Swarovski NL Pure hunting binoculars - review

Swarovski's new binoculars have an amazing field-of view, great quality glass at an eye-watering £2,370. Tim Pilbeam tries them out as he searches for the best hunting and fishing binoculars in 2020.
Forget light transmission, forget ease-of-use - they are last year's optic USPs. Swarovski's three new binocular launches pushes a new boundary: it's all about field of view. So, are these the best binoculars for hunting? And, what should you look for when buying binoculars for hunting?
With its NL Pure, launched on 1 July 2020, Swarovski wants to immerse you in your view by offering a market-leading 71-degree 'apparent' field of view. No detail on why the use of the word 'apparent' but the new binos are a lens system the same as the Swarovski EL, so it is not digital manipulation.
"In the past, we have talked about edge-to-edge sharpness," says Swarovski spokesman Wolfgang Schwarz. "But there is one thing that's even better - no edges at all."
The 8x42 NL Pure field of view is 159 metres at 1,000 metres. The 10x42 offers 20% more field of view that the Swarovski EL 8x42. And, for the first time, Swarovski is offering a 12x42, an NL Pure that has a field of view with 130 metres at 1,000 metres that beats the EL 10x42's 112 metres at 1,000 metres.
And did we say forget light transmission, forget ease of use? Forget that. Handling is still a thing. By rotating the prisms to right angles, Swarovski has slimmed down the middle of the tubes. That helps the NL Pure fit your hands more easily, making them possible the most ergonomic hunting binoculars on the market. Is this the binocular to buy for hunting?
Light transmission is 91%, the same as the Leica Geovid and 1 point down on the Zeiss SF.
The NL Pure 8x42 weighs 840g, which is about 10% more than the Zeiss SF 8x42. but more than 10% less than the Leica Geovid 8x42's hefty 950g.
Shipping begins 1 September 2020. Price is €2,850 in Austria and US$3,299 in the USA for the 8x42.
The NL Pure is not a replacement for the Swarovski EL binoculars - 'don't mess with the legend,' they tell us gravely - but Swarovski staff point out that the new model is better.
For more, follow #onewithnature or visit SwarovskiOptik.com/birding/nl-pure-c210112
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[@jimp9351]

Just ordered my 8X32 NL Pure and I am very excited! Thank you such an enlightening review. JimP

[@benoistclouet409]

Thank you for this very informative test. I am a wildlife photographer and a polar guide in Svalbard and Antarctica. Binoculars are my first tool for looking for bears on the ice... in particular. I have old Swaro 8x30 SLCs which still work great but I want to invest in a newer 10x42 pair and the NL Pure look great ! However, I have read on some forums that these binoculars posed two major problems: 1/ condensation on the eyes piece lenses especially in cold conditions (much much more than other best binoculars). This would be due to the abandonment of the treatment of glasses (SvaroClean) which would contain composant harmful to the environment. 2/ Glare problems in bright light conditions (snow, water, reflections...) which would be due to the fact that the inside of the frame is not black over the entire body of the binoculars (unlike the Leica Noctivid ). Do you have an opinion on these two points which are essential for me given my use (use on the sea, in the Arctic > snow, ice, water, strong contrast and negative temperatures). thanks guys :)

[@naludog8087]

Hi Ben - did you get the 10x42 NL? Any issues with glare from the water? Aloha...

[@James-gz6iq]

This is the most clear binos I have ever seen. I glass early in the morning, I was able to see contrast with moonlight with handhold with 10x. The focus dial is very fast for tracking birds in flight. The 8x is sharper than the 10x when I tested, barely used the diopter. Oh my God, I thought it's was hype, but I'm blown away by the usable max fov, contrast, color, it's better than what my vision can offer. For example, when looking at European Starlings on leafless branches (with tripod during daytime), the plane of focus is sharp from corner to corner. The varying depth of field of the branches are crystal clear when focused at the same plane. The optics feel quite hefty when hand held for identifying duck colors against bright ice light reflected by the lake. But I was able to discern the color of the duck in glaring snow-light, as the duck swam around. While I was viewing the moon deep into the night, I caught the sudden movement of bats against the night sky at the lower edge of the optics. I was also able to discern Zone 4 dark from Zone 2 darkness of jackets under moonlight as two cyclists rode by. I'm not sure what the engineers did, but there's magic in these optics, it's incredible and well worth the cost. It's amazing, I'm stunned by the high quality of the image clarity

[@s.d.r1062]

Better than Zeiss Victory SF ?

[@libraman1303]

Had my NL PURE 10x42’s for over a year, and have had one or two issues. The main one is they seem to steam up easily in cold conditions (eye lenses). The rubber objective lens covers are useless, and I have had them replaced twice. Swarovski have done this for free, but it’s a design fault none the less. I know a few birders have returned these binoculars for the steaming up problem, so best to test a pair in cold conditions before you buy.

[@GerdGuchl]

the el series doesn't have this?

[@thebigfellar7178]

Better send them back before the warranty runs out. They are only warrantied for 12 months.

[@naludog8087]

Great content. Thank you. After using both the 10x42 EL Tracking and 10x42 NL, is there any meaningful IQ difference?

[@shem44]

Would love to get it but I have micro shakes even on 8 power during hiking. Swaro seriously should consider putting stabilizer even if it sacrifice a bit of fov.

[@s.d.r1062]

I hear some poeple complain about rubber armor problems. Letting loose, cracks etc. Are your familair with it?

[@wayneglossop1989]

Love mine had them since released. I went with 8x42 for birding

[@robgerety]

I'm likely going to buy a pair of NL for my general birding as a retirement gift to myself. I'm debating whether to stick with my tried and true 8x or move to the 10x because of the huge FOV now available with the 10x NL. I see you went 8x which is the direction I am leaning. Your thoughts now that you have been using the 8x42 NLs for a while? Still happy?

[@wayneglossop1989]

@@robgerety Hi Robert, I absolutely love them, I wouldn't change them for anything. I'm so glad I went with the 8s and not 10s as I've had a look through a pair of 10s since using mine for a bit and for me I made the right choice. The only thing I felt was necessary (for me was the winged eye cups). Obviously that's dependant on not wearing glasses. Optically they are the 💣.

[@robgerety]

@@wayneglossop1989 Thank you. Everyone is steering me to 8x. I just ordered them. Now the wait. Ugh.

[@wayneglossop1989]

@@InCountry6970 phenomenal aren't they 😜

[@RedShiftedDollar]

Don't underestimate the value of the forehead rest. It is sooo nice for getting perfect eye relief every time. It's also great for stability, but positioning your eye at the sweetspot is now effortless.

[@ShakespeareCafe]

SLC 15x56 is the best of the Swarovski line. It's a combination spotting scope with its 15 x power and stunning optical quality that I dare you to compare with an EL or Pure. I did and there's no way I would spend a $1000 more for a smaller binocular. I carry mine everywhere, including long hikes because the views are superlative from this glass.

[@user-nw2si7hu3u]

I’ve heard the forehead adapter tends to not stay adjusted well have you had any issues with it in this regard? Seems it should come with the 12 power as standard considering their price

[@allphase]

I like for stabilizing on the tripod! It’s totally stable. I just don’t non-tripod for very long. It just fine for fast glass sessions. A bit harder to open the Kuiu bino and smoothly get past the added bulk at the very top right by the cover operation

[@lukas7417]

I have no issues with the forehead rest. Have to say the shake reduction is very very minimal if you have steady hands already

[@Robbulous]

Thanks for the excellent video! Really love the hat you're wearing? What kind is it?

[@fieldtester7655]

Thanks Rob. It's a Harkila Pro Hunter cap for the horrifying price of £49.99 🙂 - I expect Tim got it at a trade show. / Charlie

[@mrmashta1877]

Looks like a Swarovski hat. Great video, well done.

[@GaryPatefield]

Get image stabilisation people ! You will notice so much more !

[@jrnumex9286]

your right esp free hand a game changer. tri pod on the patio or lawn then these are tops.

[@wjun0131]

As a hunter the loss of FOV from 10x to 12x wasn't worth the extra 20% magnification.

[@radioold6812]

Then, do you recommend x8?

[@radioold6812]

Do u mean fov= field of vision?

[@wjun0131]

@@radioold6812 yes

[@wjun0131]

@@radioold6812 you will need to put it on a tripod to assess the whole fov, the fov from x8 extends beyond your peripheral vision, it's by far the most immersive of the three but won't be of much help at aging a bull or counting points.

[@firnameweren5311]

So what do you think of the 12x NL having a little more FOV than the 10x EL? (339 ft vs 336 ft at 1000 yds) you would get the better magnification with no lose of FOV. If upgrading to the NL from the EL. Or would you go for the 10x NL to get 399 FOV?

[@BrettL250]

Sooooo cool you can use suppressors in the UK. Freedom baby. Nice review too. Thanks

[@lesgrossman9492]

We can use them in the US too.

[@BrettL250]

@@lesgrossman9492 Yes I have 15 of them or so. But the US is free. England is not.

[@lesgrossman9492]

@@BrettL250 You have 15 cans? That's awesome. I have a couple.

[@BrettL250]

@@lesgrossman9492 Yes they are quite addictive. I have them for 22, 9 mm, 45, 556, 308, and I even have a couple 12 gauge suppressors.

[@kerryfry1857]

Roof prism binoculars are a gimmick. A fashion. Porro prism are just as good if not better. It's like Rolls Royce makes a car, that Skoda can make. But costs ten's of more money to make. It's marketing. Ask yourself this, why aren't there any astronomical Roof prism binoculars? They can't gether enough light, is the answer. Too much glass in the way. Plus porro prism binoculars, are much more 3D. Get fully coated optics, you'll be blow away with porro prism binoculars. Don't waste your money on roof prism. These are marketed as the best binoculars in the world. Their just the best at making a gimmick work.

[@GM-bq6zo]

I see you preeching this all the time, so what porros do you use then???

[@thebigfellar7178]

I personally think anyone who spends $3049.00 on a pair of Binoculars is out of their minds. The Technology World has caught up with Bino's as well as T.V.'s and Cameras. I just recently bought a pair of Kowa BD2-XD 10x42 for $449.00 and I'll give your $3049,00 a run for their money. Not only that who in their right mind would spend $ 3049,00 on Bino's that only have a 12-month warranty. Not me that's for sure. I mean that's crazy. My Kowa has a lifetime warranty and Kowa has been around 120 years as well. And Japanese glass is giving European glass a run for their money now days. Plus only the village Idiot would believe it costs $3000 dollars to build a pair of Bino's. I can get a Motorcycle for $3000.00 dollars, and it has a few more moving parts than a pair of Bino's ...!!!

[@jasonhiggins6431]

Nonsense cheap bins are cheap because there garbage made in china , binoculars like anything else in life , you get what you pay for

[@GM-bq6zo]

I'm really dissapointed with the kowa bd xd 2. I have the first model, and they are brighter and sharper, they're really good value bins. I wanted a new pair so ordered them, compared them to my first model, and sent them back. Really annoying when they do that with a "new" model.

[@alexpearson8481]

Too flat of a field. Full 2 dimensional view only.

[@nevezetesnevtelen1810]

Are you joking? Have you tried it? :-)

[@yunsuiwuyue]

给我吧