The new Swarovision EL 50 series binoculars from Swarovski Swarovision 10 x 50 Swarovision 12 x 50

On the 9th of Feb a group of some 20 birders from various European countries and USA got together in Extremadura, Spain for three intense days of birding and socializing and to officially field-test the latest Swarovski innovation, the new EL 50 Swarovision binoculars.
The testing conditions could not have been better, with still and bright sunny days, as we aimed our new optical instruments at birds like Spanish Imperial Eagle, Griffon and Black Vultures, Great and Little Bustards, thousands of Cranes, not to forget smaller gems like Great Spotted Cuckoos, Calandra Larks, Cetti’s Warblers, Rock Buntings and Blue Rock Thrush. The birding was great, the group was fabulous and the arrangements were top-class, and the product itself, it surely convinced us all.
The first day I tested the 10×50, as I thought the 12s couldn’t possibly be any good. The 10s were very good indeed, but that didn’t come as a surprise, as there has been good 10s on the market before, and because this is what you would expect from a brand like Swarovski. But jumping from the 10s to the 12s for the following two days was mind-blowing, to say the least. The physical size is more or less the same of the 10x and the 12x and they are not that much heavier than the Swarovision 42s. The field of view was not much narrower than on my own EL 8 x32, which is a lot for a pair of glasses with a 12x magnification. And they were surprisingly easy to hold steady. When scanning for a longer period of time, as when searching for raptors in the sky, or when scanning a reservoir for ducks or a beach for shorebirds, it is easy to turn the binocular case upside down, and let the bins rest on the solid bottom of the case. By then grabbing the lower corners of the case you can drop your arms, press the elbows against your sides and scan for as long as you like, while your upper body remains fully relaxed. Try it, and you will feel the difference.
I can imagine that the 10s will become popular among anybody wanting a good pair of binoculars, while the 12s could even replace a telescope, for instance in the rainforest, where situations often appear very suddenly and where the excellent close focusing distance of these bins make for a much needed difference. Also for raptor freaks the 12x should prove valuable at migration hotspots, giving additional detail without losing too much of the important field of view. And as I said before, they are surprisingly easy to keep steady. Time will show how popular the EL 50s will become, but at the price of approximately 2400,- Euros, they don’t come cheap. It’s definitely worth having a go at your nearest retailer, where you can test them for free, and I’m sure they will convince you too: they are special.
Also read the comments of the other participants e.g. at

http://10000birds.com/el50_swarovision_extremadura.htm

http://www.talking-naturally.co.uk/extremadura-swarovski-el50-swarovisions-day/

SWAROVISION EL 12 x 50