Which Swarovski binoculars - 8x25 or 10x25

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Ivan, the Swaro 25s are small and lightweight. They will fit in a large pocket and weigh ~350g. 32s and 42s are much larger and heavier. I assume you will use them in conjunction with photography gear? If so, get the 8x; it will give you a bigger picture and you'll be able to find birds more easily. Then, you can get a closer, image-stabilized, look with your camera and a 400-600 lens, which are the equivalent of 8X and 12X binoculars. I have owned a pair of 8X20 Zeiss pocket binoculars for over 10 years. I use them mainly when riding a bicycle. Since I progressed into photography subsequent to becoming a birder, I have Zeiss 8x42s and Swaro 8x32s, which I can use all day with minimal strain. I find pocket binoculars better for occasional use. Zeiss has since replaced the 8x20 with 8x25, which you might want to compare with the equivalent Swaros.
 
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ChrisM said:
The weight of todays equipment is not that of the equipment of yesteryear though.
E.g. the Swarovski NLpure 12x42 is 840gr.
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Great. The point still remains...for whatever reason, if I'm hesitant to bring a piece of gear with me, it's time to start thinking about selling and/or replacing it.
 
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Ivan Rothman said:
Steve uses the Swarovski 8x25 CL Pocket binoculars and I was thinking about getting them.
Swarovski also makes a 10x25 CL binocular. Exact same weight and size as the 8x25
I plan on using them for both birds and mammals.
I know that the 10x25 gives more reach, but at the expense of more shake and less light.
I would appreciate any advice on which one to get.
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My husband bought the 10x25 CL and I use them for Wild Horse Photogrsphy. They are perfect. I can see the horses very far away just perfect and clear to figure out which band or horse it is . Excellent product.
 
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I love my 8.5x42 EL's; had them for years. They've been very badly treated over the last 18 years or so, and still work to 100% perfection. Never had any condensation or fogging, and they really do buy you time at the start or end of the day. Can't fault 'em.
 
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Ivan Rothman said:
I'm sure they are great binoculars but my problem is the size and weight. I travel with a pair of Z9s and an assortment of lenses including the 600mm f4 TC. So any binoculars that I take have to be small and light weight.
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Hi Ivan I have been using Leica Ultravid 8x32 HD for many years and love these bino, They fit in the pocket of my photography vest. Love Leica for their warranty. I recently sent them my bino and they did a fantastic job at maintaining them.... free of charge. My husband is a Swarovski fan, he owns a whole collection of Swarovski Bino/spottingscope including the EL 8X32 bino. I would say I prefer my leica when I am in the field, they are a bit shorter than the Swarovski, fit better in the pocket and I feel like with their rubber coated finish they can take more abuse than the Swarovski, that is off course just an impression as the Swarovski are also top quality. I would say Leica and Swarovski are both great options, putting them in your hands and your vest pocket before purchasing can assist your decision. I should have said that I do travel with 2 cameras, an assortment of lenses including 600 prime lens too.
 
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Another vote for the Swarovski 8x25 CL. I've had mine for about 10 years now and they'll probably be the last pair I ever buy. I hardly used my Nikon Premier 8x42 ever since. The full size binos were just too heavy when also carrying camera equipment. The 8x25 comes with a small pouch that I keep on the belt of my camera pack, that way I have easy access to them. I never felt that I was compromised with going with a smaller bino. The image sharpness and color of the Swarovski makes up for the larger diameter of full size binos.

Ivan Rothman said:
Steve uses the Swarovski 8x25 CL Pocket binoculars and I was thinking about getting them.
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When I hunted I had Swarovski 8x56 and Leica 10x42 Geovid binoculars. neither were pocketable, but for my eyes the Leicas were better for eye strain when using them for long periods of time. The Leica were a bit smaller too.
 
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I’m coming from a birding perspective, and I’d stick with 8x. Better field of view, and brighter. You’re definitely on track with Swarovski! I have two pairs of their binoculars and spotting scope, they are all excellent. If you don’t mind just a little bigger and more expensive you might check out the 8x30s.
 
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I prefer 8x, because of better image stability. For daylight x 20 or x 25 is perfect. For twilight or dusk, I have an Fujinon 8 x 42 (years ago, I used a 7 x 50, what was perfect in dark conditions, but the fungus killed it)
 
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I realise this is a little off topic from Ivan's original post but the subject of image stabalised binoculars was discussed. I have been a birder since childhood and have been using binoculars for 50 years+. Since I could afford it, I have always used the best quality bins I could, in my case mainly Leica Ultravids. I have also used Swarovski and Zeiss and to be honest there is little between them, they are all great quality and a once in a lifetime (Almost!) purchase. Which they should be at the price! I have never been tempted with other brands, some of which I am sure are great. I am generally sceptical of change and new ideas.
I also tend to travel heavy, with way too much camera gear! for that reason my Leica 10x32 Ultravids have been my companion for some years.

I have been on a couple of Svalbard trips in the recent past, on small ships. The guides on these ships have been using Kite image stabalised bins. These have mainly been used to spot polar bears at long distance. There are several versions and I have been able to test these at some length. I have been amazed at how good they were and it became a mission during the several weeks I was using them, to provide good reasons not to have them. (I could clearly pick up polar bears over a mile away that would show on Leica 10x42.)

I recently bumped into the Kite agent who knew I had been using them on the ships. After some discussion he offered me a decent discount if I wanted to trial them in different circumstances. After doing a good deal of trial and research I opted for the 16 x 42 version with the newly applied version 3 software. (Although these are not the most recent model.) I was going for the 12 x 42 but the stabilisation was so good I thought I would try the 16x. I viewed these as an extra tool when sea watching or from a boat, as well as other locations I would have used a scope before ditching it because of weight, 10 years ago.

I can honestly say these things are an absolute game changer! Yes they are bigger than I am used to, (No heavier than most good 10x42.) yes, they will probably be inferior in low light. They are weather sealed and gas filled but I don't expect then to be as good as Leica. However, the advantages are incredible. I can hand hold the 16x with way more stability than a pair of 8 x 32. The image quality is excellent. The battery life is over 100 hours and they cut out when tilted down. I really think I will be using these for some time. Situations such as being in a hide / blind :) for some time, would be perfect.

I am off to the Kgalagadi / Kalahari next week, when I will be in a large 4x4 with plenty of space. I intend to give them a thorough work out and try and find faults.
I am not trying to sell these but I would recommend having a look at them with an open mind. When I flick the switch to engage the stabisation, it makes me smile every time.
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Ivan Rothman said:
I'm sure they are great binoculars but my problem is the size and weight. I travel with a pair of Z9s and an assortment of lenses including the 600mm f4 TC. So any binoculars that I take have to be small and light weight.
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If you are looking for excellent quality in a compact and lightweight package, and you aren’t wed to the idea of owning a pair of Swarovskis, you should look at the Zeiss SFL line. I have a pair of 8x40s and prefer the lower magnification of the 8x and the larger exit pupil.
 
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