Again this fall I had the pleasure of field-testing another pair of Swarovski binoculars. This time it was the SLC New 8x30 binocular. I found these to be very similar to the wonderful 8x32 EL model that I previously reviewed. The size and weight are so close that without both pairs in front of you it would be hard to know which is smaller.

I have been using the SLC New 8x30 since late summer, and have taken them thru some very inclement weather. The Elk trip in September had 5 days of rain and snow mixed. This was not good for the hunt but it did test the binoculars beyond reason. Every day they were soaked and frozen and showed no ill effects. The attached lens caps did a good job shielding them from most of the snow and rain. Had they been the removable type I am sure that I would have spent more time wiping the lenses than looking thru them.

 Swarovski objective lense caps  are a flip off type that remain attached to the tubes, and the eye piece caps are permanently attached to the neck strap. They are also adjustable to the width of the binoculars, like all of the other models I have tested. This is the best system for lens caps I have used.

The obvious comparison of the SLC New 8x30 to the EL 8x32 is difficult. I thought that the EL was the best hunting binocular I had used, but now I find it hard to pick a winner. I did not have both pairs at the same time so the comparison is from memory and I keep having the same thoughts about the SLC as I did with the EL. They are a perfect size for ease of use and carrying, yet they have the Swarovski clarity and quality that I have found on every model I tested. According to the chart below the EL has an edge over the SLC, ,{due to a 6.67% bigger front lense} however I think the hunters that use these would be hard pressed to pick a favourite. The cash register would be the deciding factor for most of us. They are that close.

The SLC New 8x30 has a different position for the focus wheel, at the front of them. With the compact size of the SLC I had no trouble at all with that position of the wheel. It uses the ring fingers to focus them. This is actually a more comfortable position than using the index fingers we normally do. I prefer this to the standard position of the wheel on other compact models.

 The dioptre wheel is in the top centre and is spring loaded to lock in place after adjusting. To adjust this you simply press forward and turn. It moves easily and stays adjusted.  Like all Swarovski binoculars the eyecups are a twist up design that stays in place and is not prone to breaking like the rubber fold down cups on other makes.

 Using the SLC New 8x30 all fall I became very attached to them. They fit in my jacket pocket when I don't want them around my neck, and they fit in a pouch in my pack, so carrying them is always easy. I have left heavy binoculars behind at times just to lighten the load on long hikes. At 20.9 ounces the weight is not a concern.

  Using them at dawn and dusk clearly showed me they have more than enough brightness to suit any hunter’s needs. This buck that I was lucky enough to take had started to come in and disappeared in the short willows and buck brush at dusk.

Even with snow on the ground he vanished, but he was only 60 yards away when I last saw him.

Nature is a master at camouflage. Glassing ,I was able to see him clearly in the dwindling light standing in a scrape just before he came into longbow range. The 8x30 are definitely bright enough for any hunting I will be doing.

The clarity of Swarovski is something I have become accustomed to, and expect. It is a bit of an awakening when I look thru a normal binocular now. Actually it is a disappointment. The extra detail the Swarovski binoculars provide is what gives them the reputation they have. We were glassing a field one afternoon and I gave the 8x30 to my friend to try. His first comment was that he could see a cloud of flies swarming at the end of the field. I commented that I knew this, and had not thought anything of it. He had been using a normal binocular that he thought was good before he tried the Swarovski. Thru his binoculars there were no swarms, yet they seemed all right to look thru. It is this extra clarity that I have become used to.

 When we think of Rubber armour on binoculars most of get a picture of big ugly binoculars that belong in a war movie. Not so with the Swarovski. The rubber armour is good looking, in fact you will not think it is there until you feel it .It does not look like a rubber coating, it looks metallic. In cold weather you also appreciate it. Holding a cold metal binocular in the cold in not pleasant at all. Metal freezes bare hands quickly.

 In the chart I picked my top choices of a hunters binocular from Swarovski .The EL and SLC are the most versatile for all round use, however I never go out now without the little Pocket model 8x20 .It belongs on every hunters wish list. 

 After months of use in heat, rain, snow and -30 celsius temperatures the SLC New 8X30 has been flawless. I think they are a perfect binocular for the hunters. They are light, compact, rugged and most importantly they have that typical Swarovski quality .

During the time I had these I have not worried about using them in any situation or weather. They have been bumped, banged and soaked; yet they look like new. I probably should not have said this, but after all I am field-testing them and these things happen to our own gear too .I crawled thru swamps, thickets and mud all fall, in my pursuit of Moose Elk and Deer with them around my neck and in my pocket or pack. Lucky for me, and Swarovski they still look like new. Thru all of this I did manage to crack a neck strap clip that is a cover for the stud fastener. This is not a part of the binocular; it is a cosmetic cover on the strap where it fastens to the binoculars.

 My final feelings are that these are an excellent choice in binoculars and they will provide many years of worry free use.