Last years we have seen a real offensive of the Swarovski Optik company when it comes to top-of-the-range binoculars of the highest price and performance series. First, on 1st July 2020 we saw the launch of the new series called NL Pure (NL from Nature Lover). It consists of three roof prism models with the following parameters: 8x42, 10x42 and 12x42. As it befits the top-of-the-range series of a renowned producer they are supposed to offer all the best: excellent optics joined with high quality antireflection SWAROTOP and SWARODUR coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces (minimizing losses of light to 0.2% on one surface) and reflective dielectric SWAROBRIGHT coatings on one of surfaces of Schmidt- Pechan roof prisms system.
Swarovski NL Pure 10x42 binoculars.
A truly intriguing shape of binoculars' contoured barrels, with untypical indentations in places where you usually place your hands to hold the instrument, sticks out at once. It was explained that the location of roof prisms had been changed (they were rotated relative to each other) in order to allow such a profile of the binoculars' barrels. As a result the instrument became more comfortable and safer to hold, ensuring a firmer grip.
Fields of view of the new binoculars are the second, very interesting thing. The 8x42 model features a field of view as wide as 9.1 degrees, the 10x42 instrument's field of view is 7.6 degrees and the 12x42 binoculars feature a field as wide as 6.5 degrees. Construction of such wide angle eyepieces that, additionally, are supposed to correct properly optical aberrations up to the very edge of the field and assure you a comfortable eye relief, amounting to 18 mm, needs without doubt a complex optical system. Despite that complexity Swarovski claimed that the overall transmission of their new binoculars reaches a very high level of 91%. Our later tests confirmed that declaration of the producer.
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Swarovski NL Pure 10x32 binoculars in orange version.
In April 2021 the NL Pure line was complemented by the 8x32 and 10x32 models. Their fields of view are a bit narrower, amounting to 8.5 and 7.5 deg respectively, but the producer declared that the transmission of binoculars is supposed to reach 92% so one percentage point more than models with objective lenses of 42 mm.
Swarovski NL Pure 10x52 binoculars.
On 13th June 2024 we found out that Swarovski Optik haven't said their last word yet in this class of equipment. Then we saw a launch of two other NL Pure line models with quite untypical parameters: 10x52 and 14x52.
Swarovski NL Pure binoculars in all sizes.
So far, presenting models with magnification of 7-8x, 10x, and 12x was the most classic approach in case of the class of binoculars with objectives as big as 50 mm. Swarovski followed that pattern in several variants of their SLC series, with offered models such as 7x50, 8x50, and 10x50. One of the biggest rivals of the Swarovski, Leica, preferred a similar approach and next editions of their Ultravid series there were 8x50, 10x50, and 12x50 models. They have been offered as the HD+ variant up to now.
The approach of Zeiss, the third company from the big three, is a bit different. Overall the 50 mm class has been a bit neglected by them. In the second half of the 20th century they offered high quality 7x50, 8x50, and 10x50 Porro binoculars - only the first of these models has been sold up to now. When it comes to other 50 mm devices, in years 2006-2013 there were cheaper 8x50 and 10x50 Conquest models, produced in Hungary available on the market.
In March 2014 Zeiss also decided to make an original move and launched the Victory HT binoculars, the 8x54 and the 10x54. In their case we dealt with objective lenses a bit smaller than classic, night 56 mm models but, at the same time, these instruments got lossless Abbe-Koenig prisms that were supposed to catch up on light losses, caused by a bit small objective. The weight of these binoculars exceeded 1 kilogram only slightly so they weren't significantly heavier than classic 50 mm devices, undoubtedly an asset.
Swarovski NL Pure 10x52 binoculars.
In June 2024 we found out that Swarovski likes untypical parameters as well – they launched the 10x52 and the 14x52 models. Firstly, you deal here with a slightly bigger objective lens than in case of classic 50 mm devices. 2 mm might not seem a lot but they provide 8% of gathered light more, a significant difference. It's a kind of small bow towards fans of observations in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. Swarovski seem to say that, although the NL Pure 56-60 mm models haven't been produced yet (and, to tell the truth, nobody knows whether or not they will be produced at all), the 52 mm class is nothing worse, and performs in night conditions pretty well too.
Taking all these facts into account I am a bit surprised by the fact that this line doesn't feature an 8x magnification model. After all the 8x52 version with a huge field of view and an exit pupil amounting to 6.5 mm would be a rarity on the market, and also an excellent night observations instrument. Still, you have to remember that many hunters, one of target groups of night instruments, have been buying plenty of termal imaging and infrared devices lately so it is possible that the decision of Swarovski, to exclude a classic night set of binoculars, is deliberate and motivated by the current market conditions.
Swarovski NL Pure 10x52 binoculars.
Personally, I regret a bit that night models with lower magnification have been disappearing from the market. We used to have binoculars with such parameters as 7x42, 7x50, or 8x50 in line-ups of many producers; now they are few and far between. The launch of the NL Pure 8x52 would reverse that trend in a very nice way. Of course you have to remember that Swarovski still features the classic 7x42 Porro in their offer, excellent when it comes to optics but with a rather narrow field of view, amounting to just 6.3 deg.
Swarovski Habicht 7x42 GA binoculars with 6.3 deg field of view.
After that long introduction let's pass to the main part of our text, describing first impressions after handling the Swarovski NL Pure 10x52. We got this pair of binoculars right after the official launch courtesy of Beafoto shop from Łomianki situated near Warsaw.
Swarovski NL Pure 10x52 binoculars.
Let's start with a
comparison of the basic parameters of the NL Pure 10x52, these of its predecessors and direct rivals. A huge field of view sticks out at once, amounting to as much as 7.4 deg. It means implementation of eyepieces with an apparent field of view, amounting to 74 deg according to the simplified formula. When it comes to 10x binoculars these are record levels available lately only in NL Pure line models. So far, in this line of equipment a field of 6.0-6.5 was supposed to be good; binoculars with a field exceeding slightly 6.5 deg were considered as excellent, record breakers approaching near 7 deg. As you can see, in this light giving you all of a sudden the 7.4 deg is like delivering a knockout.
Swarovski NL Pure 10x52 binoculars.
It is also important that such a wide field they managed to obtain without any loss when it comes to eye relief distance as it amounts to 17 mm. It is one step backward when compared to 20 mm offered by the EL 10x50 but NL Pure still looks good when compared to its Zeiss and Leica rivals, that can ofer just 15-16 mm.
Our chart shows pretty well that Swarovski took proper care when it comes to dimensions and weight of its new instrument. The old SLC device is really huge and heavy – compared to that the launch of the EL 10x50 was a big step forward. When it comes to the NL Pure, you deal with something a bit heavier than the EL but the difference is just 22 grams, practically imperceptible and completely understandable, taking into account the fact that the objective lenses are by 2 mm bigger.
Shapely Swarovski NL Pure 10x52 binoculars in even more shapely female hands..
The length of the NL Pure and EL models is the same, the thickness of the first one, once again because of the bigger objectives, is bigger but the width is smaller, because of their profiled casing. The whole instrument does look much slimmer, is more shapely than the bulky EL 10x50. To be honest, when you put these two pairs of binoculars side by side, the NL Pure, despite a bigger objective lens, seems to be actually smaller.
Pentax PIF 10x50 with huge Porro prisms and Swarovski NL Pure 10x52 binoculars.
When it comes to comparison to the EL 10x50 you can notice another step backward – the minimum focusing distance that increased from 2.8 to 3.3 meters. It's a bit of a shame, especially that the new device also has one thing by many observers considered to be a flaw of all Swarovski binoculars. We mean here of course the throw of the central wheel. As usual, you have to move it a lot because running through the whole distance range needs a turn through an angle of about 680-690 degrees. Why Swarovski sticks up so obstinately to such high values? Search me. An angle of about 400-500 degrees, offered by many rivals, is more than enough to set the focus in a very precise way and the whole operation is definitely more efficient.
Still, it's worth mentioning the fact that the wheel itself is very comfortable, ribbed, it moves smoothly and is properly damped. Its position is also very ergonomic – with a hand propped on the indentation of the tube you can set the focus with your extended index finger with comfort. Additionally, you get a small tab behind the wheel that is used for dioptre correction. All movements of the elements are limited to the interior of the construction so the binoculars are completely weather-sealed. According to the producer, they are also waterproof up to a depth of 4 meters and their working temperature range is quite wide, from -25 °C to +55 °C
Swarovski NL Pure 10x52 binoculars.
The binoculars not only are comfortable to hold but also to look through, all because of profiled, adjustable eyecups made of ruber, with seven detention stops. In the majority of binoculars I have to extend the eyecups to the maximum; here I needed the sixth out of seven positions. When I tried the last one I had a bit of problems with covering the huge field, offered by the binoculars. One stop less and everything is perfect – I don't fall into the field but I see everything comfortably well up to the very diaphragm.
When it comes to the interior of the binoculars my feelings are mixed. On the one hand the instrument is spotlessly clean and its tubes – very distinctly ribbed and in more than one place. The surfaces are matt but rather gray than pitch black. What's more, in the slit between the rim of the housing of the focus element and the tube itself you can spot a shiny screw. The outer area around the prism cell also is not exactly as it should be: they are even less black and less matt than the tubes. Here Swarovski should have applied themselves a bit more, especially as the performance against bright light in many models is inferior to the results shown by the Leica and the Zeiss.
Vicinity of an exit pupil of Swarovski NL Pure 10x52 binoculars.
Perhaps that's why the area around the exit pupil of the NL Pure 10x52 looks a bit worse than the respective area in Leica Ultravid series devices. In their case we saw a perfectly black background and in the Swarovski there are some slight light arcs. Still the fact that the pupils are practically perfectly round, without any distinct truncations or egg-shaped deformations is a consolation of a kind.
Exit pupils of Swarovski NL Pure 10x52 binoculars.
It's worth adding that the 52 mm models show a better performance against bright light if you compare them to the 42 mm devices, mentioned at the beginning. During the day you don't notice any visible contrast loss and at night only the brightest lampposts have some ghosting and sometimes also small spikes on the edge of the prisms.
Excellent antireflection coatings and glass with ultra high transmission optimized especially for blue and purple spectrum are undoubtedly the features that make the Swarovski stand out from others. The coatings cover all air-to-glass surfaces and they flash at us discreetly from objective lenses and eyepieces, showing yellow, pink, purple, and greenish reflections. Prisms shine yellow-green.
Antireflection coatings of Swarovski NL Pure 10x52 binoculars.
All of this joined together provides a quite specific transmission graph which is very flat in a wide range of the spectrum but, at the same time, provides very high transmission in the blue part. It is a feature characteristic for this Austrian company, making it stand out from their direct rivals. Zeiss often focuses mainly on the centre of the range and constructs binoculars that provide very high transmission for yellow-green light so offer a bit warmer shade of images (but the Victory HT series is an exception to that rule, with a very flat transmission graph). Leica and Nikon instruments often showed a bit slanted graph, with transmission exceeding 90% only for red light.
The result was such that the Swarovski binoculars always were characterized by a very neutral, almost crystal clear images without any shades or colouration. High transmission in the blue part of the spectrum, joined with observations on a clear day might even make you think that images from NL Pure binoculars are a tad too cold. Personally I like such neutral, clear images but I know many observers prefer warmer orange or red tones and think they are more pleasing to the eye. Colouring nuances are a matter of taste, though, and also an individual feature, stemming from the sensitivity and distribution of cones on your retina so it's very difficult to accommodate everyone. A very flat transmission graph of the Swarovski is always worth praising, though, especially that it seems also in this case maximum values can reach levels near these declared 91%.
Swarovski NL Pure 10x52 binoculars.
The purity and quality of the images provided by the NL Pure 10x52 are not spoiled by chromatic aberration. In the centre of the field it is practically imperceptible and on the very edge right next to the diaphragm its level is medium at most. Here you can notice a progress when compared to the EL series models or the cheaper CL Companion models and it is no mean feat, remembering what field you are dealing with.
Also the apparent field of the eyepieces, amounting to around 70 degrees, is very difficult to correct when it comes to other aberrations, such as distortion or coma. In case of the NL Pure series the approach of Swarovski is quite specific: models with 52 mm objective lenses perform like smaller instruments. When you go away from the centre of the field of view, right after the middle of the distance, straight lines start to bend slightly showing a bit of pincushion distortion. Then distortion increase is stopped and then virtually reversed so the lines on the very edge of field aren't significantly deformed. Such an approach to distortion correction with such a wide field deforms surfaces of observed objects. For example a rectangular visible in the field centre on its edge will be more like a reverted trapezium.
Swarovski NL Pure 10x52 binoculars shown with optional tripod mount.
Similarly you can describe the coma – it appears quite fast, near 60-65% of the field of view radius, but with moving the star away from the field centre the deformations don't increase, they seem to decrease in fact; that's way that coma on the very edge of the huge field is simply small. Images of stars are as point-like as you might wish – it's always been a strong asset of all Swarovski binoculars and nothing changed.
Images are sharp practically till the very edge of that huge field. You can notice a slight quality decrease near the very diaphragm but it's nothing to worry about. Overall it is a huge achievement, that the instrument offers a field as wide as 7.4 deg and it is perfectly corrected. Looking through the NL Pure 10x52 is nothing but pure pleasure. You get crystal clear images that are sharp practically to the very diaphragm and the field of view is so wide that you can get immersed in it.
Swarovski NL Pure 10x52 binoculars.
Although this article concerns first impressions after handling the NL Pure 10x52, a pair of binoculars that I had an opportunity to test a bit longer, during the pre-launch show of Swarovski binoculars, organized by the Beafoto shop, I had an opportunity to compare directly two other novelties, the 10x52 and the 14x52. In case of the latter Swarovski deliberately didn't apply 15-16x magnification that are the most common in 50-56 mm class binoculars. They think the 14x level is the last possible magnification value for a pair of binoculars that might be hand held with relative comfort. You can add they are perfectly right. Excellent shape of the binoculars' casing, and an optional forehead rest makes perfect sense and I have to say I could conduct very comfortable and stable observations with that piece of equipment. When it comes to parameters you deal here with an exit pupil of 3.71 mm that won't cause you any troubles even during a cloudy day.
Alternatively, looking through the 10x52 nd the 14x52 I have to admit I returned to the former with more pleasure. Its higher surface brightness, more stable images, and wider total field of view ensured more comfort and joy. In case of optical instruments, however, many people look for higher magnifications so I won't be surprised if the 14x52 model becomes more popular among potential customers. Still, the 10x52 model, with its exit pupil of 5.2 mm, is a more versatile instrument, fit for practically all kinds of observations, excellent to use both on a clear day and a moonless night.
Box of the Swarovski NL Pure 10x52 binoculars.
Ending this article you can add that the Swarovski NL Pure 10x52 is currently offered at a retail price of 3449 USD. It is sold in a stylish, green box, along with a neck strap, a joined cap for eyepieces, objective caps attached to the binoculars, a soft, and stylish case, a strap for that case, a cleaning cloth, a soap, a brush and user manual. The product comes with a 10-year warranty period.
Swarovski NL Pure 10x52 binoculars with its accessories set.
To sum up I don't doubt that the NL Pure series instruments, produced by Swarovski Optic, are the best binoculars on the market and the launch of the 10x52 and the 14x52 models only confirmed the domineering position of this company. Their products are so good that even elderly ents appreciate their optical properties and take them with themselves on trips to the deepest and darkest corners of the old forest and woods. :)
Swarovski NL Pure 10x52 binoculars and Warsaw ent.
