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SLC neu vs current optics

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    Posted: February/10/2018 at 14:22
Hello guys. I'm considering a pre-HD swarovski SLC 10x42 in very nice shape.  It seems to have all the features that my old 2006 EL's had. 

But It's now a decade later and there have been many optical improvements.  Is it wise to buy a 10 year old bino for serious money when there might be something even better out there for less. 

This will be for hunting.  My old EL's could pick out a deer nose sticking out from behind a tree at 500 yards, so I want to have that again.  I also want brightness in low light.   Any of the birding or star watching features are unimportant to me.

For comparison,  I have a pair of CL 8x30's which are nice, but the image is slightly hazy compared to the top line swaros.  Also have zen ray ED3's and the Meopro 10x42 HD, which I feel is a substantially lesser image than my old EL's. 

I'm not interested in Vortex, Leupold, or Nikon.  I've looked through these guys and don't think they are in the swaro ballpark; in fact I think my CL or Meopro is superior to them.  But for my purposes, am I losing anything by going with a 10 yr old, $1300 optic compared to some other new bino? 

thanks for any input.   
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote anweis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/10/2018 at 15:57
The SLC neu was easily on par optically with the ELs.
I had a SLC neu and an EL at the same time for a while, both 8x30/32. I preferred the optics of the SLC. The problem was that it had the focuser on the wrong end.
Just get a good pre-owned EL 10x42. You miss them. You liked them.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote probably Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/10/2018 at 16:50
Originally posted by anweis anweis wrote:

The SLC neu was easily on par optically with the ELs.
I had a SLC neu and an EL at the same time for a while, both 8x30/32. I preferred the optics of the SLC. The problem was that it had the focuser on the wrong end.
Just get a good pre-owned EL 10x42. You miss them. You liked them.

the SLC neus seem to be more available than the older EL's, and a little cheaper, but I would certainly take a nice set of EL's if I saw them for a good price.  My concern is buying yet another pair of binoculars and realizing afterwards that I could have done better for the same price.

clarity of image and low light are the concerns that I want to address with what I hope will be my final set of binos.  differentiating shades of color on a birdwing is not important at all.   Which makes so many binocular reviews online useless to me, for my needs. 

So I just wonder if I'm doing the right thing with an older EL or (non HD) SLC neu for my whitetail-hunting-only use.   Or would something like the Kowa blow the doors off it, for the same price?  Or even the Meostar?  My meopro HD (which I thought would be the equal of the old EL's) does not impress me. 

Also, I forget if my EL's were fogproof and moisture resistant? Is the SLC neu?  Hunting in falling snow is challenging for many binoculars. 

thanks for any and all info. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Grubbs Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/10/2018 at 19:30
I had the 10x42 SLCneu and thought it was very nice. I also have the Meopta Meostar 10x42HD and think it is a notch above the SLCneu.  I had my Meopta side by side on a tripod with my SLC HD, both  10x42's, and I can see very little difference between the two.  If you are really wanting to stick with a Swaro, watch ebay, as you can occasionally find the SLC HD's for around $1300 or so.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote gdpolk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/11/2018 at 08:00
The newer ELs are a little better optically than the SLCs. The emphasis is "a little" and honestly for a whitetail hunter the difference is not significant enough to make the difference in seeing the animal vs not or counting tines to verify shooter vs not.

In all honesty though, I'm currently using the 8x30 CL companions for hunting and couldn't be happier with them in that role. They certainly aren't as nice as the truly top end glass but they don't have to be for my use. I can locate and identify animals before/after legal shooting light in heavy timber on cloudy days: that's more than enough light transmission. I can ID antler tines vs sticks at 500yds, count tines or estimate a turkeys beard length across a field, and pick out squirrels in brush over 100yds away: that's good enough contrast, clarity, and resolution. The 8x has a wider FOV which is really helpful for timber hunting and the glass is good enough that I don't feel I need the 10x for seeing what I need to within 500yds, which is the farthest that I would shoot in the field anyway. They are SMALL and LIGHT which is great for bowhunting and/or packing in, both of which I do regularly. And they are just big enough that I can hold them steady for long glassing times and operate them with gloves on, unlike the truly compact or pocket class of binoculars. Your needs and preferences may vary but to me the CL Companion is, all things considered, the best optic on the market for hunting (particularly if your a mobile bowhunter). I wouldn't want to pack the added bulk/weight of full size binoculars for hunting unless I were going to do some long range mountain shooting at goats or moose or something and I NEEDED a rangefinder feature in my glass. Then I like both the ELs and Leica rangefinder binoculars about the same.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote WJC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/11/2018 at 20:03
@font-face { font-family: "Cambria Math"; }@font-face { font-family: "Calibri"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; }.MsoChpDefault { }div.WordSection1 { }

I’m a stick in the mud when it comes to binoculars because I want folks to be able to choose for themselves which path they will choose—fact or fiction.

Over the past 50 years, there have been hundreds of “improvements” in optical/binocular technology to cause observers to go weak in the knees. However, if EACH “improvement” offered only a ¼ percent increase in image quality 100-millimeter objectives could be housed in 30mm cells, would provide photographically flat, aberration-free images, would weigh as much as 4 postage stamps, and would allow the observer to see events days BEFORE they happen.

In addition, even some experience observers claim to be able to see things that can’t be seen by humans. For example:

From page 34 of BINOCULARS: Fallacy & Fact

“Frequently, when an observer suggests one manufacturer’s AR coatings are noticeably superior to those of another brand of similar quality, the difference he or she is seeing probably relates more to baffling, prism shields, edge blackening, size and position of the field stop, knife-edge on that stop, prism type, slotted prisms (in Porro prism instruments), configuration of the eyepiece, and other considerations than coatings alone.”

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mike650 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/11/2018 at 20:27
I have a pair of 7x42 SLC nue's and they're fantastic, right up there optically with my 10x42 EL's. Colors pop looking through them, I just hate the focus wheel of the SLC's, the EL's are more hunter friendly when focusing and lighter too.
“A hunt based only on trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.” – Fred Bear
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote probably Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/11/2018 at 20:56
Originally posted by mike650 mike650 wrote:

I have a pair of 7x42 SLC nue's and they're fantastic, right up there optically with my 10x42 EL's. Colors pop looking through them, I just hate the focus wheel of the SLC's, the EL's are more hunter friendly when focusing and lighter too.

thanks for the help, guys. 

My 2007 circa EL's were fantastic.  The image was clear, sharp, and just jumped out.  Everything I read claims that the SLC's from the same time period were every bit the equal of the EL's, optically.  But the problem is, I'm remembering glasses I have not held for 8 years. 

So now, I'm wondering how they would compare side by side with the newer technology out there.  Would my old EL's (or the slc neu) be inferior to a new Meostar?  Are the newest generation SLC's so far and away better that I'd be foolish to buy a ten year old "neu" model for only a few hundred less?

I often read the comparisons on the allbinos site.  They rate the 10 year old Neu model better than the current generation Loco.   So have binoculars gotten worse since then or are they comparing apples to oranges? 

Again, I want that white of the deer nose and antlers to pop out at me like a flag from 400 yards on an overcast day as it stands in thick cover, with an image that is as sharp and clear as humanly possible. Just like I remember my old EL's doing.  I don't need the latest tech that brings out various shades of blues in a birdwing.

@koshkin or any other optic tester - what are your thoughts on an apples-to-apples comparison between the SLC neu and something current?   
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote probably Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/11/2018 at 21:38
Originally posted by gdpolk gdpolk wrote:

The newer ELs are a little better optically than the SLCs. The emphasis is "a little" and honestly for a whitetail hunter the difference is not significant enough to make the difference in seeing the animal vs not or counting tines to verify shooter vs not.

In all honesty though, I'm currently using the 8x30 CL companions for hunting and couldn't be happier with them in that role. They certainly aren't as nice as the truly top end glass but they don't have to be for my use. I can locate and identify animals before/after legal shooting light in heavy timber on cloudy days: that's more than enough light transmission. I can ID antler tines vs sticks at 500yds, count tines or estimate a turkeys beard length across a field, and pick out squirrels in brush over 100yds away: that's good enough contrast, clarity, and resolution. The 8x has a wider FOV which is really helpful for timber hunting and the glass is good enough that I don't feel I need the 10x for seeing what I need to within 500yds, which is the farthest that I would shoot in the field anyway. They are SMALL and LIGHT which is great for bowhunting and/or packing in, both of which I do regularly. And they are just big enough that I can hold them steady for long glassing times and operate them with gloves on, unlike the truly compact or pocket class of binoculars. Your needs and preferences may vary but to me the CL Companion is, all things considered, the best optic on the market for hunting (particularly if your a mobile bowhunter). I wouldn't want to pack the added bulk/weight of full size binoculars for hunting unless I were going to do some long range mountain shooting at goats or moose or something and I NEEDED a rangefinder feature in my glass. Then I like both the ELs and Leica rangefinder binoculars about the same.

My 8x30 CL's are great for being a very small, lightweight bino that gives good quality images.  I'd probably rate them in the same optical ballpark as my zen ray ed3's which are much bigger and heavier, and which tend to fog up far easier.   But in adverse conditions, my CL is still limited.  It's not true alpha glass, and sometimes the image I get is not clear enough when I see deer in heavy cover under less than ideal conditions.  

So if I do most of my hunting from a treestand anyway, and limit the still hunting to the mile walk back and forth, I think the larger binos will fit what I need better and allow me to pick out the racks quicker, rather than straining and focusing on something that turns out to be a doe with branches or smaller buck, as the rest of the group disappears and the big one gets away. 

I picked up a meopro 10x42 HD, thinking that with all the improvements, it would give an image very close to my old EL's (based on other people's on-line comments) but I just do not find that to be true.  And I'd really like to avoid another mistake.  Buying 5 or 6 k worth of binoculars and then keeping the best one isn't really an option, so I'm just hoping to do my homework and save disappointment.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote probably Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/11/2018 at 23:51
okay guys, thanks again for all the input.

I eventually found some direct comparisons on the web, between the old swaros and the meostar HD's.  So I guess the neus are out of the running, for their higher price. 

and I read some comparisons between the meostar HD's and the latest SLC's.   


now to find a store which has both and test ergonomics.  


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote anweis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/12/2018 at 20:40
probably:
you are trying to save a few hundred dollars on the purchase of a luxury, high performance, high longevity, high subjectivity, instrument, Yet, clearly, you can afford any binoculars.
Put it this way: whatever binoculars you purchase, it will last 20 years and will end up costing you about $100/year or less. That is 5 times less than you are paying for your phone right now. A great well chosen binoculars will bring you satisfaction every time you use it. Ten years after the purchase the price will be irrelevant.

First of all, my advice would be to get a 8x, rather than 10x. Second, get the top dog model and be done with it.

Get the  8.5 EL SV. Done.

 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote gdpolk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/12/2018 at 21:00
Based off of the above comments, I'd just skip the used market all together and pick up one of the following and use it for the rest of your life knowing that it will be the creme of the crop as of today and perform at above 95% of anything else made within your lifetime for the rest of your life:
  • No rangefinder, 8.5x
    • https://www.swarovskioptik.com/hunting/el-42-c20011001/el-8p5x42-p5222897
  • With rangefinder, 8x
    • https://www.swarovskioptik.com/hunting/el-range-c20010201/el-range-8x42-p5191943

There are other binoculars out there similar in quality to these two, but the color rendition of Swaro's is superb in the field and their customer service is pretty fantastic to boot.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote NDhunter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/12/2018 at 21:46

Originally posted by anweis anweis wrote:

probably:
you are trying to save a few hundred dollars on the purchase of a luxury, high performance, high longevity, high subjectivity, instrument, Yet, clearly, you can afford any binoculars.
Put it this way: whatever binoculars you purchase, it will last 20 years and will end up costing you about $100/year or less. That is 5 times less than you are paying for your phone right now. A great well chosen binoculars will bring you satisfaction every time you use it. Ten years after the purchase the price will be irrelevant.

First of all, my advice would be to get a 8x, rather than 10x. Second, get the top dog model and be done with it.

Get the  8.5 EL SV. Done.

 

Probably:

I am quoting anweis, as I agree with his thoughts.  I have experience with several Swarovski's

including the 10x42 SLC, the NEU, and the 8.5x42 EL and the current Swarovision.

The older 10x42 SLC is very good, and it is very bright, and the swarobright versions will do

very well compared against any of the newer midrange models. 

The EL model has the nice open frame handling which I like and is a step up. 

If you have $1K to spend, then don't settle for a Meopta, they are just  midrange, the EL is a

step up, and you would enjoy the better ergos. and brightness of the Swarovski models.

That includes a later model SLC, and Neu.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote probably Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/12/2018 at 22:05
thanks guys, I was actually gravitating towards the 8x42 but possibly in the SLC model.  

It is difficult to find the technical history of swarovski online in order to get a breakdown of innovations and improvements over the years, but I did just come across a dutch website which, when translated, had a link to van Ginkel's technical reports. Unfortunately the report ends around 2011 with the EL SV's and the SLC HD's, so whatever improvements were made (strap connections and relocation of logo??) since then is not discussed. 

http://www.houseofoutdoor.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/HISTORY-AND-QUALITY-DEVELOPMENT-OF-SWAROVSKI-OPTIK-1935-TO-THE-PRESENT-TIME..pdf
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote NDhunter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/12/2018 at 22:11

You can do research and then you can come to what works for many.

In the midrange , the Zeiss Conquest HD models are very good. If you like

low light brightness, these models rise to the top. 

I am not trying to confuse you, I am just commenting about binoculars I use.

I don't play favorites.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/12/2018 at 23:23
Look at the high end Leica’s and Zeiss too, don’t just be stuck on swaro’s. Different eyes prefer different brands. Try to take them outside the atore to compare. It makes a world of diff. Ergonomics are huge as well
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mike650 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/13/2018 at 07:13
Originally posted by mike650 mike650 wrote:

I have a pair of 7x42 SLC nue's and they're fantastic, right up there optically with my 10x42 EL's. Colors pop looking through them, I just hate the focus wheel of the SLC's, the EL's are more hunter friendly when focusing and lighter too.


We were talking older SLC’s, I should have added that both my Swaro binos are older models around the time they introduced Swaroclean (hydrophobic coating).... ‘06 or ‘07? They’ve greatly improved both lines since then.

+1 check out Leica too.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/13/2018 at 11:05
To my eye, Leica Noctivid is the best binocular on the market today.

ILya
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote probably Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/16/2018 at 13:06
thanks for all the info guys. I decided to go with a new 10x42 EL.

I might pick up an older SLC at some point. an 8x50 or something, but for now the EL should do everything I need a binocular to do. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mike650 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/16/2018 at 14:08
The old 10x50 SLC nue are awesome... though heavy for field work (walking n stalking)
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