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Swarovski EL Revision History? |
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climb.on
Optics GrassHopper Joined: December/26/2014 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3 |
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Posted: December/26/2014 at 10:24 |
New member here. I've been using the site for a while as I research new binos - lots of great info!
I've pretty well settled on a set of Swarovski EL 8.5x42's (non SV versions) for my hunting needs and price range. I've got a line on 2 different sets of EL's I'm trying to decide on. One set has serial #L72.... and the other is #L69.... If I understand correctly, these are 2002 and 1999 model years, respectively. I think 1999 was the first year for the EL's. Please correct me if I am wrong on any of this. My question is are there any differences in coatings or anything else in the pre-Swarovision EL binos? |
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anweis
Optics Master Joined: January/29/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1148 |
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For the first 2 years of production, the EL 8.5x42 had a slower focuser. That is, deemed too slow by bird watchers. I have used it as a birder, and it was too slow for birding in forest where birds hop and jump around. It made no difference whatsoever in the open fields. This focuser would make no difference whatsoever for a hunter.
As far as coatings, they changed slightly and improved about 3 or 4 times, every few years. I have owned and used various models of Swarovski binoculars over the past 20 years. It would take a serious gear head and two hours of side by side comparison to detect the improved coatings from one generation to the next. Now, 20 years difference, yes, i can see a big difference, but just a coating update, no, not really obvious. To be sure, the manufacturer did no advertise or claim improved coatings or anything. You will not see a difference between optics of 2002 and 1999 models. The 1999 had the slightly slower focusing ratio in the gears of the focuser.
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climb.on
Optics GrassHopper Joined: December/26/2014 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3 |
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Perfect. That's just what I was looking for. Much appreciated!
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timberbuck
Optics Apprentice Joined: August/13/2012 Status: Offline Points: 85 |
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I would advise you to hold out of a 2008-2009 EL.
They have the most recent coatings. |
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