SWAROVSKI Optik NL Pure 10x42 Slip-Resistant Binocular with SWAROVISION Technology

Exceptional brightness and clarity. As good as it gets. Are they worth the price? Depends on you. Since I have wanted these for decades, they were worth it for me. Price only low mark.

I really wanted to find these overrated so I could justify sending them back, easing the burden on my wallet and leading me to something less expensive, but they bring me so much pleasure while birding, they'd need to be pried from my hands at this point. The sharpness and FOV make me forget I'm looking through binos, truly immersive. These things are an amazing tool, no doubt about it. I own a more compact pair of Mavins that I'll still use for travel since they're awesome, but these are next level which they should be at this price point. I find myself now spending minutes looking at even the humble Mallard as I'm simply in awe of the image these produce. Every shimmering feather, droplet of water, all of it, is simply beautiful to behold. I was able to ID a Short Eared Owl in just about total darkness. I've been birding now for a few years, I do it almost daily and will for the rest of my days so 3K to make an activity I already love even better is more than worth it to me. The only "negative" that I can think of is that they are pretty hefty, so if your hands are not so steady, you might want to invest in the headrest, though I haven't tried that yet so I can't vouch for how much it helps. My wife loves them as well but has bit of trouble holding them steady (10x42 model) so there is that to consider. If you have the money and you think you deserve em, go for it. I can't imagine someone being disappointed in these things.

Swarovski has been the peak of optics for several years and the NL Pure 10x42 just made them better. The optics are almost unreal, they are so clear and the field of view is as wide or better than most 8x binos. The real improvement in these binos is the design. The shape of the body fits one's hand perfectly and these are easily held with one hand. The other MAJOR improvement is the Forehead rest. This little extra is a MUST for anyone who wears glasses. Once set at the proper distance you will no longer be pushing the binos against your glasses and having to clean your glasses . It allows one to one handed raise the binos to your eyes and get on your subject instantly. Yea, they look funny at first but it works and once used you will never go back. They also provide a steadier view and are great for Raptor and Warbler watching . I suspect that other makers and/or third parties will try to copy this longtime missing item. The one downside is that like most Swarovski optics they are expensive no getting around that. Luckily you only need to buy these once every 10 to 20 years at most.

I think I've tried every high-end binocular that's come out in the last 8 years and these are my all-time favorites. My previous favorite was the Nikon EDG IIs which unfortunately had a production problem with the body armor coming loose after a few years. I also own a pair of Zeiss Victory SF's which seem close to these Swarovski's optically but have a slow, sticky focus wheel, eye-cups that won't stay in place and too short of a pupil distance for people with glasses. I love the comfortable way these rest in your hands and the balance is good too. I'm a big fan of a smooth fast focus wheel and the Swarovski's definitely deliver. The optics are sharp and the colors seem clean and natural, not exaggerated. The pupillary distance setting is perfect for people with glasses but the eye cups lock nicely in place for people who don't wear glasses. I've been using them almost daily for 2 1/2 months and haven't found any negatives. I'll update the review if anything turns up!

I had purchased a pair of Maven 9x42 binocs which were excellent; however, I subsequently convinced myself that I wanted and could afford the best-in-class, so I returned the Mavens for the Swaro 10x42 NL Pure and I am not looking back. The clarity, detail, color spectrum, weight/balance, field-of-view, and ergonomics, especially including the optional forehead rest, are unsurpassed. One bonus was the 18mm eye relief. Due to my facial construction (deep set eyes?), I need the full eyecap extension to enable comfortable viewing. I now find myself bird-watching multible times every day even if just through my sunroom casement windows. These Swaros are expensive, for sure, but worth every penny in my estimation.