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Cons: Flat field lenses. Rolling ball effect, which might make some people nauseous. Slightly on the heavy side for 8.5X42

Pros: Build quality, bright image, great warranty

Summary: Both the Swarovski EL 8.5X42 and the Zeiss SF 8X42 are at the top of their game with these two bins, personal choice is the only real deciding factor in buying either

Cons: Maybe a weight, but not to much concern, and a price.

Pros: This is in overall a fantastic instrument. Great support from Absam, they will provide you a great service whitout asking anything. Even they sent to you a free spare parts if needed.

Summary: When you take all that in formula, its a fantastic product.

Cons: Slightly the weight compared to my ZEISS Victory SF 8x42. For me that is not so important. Still it is very steady to hold. Not quite as bright in darkness compared to ZEISS SF 8x42

Pros: Best overall image quality of all alpha binos. None is as sharp as this one, only the ZEISS FL series comes close here. The new version (mine was built in February 2019) has no visible CA in the field I can overlook. Its image quality addictive and I bought it within 5 minutes after looking through it the first time. The slightly higher magnification is noticeable and makes small details easier to see, feels almost like a 10x with the field of view of an 8x.

Summary: Optically the best birding glass in the world still, the ZEISS SF 8x42 and HT/FL series a close second.

Cons: Price

Pros: Everything else

Summary: I have had nearly ALL the best Alpha binoculars in the last 25 years and this is where my journey ends. WOW!!!!. Perfect colour contrast and handling. Extremely immersive view with and addictive feel to them. I cannot speak highly enough f the 8,5x42 SV. 10/10

Cons: None that I can find, perhaps price!

Pros: Astonishing edge clarity, bright compared to my older 8.5x42 EL, so I assume this is due to superior coatings. Great accessories. They have a lifetime feel to them, wonderful in the hand.

Summary: The old addage applies here, buy cheap, cry every time you use them, buy good bins, only cry once. You will likely never use a better binocular. But at a very high price. The only way I could afford these was by getting a good part exch on my old ELs. Even old Swaros hold their value!!!

Cons: Absolutely None.

Pros: Comfortable, bright view enhanced by crystal sharp edges results in a superb visual experience. True life colors and superb contrast complete the view. Oh, and it's great for low-light owling.

Summary: Best birding binocular in the world, bar none.

Cons: None

Pros: bright image super resolution

Summary: I´m quite happy with it

Cons: Globe effect due to totally corrected distortion :-) Chromatic abberation on edge of FOV,

Pros: Bright Image super resolution to the very edge - mega sweetspot super whitness rendition extra 0,5x makes better detail recognition, while super ergonomics make view steady, CA absent in 80% of FOV Optimised outer lens coating Big Apparent FOV Made in Austria

Summary: Best instrument for many purposes on market, with sharpness to the very edge due to superb optics construction. The flaws are not annoying, because you notice it only when you change the view between binocular without Globe effect, and CA is present only in most critical conditions( dark objects againstwhite backlited sky on outer edge) If SW makes so good CA correction as Zeiss many users will be very pleased, and buy it.

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Cons: None

Pros: Bright, crystal clear image, no chromatic aberrations, superb close focus, perfect edges.

Summary: This instrument surpasses ALL my other alpha birding bins!