Swarovski CL 8x30 Binoculars

A pair of 'high-end' binoculars for under $1,000? Really?!! Pete Dunne lets the cat out of the bag...

SYNOPSIS: The Swarovski CL 8x 30 Companion is a light, handsome, compact, well conceived European made binocular, designed for the ecotourist market but it’s a glass that will also work well for birding.  Priced at less than $1,000, ($929) it plugs the gap between entry level birding binoculars and superior performance binoculars.

The Secret is Out

     Last February, when I visited Austria and Spain to test drive the superlative Swarovski 12 x 50 there were drifts and rumors about another instrument, still in development; still under wraps.  Conversations would lead.  Eyes would lock.  And then, the knowing set of eyes would quickly shy aside.

     Oops.  Talking with somebody outside the insider circle here.  Time to shut my yap.

     But the secret was too delicious to keep and the conversational bread crumbs dropped my way too easy to follow.  By and by I learned enough to know enough to get the insider scoop on this great little marketing coup crafted by Austria’s optic’s powerhouse.

     But I still had to keep my mouth shut about it. 

     Until now.

     Introducing the CL 8x30 roof prism.  A glass designed specifically to appeal to and perform in the hands of the growing ranks of ecotourists.  The kind of human travelers that gather in the watering holes of assorted East African Safari Lodges.  The same kind of eager innocents that cheerfully plop down $15,000 for an Antarctic cruise then show up at the rail with binoculars so performance challenged and gimmick ridden they should be made illegal.

     So put yourself in the midst of a Swarovski product design team.  What elements would you want to put in an instrument designed for people who are not skilled binocular users, are traveling light, may be traveling in fairly harsh conditions, and may even care whether the instruments they are wearing around their necks clash with their periwinkle Patagonia fleece pullover?

    What you’d probably come up with is something that looks like:

The CL (and how it compares to it’s predecessor the Swarovski 8x30 SLC)

      It’s a little binocular that fits comfortably, yet fully in your hands.  Very slightly smaller than the older Swarovski 8x30 SLC, at 17.6 oz, the CL is also 1.4 oz lighter than its venerable predecessor.  By comparison, most of the premium instruments (Swarovski 8.5 x 42, Leica 7x42 Ultravid, Zeiss FL) weigh in at around 28 oz.

     The major, structural difference between the CL and SLC is the position of the focus wheel.  The old SLC, as many will recall, has a focus wheel situated on the front of the bridge.  Most people end up using their middle finger (or pinkie) to focus.

     Most people got used to it but index fingers the world over felt justifiably slighted. 

     The CL’s focus wheel is seated to the rear of the bridge–like most binoculars designed with index fingers in mind.  The other major, external design difference relates to the individual eye adjustment mechanism.  On the SLC, there is a separate, locking wheel on the ocular end of the bridge.  On the CL, there is a twisting adjustment ring on the right ocular.

    At 372 feet at 1,000 yards, the CL has a slightly smaller field of view than the SLC (about 9% smaller).  The CL does, however focus a bit closer than SLC.  About 11 feet for the SLC; about 10 feet for the CL.

    Both instruments go the range of focus in about 1 1/4 turns of the wheel.  Both offer about 15 mm of eye relief.  Both offer objective lenses that are recessed about 10 mm.  Both are rubber armored.  Both are waterproof.  Both come with padded, nylon straps. But....

     The CL comes in a choice of Swarovski Green, black and tan.  The SLC didn’t come in tan.

     List price: $1032.  Members price $929.00.

Last Thoughts

       Binoculars and travel don’t always go together.  A common dilemma is that faced by owners of premium, full-sized binoculars who are going on, say, a business trip but don’t want to take their primary glass.  Well, now you won’t have to.

     As for you folks who are about to purchase their first, birding binocular and can’t decide whether to buy something in the entry level, $300 range, or bite the bullet and purchase an alpha instrument right at the get go, the CL offers a compelling alternative.

     But be warned!  Experienced birder or new, if you pick up this instrument, chances are you are going to want to own it.  The biggest challenge you might face is deciding what color.     

      The tan goes well with periwinkle.  But the green is sooo Swarovski.