Swaro’s vs other high end brands
 

Hey guys just looking to get some opinions on some of the higher end glass.
I’m upgrading this year and before I dump a bunch of money on swaro’s I’m wondering if anyone who has used them and possibly other higher end brands have any info they could share with me. Would you spend the 3k + on the swaros or is the a better/cheaper option.

Thanks

When you getting up into that quality of optic it is not which is better, it is what you are looking for .
Cat

I have a pair of Swarovskis, the latest I’ve looked at are the zeiss 8x45 which will likely be my next purchase.

I've used Swarovski, and currently own Leica binos and ER scope, as well as Kahles and Zeiss scopes. Try them, buy the one you like best. Quality is exceptional on all of them.

Don’t just buy Swaros because they are supposed to be good. About 25 years ago my buddy showed up in hunting camp with a new pair of swaros. I had a new pair of Pentax binos. One afternoon we were sitting in our lawn chairs glassing across the lake. I couldn’t tell that the Swaros were any better than my $500 Pentax. I used those Pentax for many years and then I bought a pair of Leupold binos. I wasn’t overly impressed with the Leupolds and gave them away. I now use my Leica Geovids and find them to be great.

The key is for you to try them. Honestly, if I were dropping 3k on glass, I’d drive to Llloydminster, get a hotel room, and go to Prophet River. Buy three pair you are interested in. Take them out in the country and glass at sundown and then sunrise. Buy the ones that are best for you. Return the other two pair. Quality is quality, but everyone’s eyes are different.

Are you talking binoculars, spotting scopes or rifle scopes

I’m guessing binos, but who knows.

Yes bino’s should have specified.
That’s probably the best idea is grab a couple pairs and try them in the field to see which ones work best for me.

I run Swarovski 8x32’s. My brother runs Leica 8x32’s. We have spent time in all kinds of conditions and lighting comparing the two. There is absolutely no practical difference that we can see.

Are you looking at the range finding versions or just binoculars

Few have the build quality and ergonomics of the swaros. I use my Leica geovids as to my eye animals pop a little differently than my wife’s Swarovski but I much prefer holding hers for long glassing

Nothing wrong with the zeiss or leica's, but I find the swaro el's far more comfortable when glassing for hours on end

Years ago Swarovski binos were 1K now they’re 3K.
You could have bought a pair then, used them all these years and easily sold for the price you paid or more. Buy quality, and cry once.

Just binoculars

Swarovski vs Kowa
 

Check out Kowa Genesis series binoculars. I compared a lot of binoculars and was hard pressed to see a difference between Swarovski and the Kowa Genesis Prominar. I got the 10x33 and they are as good at dawn and dusk (and everything in between) compared to my Swarovski 10x50. Significant cost savings as well.

glass quality
 

Often times it isn't just a case of clarity, it's the lens coating and the advantage you get from them.
As hunters, we often glass early and late. Superior glass with better coatings will often increase your length of day glassing ability. Better clarity in low light situations, so hard to rate them side by side inside the store.
I have both Swaro's and Leica. I actually find the quality of the leica a bit better and more comfortable on the eyes for longer periods of glassing. The Swaros give me excellent clarity and comparable quality, but they excell in that they are quite a bit lighter than the leicas and more comfortable to handle.
I dont think you will go wrong with either, depending on how you see yourself using them. If I was mainly a sheep hunter, glassing for hours on end, I would say the Leicas, especially if mounted on a tripod. For quick glances along field edges at last light, waiting for deer to come out, you cant go wrong with either.

It all depends on what kind of hunting you are trying to do
If your trying to spot sheep 2 miles away
Glassing for hours and hours on end
Nl pures all the way
If your hunting deer,elk etc
Anything in the $1500 range and up will be very good

Go to a bunch of stores and try them out
But learn how to set up the eye pieces correctly so your comparing all of them at their highest potential
You can tell a lot even by looking through them at dusk/dark in a cabelas parking lot

Every person will have their own results and their own preferences when it comes to glass. The biggest thing swaro has going for them over the rest of the high end manufacturers is their marketing team.

You don’t hear many guys that buy the top end Swarovski products and say that they wish they bought something else

Swarovski warranty is second to none!! Even if they’re 40 years old. They will take care of you.

Its true the warranty with swarovski is great and they are easy to deal with regarding ownership transfers if youve purchased via the used market

Ummm... Nope

lol. Correct.
Only thing they wish is they would have bought it sooner

Possible you're right, but I sure don't see a lot of advertising on swaro's part. Out of the big 3 I see a bit from zeiss

I see far more advertising for vortex and leupold, heck even scorpion optics

I’ll add to this, I’ve never seen a swaro commercial but I keep getting told about vortex and their no hassle warranty. If you are advertising your warranty I don’t see that as a good sign

Bingo!

Mitsubishi has a 10 year warranty. How many are rushing out to buy a Mitsubishi? Not many.

Comparison
 

When I worked at Cabelas the guys in the optics department dared me to compare the SWARO's to a set of Vortex Razor bino's. They covered both sets with a cloth so we couldn't tell the difference. Then they had us look through both, indoors and outdoors. Of the 4 guys who did the test 3 picked the razors, myself included. The razors at that time were half the price of the Swaro's.

Let me say that I understand that the quality of the Schott glass in the euro bino;s is likely better, but the Hoya glass in the razors is no joke.

I didn't do the test in low light so the lens coatings might be quite different as well. That being said i own a pair and find the lowlight performance to be excellent.

^^^ agree with the above comment about the razor bino’s despite owning nothing vortex (maybe someday)

Swarovski gets my vote with rifle scopes compared to the rest,Binos Zeiss victory’s,...spotting scopes I’m unsure.

For binoculars, Swarovski, Zeiss, and Leica are all excellent, I bought Geovid HDs, because they were the best deal at the time, for range finding binoculars.