42 model. I just do not see much sense in paying a really big amount of money for binoculars that are so obviously inferior to the other model from the same manufacturer.
 
@Shumi - if you like the Monarch 7 and want to upgrade for any reason, Nikon HG is worth checking out. It has flat field, good FOV, eye relief and is one of the lightest 8x42 bins out there - Nikon MONARCH HG 8x42 | Nikon Binoculars
Not to be a spoiler , because I do think the MGH is an incredible bino for the price point , I doubt anybody who can’t see a big optical difference between a Monarch 7 and an EL will definitely not see any difference from the M7 to a MHG.
 
I just do not see much sense in paying a really big amount of money for binoculars that are so obviously inferior to the other model from the same manufacturer.
If that is your experience, than certainly buy a NL.
I have had experience with a lot of EL and NL models, but never felt that the EL is really inferior, except for the smaller field of view and the ergonomics.
 
It all depends on what you are looking for.

Are you looking for performance, or are you looking for “value”? Value is defined as “not as good, but significantly cheaper”.

Your money, your choice. This is why some folks never buy nice things. The anguish over spending the money is greater than the joy from having and using the nice thing.

Good luck.
 
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@Shumi - if you like the Monarch 7 and want to upgrade for any reason, Nikon HG is worth checking out. It has flat field, good FOV, eye relief and is one of the lightest 8x42 bins out there - Nikon MONARCH HG 8x42 | Nikon Binoculars
Thank you for this suggestion. I never thought of this model. I will see whether I can find a local dealer that has it available and would let me test in field conditions (not that easy as I discovered today) - and will then give it a try.
 

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