News from Zeiss - SFL 50 (8 Viewers)

[binomania]

Thanks to the collaboration with Bignami, official italian distributor of Zeiss products, I had the opportunity to review the brand new Zeiss SFL 10x50. With this new series — also available in 8x50 and 12x50 formats — Zeiss has created, in fact, “a new 42 mm”. Why do I say this? Because, despite being a 50 mm, it is compact and light like binoculars with a smaller diameter, while offering a superior field of view compared to most competitors in the same range. In this first video I will show you the complete unboxing, with all the standard accessories, and a comparison in the field with some binoculars from the competition. Prices starting from 2250 euros. Enjoy!

 

[Isthatascratch?]

12x50 looks compact and light!

 

[binomania]

Hi, I own a SF 8x42, a Swarovski EL 8.5x42, but I tell you that in the last birdwatching sessions I'm always taking the 10x50 with me. It has the positive aspects of both formats, 42 mm and 50 mm. It doesn't have an excellent optics like the SF but I'd say it's very close. I invited a couple of birdwatchers for a reportage that I'll do with them next week. We'll see what they think... in the field.

 

[Isthatascratch?]

Hi, I own a SF 8x42, a Swarovski EL 8.5x42, but I tell you that in the last birdwatching sessions I'm always taking the 10x50 with me. It has the positive aspects of both formats, 42 mm and 50 mm. It doesn't have an excellent optics like the SF but I'd say it's very close. I invited a couple of birdwatchers for a reportage that I'll do with them next week. We'll see what they think... in the field.

I always hover over that size but have an EL 12x50 for the reach..and NL 8x42.

In between a Habicht 10x40 …but no big eye roof prism.

Nice review!

 

[John A Roberts]

Some basic data from Zeiss: ZEISS SFL 8x50 | Feel the intensity. Not your equipment.

 

[Isthatascratch?]

Some basic data from Zeiss: ZEISS SFL 8x50 | Feel the intensity. Not your equipment.

View attachment 1638841

View attachment 1638843

Ooooer

 

[Thotmosis]

Another presentation

 

[William Lewis]

Idle speculation? SFL50?

 

[Bill Atwood]

8x and 10x are same price as the 42mm. $1,799.

 

[adhoc]

SFL comparisons (weights rounded to x5):

8x40 8.0° 5.7” 640g 10x40 6.6° 5.7” 640g
8x50 7.5° 6.3” 855g 10x50 7.0° 6.3” 870g

 

[Dennis Mau]

The SFL 50mm looks sweet. Where do you buy them? Great idea by Zeiss! I would probably buy the SFL 10x50. They are going to give the NL 10x42 and NL 12x42 some competition. The SFL 50mm is about the same weight as the NL's but take in about 40% more light, have easier eye placement, more durable armor, a better case and are considerably cheaper. If you can get a bigger aperture at the same weight and size, you are always better off. A bigger aperture makes way more difference than coatings and glass in the performance of a binocular. The hunters are going to absolutely love the SFL 12x50's for western hunting. Brilliant move by Zeiss.

 

[GrampaTom]

Thinking back to summer 2020, (when I started here), folks had deposits down, were anxiously waiting the then coming SF 32 and anxiously discussing that. Swarovski dropped the NL bomb, first 42s, but within a couple months(?) the 32s. The dialogue changed. Some cancelled their SF32 order and switched, even before NLs delivered. Zeiss had to be... ah... unhappy.

Now we have NL 52s having been announced a few months ago. Prices sorta moderated compared to the 42s, as Swaro presumably believed it was experiencing some price resistance - $3449 vs $3000. Weight and length of the 1052 at 36oz/6.9" vs NL1042 at 30oz/6.2". And then this. SFL 1050 - 2250 Euros/$2500, weight/length - 30.8oz/6.3". Indeed a 50 at 42 size/weight. Zeiss gets even?

Cool!

 

[NatureLover123]

Thinking back to summer 2020, (when I started here), folks had deposits down, were anxiously waiting the then coming SF 32 and anxiously discussing that. Swarovski dropped the NL bomb, first 42s, but within a couple months(?) the 32s. The dialogue changed. Some cancelled their SF32 order and switched, even before NLs delivered. Zeiss had to be... ah... unhappy.

Now we have NL 52s having been announced a few months ago. Prices sorta moderated compared to the 42s, as Swaro presumably believed it was experiencing some price resistance - $3449 vs $3000. Weight and length of the 1052 at 36oz/6.9" vs NL1042 at 30oz/6.2". And then this. SFL 1050 - 2250 Euros/$2500, weight/length - 30.8oz/6.3". Indeed a 50 at 42 size/weight. Zeiss gets even?

Cool!

Thats competition. Good for us to have more innovation and a bunch of good options.

 

[Bill Atwood]

"The SFL 50mm looks sweet. Where do you buy them?"

Outdoorsmans and Sport Optics lists them as backordered. No sign of them and B&H yet.

 

[Richard D]

Thinking back to summer 2020, (when I started here), folks had deposits down, were anxiously waiting the then coming SF 32 and anxiously discussing that. Swarovski dropped the NL bomb, first 42s, but within a couple months(?) the 32s. The dialogue changed. Some cancelled their SF32 order and switched, even before NLs delivered. Zeiss had to be... ah... unhappy.

Now we have NL 52s having been announced a few months ago. Prices sorta moderated compared to the 42s, as Swaro presumably believed it was experiencing some price resistance - $3449 vs $3000. Weight and length of the 1052 at 36oz/6.9" vs NL1042 at 30oz/6.2". And then this. SFL 1050 - 2250 Euros/$2500, weight/length - 30.8oz/6.3". Indeed a 50 at 42 size/weight. Zeiss gets even?

Cool!

Certainly a welcome addition, but if as Binomania suggests optically they're below SF level, they're not going to compete with the NLs. For those who value weight saving over maximum optical quality though they could be a good choice. 10x50 is a nice format - the old Zeiss Porros in 10x50 were deservedly very popular back in the day.

 

[MiddleRiver]

Certainly a welcome addition, but if as Binomania suggests optically they're below SF level, they're not going to compete with the NLs. For those who value weight saving over maximum optical quality though they could be a good choice. 10x50 is a nice format - the old Zeiss Porros in 10x50 were deservedly very popular back in the day.

As someone who owns both SF and SFL, let me just say that 'below SF' should be qualified. Not as flat, wide, etc... so perhaps specs a little less impressive but still a great bino with advantages (over SF) of its own.

 

[Dennis Mau]

Certainly a welcome addition, but if as Binomania suggests optically they're below SF level, they're not going to compete with the NLs. For those who value weight saving over maximum optical quality though they could be a good choice. 10x50 is a nice format - the old Zeiss Porros in 10x50 were deservedly very popular back in the day.

If you don't absolutely have to have the huge FOV and sharp edges of the NL 10x52 or 12x52, the SFL 10x50 would be a good lower priced and lighter weight option, and it would still give you all the advantages of the 50mm aperture. It looks like Zeiss is marketing them for hunter's and the three formats are very popular for hunting.

 

[Scott98]

Certainly a welcome addition, but if as Binomania suggests optically they're below SF level, they're not going to compete with the NLs.

Of course they are. I'd much rather have a 10x50 SFL over a 10x52 NL at the same price, let alone half the price. This will eat away a huge chunk of Swaro's 52mm NL sales.

One of the US retailers says they're expected 5/2. I've been waiting for a top-quality 10x50 for years. I was hoping for a larger SF but this will be perfect. The only thing that could stop me from buying them is PFAS on the lenses. If Zeiss is still spraying them with some of the world's most toxic chemicals, I'm out.

 

[Scott98]

Looks like Zeiss is marketing these in the "hunting" niche.....10x50 is a classic size for astronomy

https://www.zeiss.co...50-hunting.html

 

[Viraj]

I'd much rather have a 10x50 SFL over a 10x52 NL at the same price, let alone half the price.

I wonder why you prefer SFL 10x50 than NL 10x52. Is it because of the low weight of SFL or the better handling of glare? I hope SFL 10x50 handles CA better than the SFL 10x40. Unfortunately, due to the CA issue, I had to sell my SFL 10x40. NL 10x32 is much better in that regard.