New Swarovski 7x Binocular (2 Viewers)

[Stevenkelby]

I'm going to buy the orange ones when they're available.

What materials are they made of?

Is the silver part aluminium?

Are the barrels plastic? Looks like a rubberised texture to the barrels?

 

[ZDHart]

ZHDHart, I totally agree with what you say about the superiority of UV HD 8X32 over Curio, I always said that you can't leave children to do men's work.

Regarding Curio versus Trinovid 8x20, we have to think that 7x21 is a completely different animal from 8x20. Nearly 15 percent more field of view, the pupil wider by 20 percent in diameter which means much more brightness, and smaller magnification factor which means more image stability. All in all, you might be pleasantly surprised by the new Curio.

binomaniac... you're absolutely right. These curios are no doubt vastly superior to my Trinovid 8x20s. Especially so, as I bought the Trinovids way back in 1982! Dramatic advancement has been made in binoculars since my 8x20s were produced. And they were Leitz, back then. So there's that too! (Not all that great, especially by today's standards.)

I am sure that I would very much appreciate the optical quality and attributes of the new curio; it's just that as I use binoculars, I would personally not find very many opportunities where I would choose them over the UVHD+ 8x32 model. (Unless I began going to the symphony, once again!)

I won't say I'll never have a pair of these! The two-toned orange curios sure do look inviting!

 

[binomaniac]

Only now I noticed that I accidentally slipped an extra H to ZDHart, I apologize.

 

[ZDHart]

Only now I noticed that I accidentally slipped an extra H to ZDHart, I apologize.

Hey binomaniac... as they say "it ain't nothin'". In fact, I didn't even notice it until I read your last message and had to look for it. No apology necessary! Cheers from sunny Arizona.

 

[binomaniac]

I just talked on the phone with a friend from Denmark who had the opportunity to test the new Curio 7x21 in a store. My friend has an impressive collection of over 140 binoculars. He told me he was shocked by the quality of the image. Very relaxing for an exit pupil of only 3 mm, very clear on the edges of the visual field. He said he could walk around with that binoculars on his eyes all day. So I asked is it worth 800 euros? he replied that it was worth even 1200. He said that in his opinion it seems to be the best pocket made so far. So what can I say, it seems that Swarovski did it again !!!. I can't wait to read more reviews and especially comparisons with Zeiss Victory 8x25 and Leica UV 8x20.

 

[Stevenkelby]

Wow that's a great first impression, glad to hear that! 🍻

 

[ZDHart]

I just talked on the phone with a friend from Denmark who had the opportunity to test the new Curio 7x21 in a store. My friend has an impressive collection of over 140 binoculars. He told me he was shocked by the quality of the image. Very relaxing for an exit pupil of only 3 mm, very clear on the edges of the visual field. He said he could walk around with that binoculars on his eyes all day. So I asked is it worth 800 euros? he replied that it was worth even 1200. He said that in his opinion it seems to be the best pocket made so far. So what can I say, it seems that Swarovski did it again !!!. I can't wait to read more reviews and especially comparisons with Zeiss Victory 8x25 and Leica UV 8x20.

That's certainly a positive impression. I'm looking forward to more incoming reviews. Though I would likely seldom use a pair of Curios, I can see that I might well enjoy having a pair for the occasional use. They certainly look enticing. Though not quite like-for-like, comparisons to the Pocket Victory will be especially interesting.

 

[pm42]

I just got mine. First impressions:

• they are as small as the UV 8x20 but much more confortable: wider FOV, bigger exit pupil, better 3D pop, slightly colder
• the are warmer than the Zeiss Victory 8x25 and very close when it comes to the image. I'll have to compare them more to know if I keep the excellent Zeiss or if the Curio is good enough
• the focuser is precise, smooth, maybe a little bit too smooth
• diopter correction is not the best feature: no lock, no center point and no gradation. The Leica is clearly the best of the 3 when it comes to this
• the case is useless: too big for such small binoculars
• I would like some objective caps as I will keep them in my photo bag or in a pocket most of the time. I may reuse the one I 3D printed for the UV or reprint some

 

[Swedpat]

pm42:

Thanks for sharing your experience.
I am considering getting either Swarovski 7x21 or 8x25. 7x21 format is very attractive. But according to the pictures it seems to have a more glossy surface than 8x25, and looks slippery. How do you perceive the grip?

By the way: I find it ridiculous that the 7x21 is announced to be designed by a famous designer. It's a very simple and boring design compared to the 25mm models...
Nothing wrong with the simple design, but not anything which needs a famous designer to do! I think it looks pretty much as the 8x20.

 

[pm42]

I am considering getting either Swarovski 7x21 or 8x25. 7x21 format is very attractive. But according to the pictures it seems to have a more glossy surface than 8x25, and looks slippery. How do you perceive the grip?

My feeling is that the Zeiss has the better grip followed by the Leica and then the Swaro. This is not a problem for me but your mileage may vary.

 

[Aotus]

I just got mine. First impressions...

Seeing them side by side like that make me appreciate the design of the curio, which I was imagining to be more brick-like. The leica and zeiss, which I have admired before, look clumsy and unrefined in their design by comparison to the petite swaro curio. I would worry that the tiny thing would be too fiddly for my average sized man hands to enjoy using, pretty as it may be.

 

[ZDHart]

Seeing them side by side like that make me appreciate the design of the curio, which I was imagining to be more brick-like. The leica and zeiss, which I have admired before, look clumsy and unrefined in their design by comparison to the petite swaro curio. I would worry that the tiny thing would be too fiddly for my average sized man hands to enjoy using, pretty as it may be.

Your photo @pm42 is quite illustrative. By comparison to other small bins, it looks quite tiny.

Having hands a bit on the large side... it would seem that they might be somewhat fiddly. Armor with good stiction would help some. The size may be suitable in some situations, of course (I'm thinking an evening at the symphony), if for some reason one isn't able to, or chooses not to, go with something a bit larger, like the VPs. All depends on an individual's unique needs and preferences, really.

 

[pm42]

By comparison to other small bins, it looks quite tiny.

The picture may be misleading: the size is really the same as the Ultravid.

All depends on an individual's unique needs and preferences, really.

Indeed and btw, the Ultravid 8x20 and Trinovid 8x20 (I have both) are still perfectly usable for an evening at the symphony or as "forget in a bag just in case" binoculars.

 

[ZDHart]

The picture may be misleading: the size is really the same as the Ultravid.


Indeed and btw, the Ultravid 8x20 and Trinovid 8x20 (I have both) are still perfectly usable for an evening at the symphony or as "forget in a bag just in case" binoculars.

Yes, my "elderly" pair of Leitz Trinovid 8x20s (which I bought in the early 1980's) were my "go to" symphony binoculars of the day. By today's standards, I'd say the view with them isn't all that wonderful. I'm sure the new Curios optics and coating beat the old Leitz 8x20 by a mile.

If the curio is about the same size, I'd say that they certainly could be a very reasonable substitute, size-wise.

 

[Swedpat]

Compared to a 8x20 I really see the advantages in most situations: very much the same size but a more stable image and noticeable brighter in dim conditions.
I think I need to try it out. And I read somewhere that the eyepieces are the same as in Swaro's 8x25. If that's correct it means the eye relief is longer than probably all 8x20s.

 

[mwhogue]

I just got mine. First impressions:

• they are as small as the UV 8x20 but much more confortable: wider FOV, bigger exit pupil, better 3D pop, slightly colder
• the are warmer than the Zeiss Victory 8x25 and very close when it comes to the image. I'll have to compare them more to know if I keep the excellent Zeiss or if the Curio is good enough
• the focuser is precise, smooth, maybe a little bit too smooth
• diopter correction is not the best feature: no lock, no center point and no gradation. The Leica is clearly the best of the 3 when it comes to this
• the case is useless: too big for such small binoculars
• I would like some objective caps as I will keep them in my photo bag or in a pocket most of the time. I may reuse the one I 3D printed for the UV or reprint some

My feeling is that the Zeiss has the better grip followed by the Leica and then the Swaro. This is not a problem for me but your mileage may vary.

PM, thanks for your observations and the picture.

In terms of both optics and handling my current order of preference is: VP 8x25, UV 8x20 BR, SW 8x25, SW 8x20. My 7x21 has not yet shipped. When it arrives I will compare all of them. Based on the input here, the 7x21 may replace the UV 8x20 as the no. 2 preference and as the go to for the rare situations where even the VP would be intrusive.

Mike

 

[ZDHart]

PM, thanks for your observations and the picture.

In terms of both optics and handling my current order of preference is: VP 8x25, UV 8x20 BR, SW 8x25, SW 8x20. My 7x21 has not yet shipped. When it arrives I will compare all of them. Based on the input here, the 7x21 may replace the UV 8x20 as the no. 2 preference and as the go to for the rare situations where even the VP would be intrusive.

Mike

Mike... perhaps the VP 8x25 is "The King" that Swaro seeks to "unseat" with the Curio? Unless the form-factors are too dissimilar to directly compete... in which case the UV 8x20.

I'm looking forward to the comparos.

 

[mwhogue]

Mike... looks like the VP 8x25 is "The King" that Swaro seeks to "unseat" with the Curio?

ZD, Yes that's an entirely possible outcome in terms of my personal preference (but probably not Swarovski's marketing strategy). In fact I was tempted to speculate to that effect in post 116 but didn't want to get too far ahead of the actual comparisons.

The handling of the Curio will not be as good as the VP based on my use of the identical size and design SW 8x20 -- except for the relocation of the focus wheel on the Curio to the ocular face of the bridge which will almost certainly improve handling. So for me it will come down to whether the overall optical performance of the Curio 7x sufficiently compensates for the inferior handling.

Mike

 

[ZDHart]

ZD, Yes that's an entirely possible outcome in terms of my personal preference (but probably not Swarovski's marketing strategy). In fact I was tempted to speculate to that effect in post 116 but didn't want to get too far ahead of the actual comparisons.

The handling of the Curio will not be as good as the VP based on my use of the identical size and design SW 8x20 -- except for the relocation of the focus wheel on the Curio to the ocular face of the bridge which will almost certainly improve handling. So for me it will come down to whether the overall optical performance of the Curio 7x sufficiently compensates for the inferior handling.

Mike

Understood. Handling is a really big deal. Along with optical performance. And, how the eyepieces meld with the face. And the armor texture creates "stiction" with the fingers and palms. Many important elements must combine to make up a superb, winning binocular design!

We are staying tuned!

 

[Pepitogrillo]

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