Info request from a beginner (Habicht SL 7x50) (1 Viewer)

[falaxane]

Hi, I've been bird watching for about a year now and today I purchased a second-hand old habicht SL 7x50. It seems to be very little info and reviews on these older binoculars, so I was wondering what I should expect? For now I've only used an old zenith 8x40, which I found at my parents place.

 

[KC Foggin]

Hi there and a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum
We're glad you found us and please join in wherever you like.

 

[NDhunter]

Another welcome to the forum. The SL is a porro prism design and you can find out more about
this model if you go back to page 58 on the Swarovski forum. I have the 8x56 SL, and it offers a nice view
but newer models have many improvements.
Maybe Henry Link will reply, he has much experience with the SL.
Jerry

 

[henry link]

Maybe Henry Link will reply, he has much experience with the SL.

There is a duplicate post that I replied to here:

Binocular bargains

as of 6-09, there was a sightron (open box) blue sky II 8x32 in the adorama "used binoculars" section for $89 and a vanguard 10x42 EDIV good condition for $179 in the same section.... No affiliation (or even a buy for that matter) with adorama....Pat ED IV is in lower condition and the...

www.birdforum.net

 

[John A Roberts]

Hi falaxane,

The thread that Jerry refers to in post #3 is at: Swarovski SL 7 x 50

And to expand on Otto’s comments in the above, and Henry’s in the link in post #5:

The last 7x50 dates from early 1992 *
So it has a mildly but noticeably yellow image, associated with Swarotop multi-coating from that time
it has much lower transmission than we expect from more modern optics **
and it more generally has the optical qualities associated with the Habicht Porro prism optics

It has hard plastic eyecups with only 13 mm eye relief (so likely a problem for those who wear spectacles)
and a 'clicky' focusing action due to the way the mechanism is geared


* and the last last rubber eyecup version marked 7x50B, dates from 1997
** for comparative details, see post #8 at: https://www.birdforum.net/threads/second-hand-habicht-porro’s-to-use.391231/

And for a lot more historical and technical detail see: Swarovski SL porro models

- - - -
More generally, many find a x50 binocular too large and too heavy for birding. So the majority preference is for a x42/ 40 or even a x32/ 30 model.
The SL 7x50 is a physically large x50, due to its unique construction; and it weighs 38 oz/ 1080 g, so 10 oz/ 280 g or more heavier than many x42 choices.


John

 

[Pinewood]

Hello Falaxane,

I had one, some years, ago, but sold it. Typical of many 7x50 binoculars, it did not have a very wide view. Indeed, I thought that field of view was narrower than an even older Leitz 7x50. I may write that mine was well armoured.

Stay safe,
Arthur Pinewood

 

[falaxane]

Thanks everyone, I bought it for 320$ in a auction format on swedens ebay. It sounds like it wont fit my purpose of birding but will try it out.

What does marine purposes really mean? Except that it is 7x50 it feels like most binoculars dont depend on climate.

If I keep it, what type of binocular would you guys recommend me to add to this?

 

[Binastro]

Marine binoculars are usually waterproof.
Often independent eyepiece focus.
Sometimes with internal compass.

7x50 gives easy eye placement and good low light level performance.

Usually used from small boats to large ships.

Regards,
B.

 

[Pinewood]

Marine binoculars are usually waterproof.
Often independent eyepiece focus.
Sometimes with internal compass.

7x50 gives easy eye placement and good low light level performance.

The easy eye placement, or better the large exit pupil, is rather useful from an unstable ship's deck.

Usually used from small boats to large ships.

Regards,
B.

Stay safe,
Arthur

 

[falaxane]

Marine binoculars are usually waterproof.
Often independent eyepiece focus.
Sometimes with internal compass.

7x50 gives easy eye placement and good low light level performance.

Usually used from small boats to large ships.

Regards,
B.

How good is the low light levels perfomance compared to newer pairs? Is this something sought for when birding in the dawn/dusk?

 

[Binastro]

$320 sounds good.

Not sure a new 7x50 would be much better at that price.

Assuming your 7x50 is very clean inside.
Also well collimated.

Regards,
B.

 

[Richard D]

I suspect you'll find them very usable, even if the coatings aren't the latest. I like 7x50s for stationary woodland birding and a lot of people like them for coastal watching when you're buffeted by wind.

 

[falaxane]

I suspect you'll find them very usable, even if the coatings aren't the latest. I like 7x50s for stationary woodland birding and a lot of people like them for coastal watching when you're buffeted by wind.

Thanks! Looking forward to try them out now! I was wondering if they are particular handy at dawn/dusk for like owl watching as well?

 

[Binastro]

If your eye pupils reach 7mm the binocular should be good for owl watching.

I am not sure if there are any 7x56 binoculars for 8mm pupils.

Tripod mounted 10x80s were used by young sailors in very dark skies.

B.

 

[henry link]

The coatings may not be the latest, but I remember the SLs as having respectably high light transmission. In my 1991 catalogue Swarovski claimed 99.8% transmission per glass to air surface from 480-580 nm for the Swarotop multi-coating of the time and thanks to the simple optics and cemented prisms there were only 8 such surfaces in the 7x50. Transmission over that somewhat narrow bandwidth should be comfortably above 90%.

 

[falaxane]

The coatings may not be the latest, but I remember the SLs as having respectably high light transmission. In my 1991 catalogue Swarovski claimed 99.8% transmission per glass to air surface from 480-580 nm for the Swarotop multi-coating of the time and thanks to the simple optics and cemented prisms there were only 8 such surfaces in the 7x50. Transmission over that somewhat narrow bandwidth should be comfortably above 90%.

Thanks, Im not that knowledgeable about the purpose of low/high light transmissions for binoculars so I appreciate this info. If I understand this correct, this means that they will be handy at dawn/dusk, but what I don't understand is why marine binoculars are designed in this way considering you will have a very bright surrounding at sea most of the times? 😆

 

[henry link]

I suggested the 7x50 SL as a good marine binocular only because its disadvantages of very slow focusing and poor close focus are mostly irrelevant in a situation where almost everything of interest is distant, focus hardly needs changing and the big exit pupil is easy to align with the eye on a moving boat. For me a 7x50 is not the first choice for dawn and dusk because I'm 74 and my pupil only dilates to a little more than 5 mm in the dark, so a 7x50 becomes effectively a 7x35. Under dark conditions a 10x50 is better for me or for anybody whose maximum pupil size is well below 7mm.

 

[Pinewood]

I don't understand is why marine binoculars are designed in this way considering you will have a very bright surrounding at sea most of the times? 😆

Hello Falaxane,

The exit pupil of 7.1mm provides a large cone of light, so that the target is easy to keep in view, as the ship rocks and pitches. The advantage of the light gathering ability of a 50mm objective is usefulness at night, as well as at dawn and dusk.

Stay safe,
Arthur

 

[John A Roberts]

Hi Henry (post #15),

The SL line was in production from 1980 to 1998, and all had Swarotop three layer anti-reflective coatings.
However at the start, Swarotop was still a work in progress in terms of transmission efficiency,
especially when compared to Swarovski’s DV dual layer alternative.

See three graphs from Gijs showing the substantial improvement over time, in post #26 at: 3 New 8x30 Reviews by Holger Merlitz

And compare the DV coated Habichts from 1958 to 1980 (and also see the Swarotop coated ones from pre-2009 to date),
in post #73 at: Why are those dang Habicht's so BRIGHT!


As can be seen with the SL’s:
• some 8x56 units (available from 1984 to 1998) got to around 90% transmission for most of the range, so bright even by current standards, but;
• an early 10x40 (1982 to 1992) maxed out at between 55 and 60%!

Since the 7x50's span the period the period 1983 to 1992, just how bright falaxane's will be . . .


John

 

[Foss]

Thanks, Im not that knowledgeable about the purpose of low/high light transmissions for binoculars so I appreciate this info. If I understand this correct, this means that they will be handy at dawn/dusk, but what I don't understand is why marine binoculars are designed in this way considering you will have a very bright surrounding at sea most of the times? 😆

Marine binoculars are also put to work at night locating and identifying buoys, boats, harbor entrance channels, etc...often among a confusing array of background lights.