Zeiss Victory SF Vs Swarovski EL-8×42, 10×42 Binoculars Comparison
If you are here to look out for the comparison between Zeiss victory Sf Vs Swarovski El, two of the greatest binoculars in the world, You are on the right page.
Both the Zeiss Victory SF 8×42 and 10×42, and Swarovski EL 8.5×42 and 10x42m binoculars are premium products of their iconic makers Carl Zeiss Sports Optics and Swarovski Optik.
Carl Zeiss is synonymous with high-quality optical lenses that are used in cameras, binoculars and other optical instruments; whereas Swarovski is well-known for its brilliant craftsmanship and specialty glasses.
Feature for feature, these binoculars offer outstanding performance and unmatched qualities, as this comparison will show.
Zeiss Victory SF Vs Swarovski EL- Quick Specification Table & Comparison
Zeiss Victory SF Vs Swarovski EL- Detailed Comparison
- 92% Light Transmission - The Ultra-FL Concept is containing several SCHOTT fluoride glasses for absolute color fidelity,...
- Extremely wide field of view - The wide field of view of the ZEISS Victory SF binoculars increases the observable area...
- True-to-life image quality - The ZEISS Victory SF family was developed to master the most demanding situations...
- This item includes Swarovski optic EL 8 5x42 binocular - field bag - Eyepiece cover - Objective Lens cover - lift...
- Magnification 8 5x
- Effective objective lens diameter 42mm
- Extra low-dispersion Fluoride glass
- Phase-corrected Schmidt-penchant Prisms
- 65 degree wide-angle field of view
- This purchase Includes: Swarovski Optik EL 10x42 Binocular, Field Bag, Eyepiece Cover, Objective Lens Cover, Lift...
- Magnification: 10x
- Submersion tightness up to 13 ft(4m) deep
On the Basis Of Build Quality and Construction
What strikes one at first look is the similarity in appearance – slim barrels and uncluttered smooth design. Both sets of binoculars from Zeiss and Swarovski feature the open bridge design.
This design lets you wrap your fingers around one of the barrels easily to hold the binoculars with one hand. However, Zeiss had three bridge hinges compared to Swarovski’s two hinges, which makes it appear more robust and durable.
Moreover, the focus wheel in the Zeiss binoculars is placed a little bit lower which makes it very convenient to operate with the index finger while holding the binocular.
Both binoculars have fast focusing which means a small turn on the focusing wheel is required to zoom in or zoom out.
The Zeiss binoculars are ergonomically designed, thanks to its ErgoBalance concept which also shifts the center of gravity within the binoculars to distribute the weight towards the eyepiece. This makes it slide naturally towards your eyes without making an effort to tilt it.
The Zeiss’s body is made of lightweight material so that it can be held for hours without fatigue. The rubber armor provides for the protection and a firm non-slip grip.
The Swarovski EL Range too has an ergonomic design and great craftsmanship with perfectly balanced weight/you can hold them steady for prolonged hours with ease. The outer armor is thicker and has thumb indents for easy grip.
The Swarovski body is made of magnesium alloy to keep the weight lighter. The detailing covers the flip-down attached objective cover lens and the rotating strap-connector.
Optical Performance/ Image Quality
The Zeiss binoculars have the Schmidt-Pechan roof prism system which gives an excellent optical performance. The Ultra-FL lens system comprising of multiple fluoride lenses are made from the highest quality SCHOTT glass. This ensures that there is no chromatic aberration at the edges of the image. The 92% light transmission makes for a brighter image even during low-light conditions like dust or cloudy weather.
The Zeiss’s eyepiece is made of a set of seven lenses with ‘field flattener’ to give you sharp detailed images. The large 5 mm exit pupil allows for a better and detailed view in low light conditions. The eye relief is 18.3 mm. The Smart Focus concept makes for quick focusing. The Zeiss Victory SF 8×42 has a close focus range of 5 feet which allows you to look at butterflies and other birds that come close to people.
The Swarovski EL 8.5×42 gives razor-sharp images with 8.5 magnification in high resolution and contrast. This is due to the HD optics featuring fluoride- lenses, which eliminate color aberration due to scattering and ensures color fidelity.
The EL 8.5×42 has a large exit pupil of 5.3 mm and the eye-relief is 19 mm which ensures comfort viewing. The pupil distance is 56-74 mm which is suitable for everyone. The closest focus range is 5 feet. The lenses transmit 91% of light producing a clear and bright image.
The Swarovski lenses also have the field flattener property for better image rendition. The 8x magnification is ideal for watching fast-moving objects.
The Zeiss Victory 10×42 has all the features of its 8×42 model with the same quality of prism and lenses with the added advantage of 10x magnification. The exit pupil diameter is 4.2 mm and the exit pupil distance or eye relief is 18 mm The close focus of 4.09 feet allows you to study butterflies and other insects from the closest range as if you can literally touch them.
With Swarovski EL 10×42 you can watch small details at 10x magnification. The shortest focusing distance is 5 feet. It has an exit pupil diameter of 4.2 mm and the exit pupil distance is 17.3 mm. The pupil distance is 56-74 mm like its 8×42 model. The light that reaches your eye is 91% of the incoming light. Between the 10×42 binoculars, the Zeiss Victory has a slight edge over Swarovski EL in terms of image clarity.
Field Of View (FOV)
The Zeiss Victory SF 8×42 has a wide 64-degree Apparent Field of View. When you focus this binocular at a distance of 1000 meters, you can see a stretch 148 meters wide. In comparison, the Swarovski EL 8.5×42 has an apparent angular Field of View of 61 degrees. This gets you a 137-meter wide FOV at 1000 meters.
When comparing the 19×42 binoculars, you will find that the Zeiss Victory SF 10×42 gives a FOV of 120 meters at 1,000 meters with its apparent angular FOV at 65 degrees. In the case of Swarovski EL 10×42, the corresponding figures are 110 meters at 1,000 meters for an angular FOV of 61 degrees.
Put simply, this means that the Zeiss Victory SF binoculars give you a wider FOV than the Swarovski EL binoculars. But you must also note that generally, the binoculars with larger magnification will give a narrower FOV as they render a magnified image when focused at the same distance.
While speaking of the field of view, sometimes there is a distortion that makes edges less sharp than the image at the center. To avoid this both sets of binoculars are equipped with the Field Flattener technology which renders stunning edge definition without any disturbing distortions.
Weight and Size
The Zeiss 8×42 Victory SF binoculars weigh 780 grams (27.5 oz) and have a length of 6.8 inches and a width of 4.9 inches while it is 2.55 inches thick. In comparison, the Swarovski EL 8.5×42 binoculars are heavier at 835 grams (29. 5 oz) and have a length of 6.3 inches, a width of 5.2 inches and the thickness of the barrel is 2.4 inches.
The Zeiss 10×42 Victory SF binoculars weigh the same as its 8×42 sibling, that is, 780 grams. It also shares the same physical dimensions. The Swarovski EL 10×42 binoculars differ slightly from its 8×42 version and weigh 840 grams (29. 6 oz) and have a length of 6.5 inches, a width of 5.4 inches and a thickness of 2.4 inches.
What this means is that the Zeiss binoculars while being longer have less width and lesser weight as compared to the Swarovski binoculars. This makes the Zeiss binoculars not only look slimmer but also lighter and easier to carry along all day.
Price/Warranty
The Zeiss Victory SF 8×42 is priced at $ 2,699.99 whereas the Swarovski EL 8×42 has a lower price tag of $ 2,659.00.
Zeiss Victory SF 10×42 carries a price tag of $ 2,749.99 and the Swarovski EL 10×42 having similar optical specifications comes at $ 2,689.00. However, it is recommended that you always check the current listed price.
Zeiss binoculars offer a Limited Lifetime warranty which excludes accidental damage and normal wear and tear. Swarovski binoculars customers also get Lifetime Limited warranty for optics and 10 years for Other Parts.
Conclusion: Zeiss Victory SF Vs Swarovski EL
Both sets of binoculars are worthy competitors and it is difficult to clearly proclaim one as superior to the other.
Often the differences may be quite subjective. The Zeiss binoculars have a slight edge in terms of image clarity and brightness whereas Swarovski binoculars score higher in color fidelity.
The real difference can be in the external features such as the weight where Zeiss scores over Swarovski as having the lighter ones.
Price can be another feature and Zeiss binoculars turn out to be slightly more expensive. However, In that price range, I strongly feel the small difference in price will barely influence the buying decision.
Both binoculars are ideally suited for uses like bird watching, hunting, and other outdoor activities during all weather. You simply cannot go wrong in choosing one over the other.
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Last update on 2024-04-23
