| v> | | | | difficult. One of the technical features that determines |
| In spite of the wide variety of models made available | | | | the FOV is magnification: More power translates into |
| by Swarovski Optiks, the technical differences really | | | | narrower FOV, as can be seen in the case of the |
| boil down to the difference in magnification (8x and | | | | 10x25’s: 285 feet at 1,000 yards (5.4 degrees), |
| 10x) and objective lens opening (20 mm and 25mm). | | | | which is considerably narrower than the 345 feet of |
| The higher magnification and aperture do impact on | | | | the 8x20’s. This is one of the sacrifices one has |
| certain other technical features like the field of view | | | | to make going for a more powerful binocular. |
| and close focus distance. These binoculars are | | | | Objective lens size: |
| excellent pocket binoculars, being very lightweight and | | | | Making the objective lenses wider is an easy decision |
| compact enough to fit any pocket. Although they are | | | | for the manufacturers in the case of normal size |
| all of very high quality in terms of optics and finish, | | | | binoculars, but it’s another matter in the case of |
| some have crystals embedded in their housing, which | | | | pocket binoculars, since bigger apertures always make |
| makes them more expensive. | | | | the instrument more bulky and heavier, which is not |
| There’s at least 10 pocket binoculars available | | | | good when the binocular has to fit in a pocket. |
| from Swarovski Optiks, so how do you know which | | | | However, Swarovski dealt with those matters (see |
| one to buy, since they seem to be quite the same. | | | | dimensions and weight below). The wider objective |
| The one aspect you don’t have to consider is | | | | lens of 25mm of the 10x25’s does have an |
| the optics. Swarovski Optiks haven’t made a | | | | advantage of collecting more light than the 20 mm, |
| low quality instrument. For that matter neither a cheap | | | | which will deliver a slightly brighter image to the eyes. |
| one. So every single pocket binocular will be right up | | | | This will come into play in dim or fading light. |
| there with the best in terms of optics. That goes for | | | | Weight: |
| the housing as well. Not only stylish, but durable as well. | | | | The 10x25’s are all slightly heavier than the |
| As a matter of fact, Swarovski backs all their | | | | 8x20’s due to the wider objective lenses: 8.1 oz. |
| products with a lifetime warranty! | | | | vs 7.6 oz. However, this is not really that much. |
| The pocket binoculars under review are all also very | | | | Dimensions: |
| lightweight (all weighing less than 8.1 ounces) and very | | | | The dimensions of the 8x20’s are exactly the |
| compact — all will easily fit into your jacket | | | | same: Their height is merely 1.5 inches, they fold up to |
| —even shirt - pocket. | | | | an incredible 2.3 inches and their length is not even 4 |
| These instruments are not exactly the same, even | | | | inches (3.98 inches). The 10x25’s have the |
| though it might seem so from what I’ve argued | | | | same height (1.5 inches) and width (2.3 inches), but are |
| up to this point. The differences in appearance and | | | | slightly longer (4.57 inches). |
| certain specifications may just be what you were | | | | Close focus: |
| looking for to base your final choice on. | | | | The longer barrels of the 10x25’s also make a |
| Magnification: | | | | difference to the ability of the binoculars to focus on |
| Some of these pocket binoculars magnify by 8 times | | | | objects close by. The closest the 10x25’s with |
| and some by 10 times.The Swarovski Optik Pocket | | | | their slightly longer barrels can focus is 16 feet, but the |
| 8x20B-P (Green) and 8x20B-P (Black ), the Traveler, | | | | 8x20’s with their shorter barrels can focus |
| Tyrol and the three crystal ones, the Tosca, Nabucco | | | | closer: 13 feet. For all types of applications this is |
| and Idomeneo — all have magnification of 8x. | | | | excellent, except if you’re interested in real small |
| The Swarovski Optiks Pocket Binocular (10x25B-P, | | | | things like butterflies or bugs, in which case you should |
| Green) and the 10x25B-P, Black, as well as the | | | | consider the Pentax papilio, which can focus perfectly |
| Traveler have magnification of 10x. | | | | on an object 18 inches away! |
| The 10x power gives you more magnification, but | | | | Price: |
| makes finding and following an object more challenging, | | | | There’s quite a difference in price between the |
| since movement is exaggerated with higher power. | | | | different models, even though the specifications are |
| Another problem associated with higher power has to | | | | quite the same. The standard and travel |
| do with the exit pupil. Since the exit pupil is calculated | | | | 8x20 models are all going for $679 currently, but the |
| by dividing the diameter of the objective lenses by the | | | | luxurious 8x20’s are considerably more |
| magnification, it means that higher magnification | | | | expensive, even though their specifications and |
| inevitably means smaller exit pupil size — unless | | | | performances are exactly the same. The Swarovski |
| the objective lenses are made bigger. This is what | | | | Optiks Pocket Binocular Tyrol 8x20 goes for $839.99 |
| Swarovski Optiks did (all the 10x’s have 25 mm | | | | and the crystal models (the Crystal Tosca 8x20, |
| lenses at the front). (Smaller exit pupil will deliver less | | | | Crystal Nabucco 8x20 and Crystal Idomeneo 8x20), |
| light to your eyes, which will become a problem in | | | | are all priced at $899, probably due to their very |
| fading light.) | | | | beautiful and lustrous housing studded with Swarovski |
| Field of view (FOV): | | | | crystals. |
| The field of view of a binocular is the range the | | | | Whether this beautiful housing is worth the extra $120 |
| viewer sees at a certain distance — which is | | | | or not, is something everybody has to decide for |
| 345 feet at 1000 yards. Another way of stating this is | | | | himself, as long as you realize you’re not getting |
| in degrees: 6.6 degrees. The wider the FOV, the easier | | | | a better binocular than the other 8x20 |
| one can spot an object in the distance and the easier | | | | Swarovski’s. |
| to follow a moving object; the narrower, the more | | | | The 10x25’s are all priced at $769. |