PETE WARD

"WELCOME TO MY OUTDOOR WORLD"



GEAR REVIEW

"SWAROVSKI  SLC NEW 7 X 42 B , BINOCULAR "
 

 


 

Kindermann Canada Inc.
3-361 Steelcase Road West
Markham, ON Canada L3R 3V8
 

http://www.kindermann.ca

e-mail info@kindermann.ca

Tel (905) 940-9262

Fax (905) 479-9755
 
More Swarovski Reviews  
Swarovski SLC new  8X30  Review
Swarovski EL 8.5 X 42 & DOUBLER
 
Swarovski EL 8 x 32Review
"Swarovski 8x20 Pocket Compact" Review 
Swarovski 8 x 30 Laser RangefinderReview
Swarovski SLC 8x56 Binoculars Review
 
Review SLC 7x42 Binocular
The 2007 Swarovski review is covering another wonderfull binocular that I am enjoying very much.
 Like the other models I have reviewed and used these are special. The brightness and clarity is outstanding. Ergonomicaly they fit like they were made to order.
 

 
I have been using the SLC 7x42 for several months and have diligently subjected them to all the  weather Alberta could muster up. It should not surprise you to read they are still perfect. This fall I  used the 7X42 while hunting and I expected to see some temperatures in the -30 range, however this did not happen ,and I have no doubts that they would perform just as good at the -30c as they did at -25c.Temperature can be important,as I have had binoculars that became so stiff in cold weather you could not focus them.
 
I have been using several Swarovski models over the past few years and in that search for a perfect binocular the SLC 7X42 has to be considered a strong candidate. We all have our personal choices of what we want or need, so there is not any one binocular to suit everyone. My requirements will difer from many others, so you need to choose a model that best fits your personal needs.  I know that there is a Swarovski Binocular that will be suited to any needs or wants you have .
 
Like all of the Swarovski Binoculars I have previously reviewed these are crystal clear form the center of the picture out to the edges. Often while I am using these I will have someone tell me that their binoculars are just as good and cost much less. Naturaly I offer to let them look for themselves and make the comparison . After switching between the brand they have and the Swarovski I have yet to hear them repeat their claim.  I also get the oportunity to make the comparison at this time and I know why they keep quiet. There has always been a noticable diference. The brightness and super clear optics are easily seen. The ergonomics are easily felt. If you wear glasses like I do the screw in/out eye piece is wonderfull to have unlike the often used rubber fold down eye cups used by other brands.
 

I do not mean to say that a lesser binocular is not usable or always inadequate. For a lot of our viewing we do not need the superior optics that  the Swarovski has, however it is great to have it. If your requirements are minimal , using binoculars only in good light, and you are not concerned with detail ,any old binocular will suit you. For those that are wanting to determine if that animal is a trophy or not, or if it is legal for sure before the stalk, we want the best there is. As light diminishes we begin to see the diference betwen economy binoculars that were fine at noon and the better ones. Wait 10 more minutes and the usable binocular list gets smaller. Now add some distance to that Deer at dusk, and we can see why the better  Swarovski optics are important to us. Stand that buck in a willow clump at a hundred yards and you will apreciate the superior clarity. Do this at dusk and the 7x42 is going to let you see just how good they are in adverse conditions. I found the &x42 to be superb at low light.
 
Looking thru the SLC 7X42 binoculars , gives you a very steady picture , that shows very little shake .This is direclty attributable to the very large 6mm exit pupil , which is surpassed in the Swarovski line ,only by the
SLC 7x50 (7.1mm), SLC 8x50 (6.3mm) and SLC 8x56 (7mm) models. {a typical set of 7 x 50 binoculars has an exit pupil just over 7 mm, the average human eye pupil size at night!"}
 
The SLC 7x42 is an excellent choice for high quality low light viewing. There is no need in my use to have more than 7 or 8 power , they are very bright, allowing me to clearly see anything I want at the distances that I use them . For super long range you may want more magnification, but my needs are for detail at closer distances, usualy at dawn or dusk. The lower magnificatiom makes it easy to hold steady with one hand, for quick viewing, and still allow me to see with great detail. In the woods a 7X is more than enough to scan the area ahead of me for those legs, or shiny wet nose hidden in the leaves. Those  sticks protruding out of the grass are easily confirmed to be antlers, and not sticks. I can still see with as much detail as I personaly need at very long distance. If it so far that I would need more magnification it is probably farther than I am going to travel, or I will look again when I get closer.

 

There is one thing I would find more convenient as a bowhunter. That would be to have the same type individual lens protectors as the objective lens has on the eyepieces.  I saw this type of lense caps on Swarovski's this summer and liked them. The owner did not say where he got them, but  hopefully Swarovski will make this an option available to us.
 The current 1 piece eye piece cap is very good , and I have become acustomed to it , however I would prefer the seperate caps like there are on the objective lenses. 
 
Note: Werner Schmalz of Kindermann Canada Inc. has informed me that the #667-0267A replacement cap for Swarovski's Laser Rangefinder fits the eyepiece of the SLC new 7x42 binocular, so two of these supplant the supplied rainguard. The cap comes with a tether to attach the cap to the binocular strap loop.
 
Below is a comparison chart showing my 3 favorite Swarovski Binoculars.
{The Pocket 8x20 should be in the list, as I never go hunting without these.}
 
 
 
 
Magnification
7x
8x
8x
 
Objective lens diameter (mm)
42
30
32
 
Objective lens diameter (in)
1.65
1.18
1.26
 
Exit pupil, diameter (mm)
6
3.8
4.0
 
Exit pupil, diameter (in)
0.24
0.15
0.16
 
Eye relief (mm)
19
15
15
 
Eye relief (in)
0.75
0.59
0.59
 
Field of view, real (m/100 m)
140
136
140
 
Field of view, real (ft/100 yds)
420
408
420
 
Field of view, real (degree)
8
7.8
8
 
Field of view, apparent (degree)
55
60
62
 
Shortest focusing distance (m)
4
4
2.1
 
Shortest focusing distance (ft)
13
13
7
 
Diopter compensation (dpt)
+-3
+-5
+-3
 
Interpupillary distance (mm)
56-72
56-72
56-74
 
Interpupillary distance (in)
2.2-2.83
2.2-2.83
2.2-2.91
 
Twilight factor (DIN 58388)
17
16
16
 
Length, approx. (mm)
164
141
138
 
Length, approx. (in)
6.46
5.55
5.4
 
Width, approx. (mm)
122
110
114
 
Width, approx. (in)
4.8
4.33
4.5
 
Height, approx. (mm)
71
64
60
 
Height, approx. (in)
2.8
2.52
2.4
 
Weight approx. (g)
950
590
610
 
Weight approx. (oz)
33.5
20.8
21.5
 
Color
grün
grün
 
 

Pete Ward

"Welcome to my outdoor world"