Swarovski EL 10x42 WB
The EL series consists of four roof prism instruments with the following parameters: 8x32, 10x32, 8.5x42 and 10x42.
All the optical elements of the binoculars are covered by high quality multilayer antireflection coatings (SWAROTOP/SWARDOUR on lenses and SWAROBRIGHT on prisms). According to the producer after using those coatings the light losses on any air-to-glass surfaces don’t exceed 0.2%. Additionally, the prisms are covered by so-called P layers, which damp down flared and eliminate light interference near the edges of roof prisms. The newest binoculars from this series have also an extra layer on the outer lenses, which prevents dust and dirt ingress and makes the cleaning easier.
The binoculars’ housing is made of magnesium alloys, padded with a high quality, anti-allergic rubber armour. The instrument is hermetically sealed, shockproof, dustproof, filled with nitrogen and watertight down to a depth of four meters. The EL series binoculars can be stored in a temperature range from –30 to 70 degrees C and work properly in –25 to +55 degrees C range.
| Magnification | Lens diameter | Angular field of view | Prisms | Eye relief | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 42 | 110/1000(6.3o) | BaK-4/roof | 15 mm | 780 g | 6900 PLN |
| Real front lens diameter |
Left: 42.24+/-
0.05 mm Right: 42.2+/- 0.05 mm |
8 / 8.0 pkt | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real magnification | 9.89+/- 0.15x | 3/3.0 | ||||
| Transmission | 92.5+/- 3% | 20/25.0 | ||||
| Chromatic aberration | Very low in the centre, clearly visible at the edge. | 7/10.0 | ||||
| Astigmatism | Negligible. | 8.5/10.0 | ||||
| Distortion | The distance of the first curved line from the field centre compared to the field of view radius : 31% +\- 5% | 3/10.0 | ||||
| Coma | Low. | 7.7/10.0 | ||||
| Blurring at the edge of the FOV | The blur occurs in the distance of 87% +\- 5% from the field of view centre. | 7/10.0 | ||||
| Darkening at the edge the FOV | Negligible. | 4.7/5.0 | ||||
| Whiteness of the image | Perfect! | 5/5.0 | ||||
| Collimation | Exemplary. | 5/5.0 | ||||
| Internal reflections |
|
3.5/5.0 | ||||
| Housing | Very solid, comfortable to hold and to look through. There are thumb grooves. Physically light. Regulated eyecups with the possibility of buying angled ones. Perfect! | 8/8.0 | ||||
| Focusing | Very comfortable central screw. Moves smoothly. Individual focusing through a click stop system but with a ratchet. No lens moves outside. | 5/5.0 | ||||
| Tripod | You can buy a brand-name attachment as an accessory. | 2/3.0 | ||||
| Interpupilary distance | from 56 to 74mm | 5/6.0 | ||||
| Closest focusing distance | 2.0 m | 2/2.0 | ||||
| Eyepieces FOV | Apparent field of view of 61.2 deg (according to simple formula) and 56.3 deg (according to tangent formula). | 11.5/20.0 | ||||
| Field of view | Measured by us amounted to 6.19 +\- 0.04 degrees and was slightly narrower that stated in specifications. | 6.5/8.0 | ||||
| Quality of the interior of the barrels | Dark but not entirely matt. You can see small fixing screws. Perfectly clean. | 4.4/5.0 | ||||
| Vignetting |
|
8/8.0 | ||||
| Prisms quality | High class BaK-4. | 8/8.0 | ||||
| Antireflection coatings | Orange-pink-green everywhere. Low intensity. | 5/5.0 | ||||
| Warranty [years] | 30 years | 5/6.0 | ||||
| Final result |
80.4%
5th place in the overall ranking of the 10x42 binoculars test. |
152.8 / 190 pkt | ||||
| Econo result | 47th place in the econo ranking of the 10x42 binoculars test. | -7.3pkt. |
Summary
Pros:
- excellent quality of housing and workmanship,
- high transmission,
- high quality of coatings and prisms,
- perfect whiteness reproduction,
- low astigmatism,
- slight coma,
- negligible light fall-off at the edge of the field,
- sharp image in almost all the field of view,
- long warranty.
Cons:
- too high chromatic aberration at the edge of the field of view,
- significant distortion.
There’s no doubt the Swarovski EL 10X42 is an excellent pair of binoculars. There’s no doubt either that such a product is always assessed from its price point of view. In this case the price is astronomical indeed which makes the final assessment not so perfect. First of all, if you buy a pair of binoculars with the price tag of more than 2000 USD, you should expect ideal optical properties. The EL, tested here, had two significant slip-ups in that category. Its chromatic aberration at the edge of the field would be acceptable perhaps in a 500 USD price range instrument. In the case of 2000 USD binoculars such a slip-up is jarring, especially as the manufacturer can afford using high class low-dispersion glass which would deal with the aberration perfectly. The same is true when it comes to the second flaw, listed above – the distortion. In such an instrument it should have been significantly lower.
The third slip-up, a bit less serious, are flares near the exit pupil area. All the Swarovski SLC series lenses which we have tested so far, have had exemplary pupils – perfectly circular, on a pitch black background! The EL binoculars was supposed to be even better than the SLC instruments but it is not the case and in this category it visibly lags behind.
We also can’t restrain ourself from comparing the result of the EL instrument with a test result of a Bushnell Elite 10x43. They are very much alike but the Elite is smaller, physically lighter, its objective lens – by 1 mm wider and the eye relief - by 2 mm longer. The Elite scored just one small point less in the test but its price is twice lower than the price of the Swarovski, and it’s not good news for the more expensive instrument. I, for instance, wouldn’t have any problems with the choice between those two.
