Swarovski EL 8.5x42 Review

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This incredible pair of binoculars set the standard for clarity, brightness, and functional design. We truly feel that this pair is the best of the best. However, the multi-thousand dollar price tag may deter many users. We found that we also love the much more reasonably priced Vortex Viper HD 8x42, which scored almost as high as the Swarovski but costs less than a quarter of the price. The Vortex Viper might appeal to more buyers even though the Swarovski blows the rest of the competition away.

Performance Comparison

Clarity

The glass contained in the Swarovski EL 8.5x42 is top-of-the-line. Swarovski is known for making high-end glass for jewelry and other optics. Just look around the internet forums, and you will hear about the legendary reputation. This is probably one of the reasons Swarovski doesn't produce a low-end line, for fear of eroding their brand when it comes to glass quality. On the ISO 12233 chart test, the 10 zone was clear and crisp, and you could make out the lines. With the fluoride coating — or Swarovision, as Swarovski calls it — there is no chromatic aberration or fringing around the edges. All the vertical and horizontal lines look crisp and clear from edge to edge.

When compared to the other high-end models we tested, the Swarovski EL is about even regarding clarity.

Brightness

We kid you not, one tester's comment on this product was, "I think it's brighter outside looking through these binoculars, which I know is impossible." That is how incredibly bright these binoculars are. They compare and might even be brighter than the many of the ultra-large binoculars on the market designed for stargazing.

There is a relationship between clarity and brightness. Good glass will help with brightness, and the Swarovski EL 8.5x42 has the very best (more about that further down). Like all the other top binoculars, the Swarovski EL 8.5x42 has a multi-coating on all surfaces, which helps to keep the light from scattering and instead focuses it to your eyes once it enters the system. Swarovski calls this coating Swarobright, and according to the company's documentation, Swarovski was the first binocular company to coat glass to reduce light scattering.

Comparing these bins to the other high-end models, the Swarovski EL is just a bit brighter than the other two, as you can see in the picture above. This difference is minor, however, and only really apparent in strict side-by-side comparisons.

Ease of Adjustment

The Swarovski EL 8.5x42 has a hinge at the front of them near the objective lens. This helps keep the lens in alignment, especially with the larger objective lens but allows the center to be open. The movement of both the front and rear hinge is smooth for adjusting the interpupillary distance. The Swarovski EL 8.5x42 almost glides open with just enough pressure that you don't feel like you're forcing them, but not too little so that they flop around.

The focusing knob is just like all other aspects of the Swarovski EL: smooth. The focusing is quick and easy with just enough pressure. The diopter adjusts by pulling out the central focusing knob, which then reveals a graduated scale. Once you're done with your adjustment, just push the knob back in. There is no lock on the diopter adjustment, but it takes a little bit of pressure to pop it out which reduces the likelihood of accidental adjustment.

Construction Quality

Though the Swarovski EL 8.5x42 lacks a thick rubber covering to prevent dropping them and protecting them from impact, all the tolerances are so tight that it might not even help. The weight and feel of the Swarovski EL says "quality" right up to the "made in Austria" on the front hinge. There is no noticeable alignment issue in the barrel. Everything moves with just the right amount of pressure, which we interpret as a sign of good quality control, tolerances, and manufacturing process in general. China is producing some good products for attractive prices these days, but you can tell by looking at the Swarovski EL 8.5x42 that the build quality is top-notch.

Comfort

The Swarovski EL 8.5x42 is a comfortable pair of binoculars to hold. A light-textured rubber coating covers the whole binocular. There are indents for your thumb. It's amazing how much extra comfort these thumb indents add.

The center is open, which makes it easy to grip around the whole barrel of the binocular and can make it easier for larger hands. The eyecups are soft and pull out to provide 20mm of eye relief. The package is completed with a stretch rubberized neck strap that is comfortable around the neck.

Close Focus Range and Field of View

The Swarovski EL 8.5x42 can focus down to 4.9 feet, which was the closest focus range in our test.

The EL 8.5x42 leads the field in almost every category in this review. The one area it didn't dominate was field of view, although the difference was pretty small.

Should You Buy the Swarovski EL 8.5x42?

Because we didn't want this review to sound like fanboy drivel, we secretly hoped the expensive Swarovski EL 8.5x42 would underperform. Who doesn't want to see the underdog win? But alas, the Swarovski EL 8.5x42 earned top rankings in every classification. This pair is almost blindly bright compared to its closest competitors. The glass is crystal clear, and every aspect of the design is perfectly executed, from thumb indents to an open center for a comfortable grip. If you want the best pair of binoculars on the market and you don't mind spending a couple grand for them, then, by all means, buy the Swarovski EL 8.5x42.

What Other Binoculars Should You Consider?

We suspect if you're considering a Swarovski model, then you probably already own some other optics, and you've looked at some of the other models we tested. The truth is most people reading this review want to know how other less expensive binoculars compare to the Swarovski. So, if that's you and you want a really good pair of binoculars, then we suggest looking at some of the other high-performing but less exorbitantly priced products, like the Vortex Viper HD 8x42 or Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42.