Swarovski EL Range binoculars - first field tests

[NZ Longranger]

I've been playing with a pair of the new Swaro EL Range 10x42's for a week now. I've been comparing them to the previous benchmark ranging performance wise - the Zeiss RF binos, and also the Leica Geovids. I spent a few days with Richard Kramer, Swaro International Sales Manager while he was visiting New Zealand. He said they had wanted to beat their competitors models in every way, and that's why it has taken so long to get their new model on the market.

Well, optically, the Swaro's are definitely better than the RF's and the Geovid HD's. Their lowlight performance is amazing for a combo unit with the optical compromises incorporating a rangefinder entails.
Range wise, I've got 2250 yards to a grassy face out of them continually in late afternoon, and they'll do 2050 yards to the same face even in bright light. They'll do 1700 yards every time to a pine tree in bright light that the RF's will only get occasionally, 1 in 10 tries at best. The Geovids are limited to about 1440 yards, and even less in bright light.
In light misty rain which is really hard on rangefinders, as usual the Geovids wouldn't read at all, while the Swaro's and RF's managed about 1600 yards.
The Swaro's have an inclometer built in, and a good True Ballistic Range feature.
On top of this they are only the size of the old EL binos, with two bumps out the bottom to house the electronics. They are far less bulky and lighter than the opposition.
So it looks like the Swaro EL Range was well worth the wait!!!! They have the best rangefinder with the smallest beam divergence, the best inclometer features, the best optics, and all in the smallest package. We have a new bench mark in bino rangefinders!!!
Greg

 

[bigngreen]

What is the beam divergence spec?

 

[NZ Longranger]

1.5mx.5m at 1000m.
The next best is the Zeiss RF's at 1.6x.5m. But the RF's have a range limiter or display limiter or some such as they will never read beyond about 1720 yards even to a highly reflective target. The Geovid HD's are limited to 1440 yards or thereabouts.
Greg

 

[.284]

I've been digging for some info on the angle compensation feature on these. Maybe you could help out a bit if you don't mind. Is there a range limit to how far that feature will work and does it give both the actuall and corrected shooting distance?
Thanks

 

[NZ Longranger]

It displays both actual range and TBR when on corrected ballistic range mode which works to about 1000 yards. Beyond that it just displays just the range, with 3 dashes where the TBR usually is. It can also just display the range and the angle in degrees if you'd rather, or for angled shots beyond 1000 yards. Or just the range of course!
Greg

 

[.284]

Ok thank for the help

 

[youngbuck]

If you get any more info let us know, especially if you test it against any other LRFs. I'm considering the CRF1600, PLRF05, and the Swaro EL Range. the Leica is the least expensive. The Vecrtonix only has a 1yr warranty, and the Swaro is the most expensive, and not a ton more than the Vectonix. The EL-R comes with a Swaro warranty and a pair of EL's attached. I need something that ranges farther and more consistent than my Geovids. I can get out to 1200yds right at dawn and dusk, but I'm lucky to get 500yds in the middle of the day. They are going back to Leica, but I'd like something with the capability to get to 1mile.

 

[Hunter66654]

Greg could you define what you mean by TBR? Is this a distance that has been computed based on the angle, bullet weight, bc, muzzle velocity, etc. or is it just the horizontal distance based on the cosine of the angle? In other words if my turrent is set up in yards can I just turn the knob to the TBR number and shoot?

 

[NZ Longranger]

Young Buck,
The Vectronix will probably range further, depending on the model, but I don't have a pair here to do a comparison. But the Vectronix PLRF model most are using (like Shawn etc) is not a top end bino as well. I've had a look at the Vectronix rangefinder/Bino, Terrapin I think it was called, , just the other day, but I wouldn't have called them top end optics at all, and they were huge in size. There is no comparison between them and the EL Range, as they are best at quite different uses. They will range to huge distances for sure, but I would still want a good pair of binos as well, which then means you're carrying way more gear around with you.
If you want to range to 1 mile in bright light, the only options are the new EL range or the Vectronix. No other available range finders will do that reliably. The next best is the Zeiss RF Binos (not the monocular), but they are limited to about 1720 yards.
The EL Range is so small and compact with such an awesome and fully featured rangefinder you are truly giving up nothing by having the combined unit.

Hunter,
It displays a TBR like Leupold's s'posedly, not just a cosign. You should be able to just dial in the TBR come up and shoot, or use your ballistic reticle. I've haven't checked it at a good angle at long range yet to confirm just how accurate it is. I will be in some steep enough mountains shortly and will report back.
Greg

 

[Jon A]

I had emailed Swaro before and they told the beam divergence was 1.5 mil tall and .5 wide. I even emailed back to double check as that's the opposite of what I would expect. Can you confirm if that's correct? If so the height of the beam makes me wonder how it will do on small objects over flat ground. Still much better than their monocular rangefinder I would guess, but it would be good to hear how it compares with the others in that respect.

Thanks

 

[malcarjeb]

Young Buck,
The Vectronix will probably range further, depending on the model, but I don't have a pair here to do a comparison. But the Vectronix PLRF model most are using (like Shawn etc) is not a top end bino as well. I've had a look at the Vectronix rangefinder/Bino, Terrapin I think it was called, , just the other day, but I wouldn't have called them top end optics at all, and they were huge in size. There is no comparison between them and the EL Range, as they are best at quite different uses. They will range to huge distances for sure, but I would still want a good pair of binos as well, which then means you're carrying way more gear around with you.
If you want to range to 1 mile in bright light, the only options are the new EL range or the Vectronix. No other available range finders will do that reliably. The next best is the Zeiss RF Binos (not the monocular), but they are limited to about 1720 yards.
The EL Range is so small and compact with such an awesome and fully featured rangefinder you are truly giving up nothing by having the combined unit.

Hunter,
It displays a TBR like Leupold's s'posedly, not just a cosign. You should be able to just dial in the TBR come up and shoot, or use your ballistic reticle. I've haven't checked it at a good angle at long range yet to confirm just how accurate it is. I will be in some steep enough mountains shortly and will report back.
Greg

something must be wrong with your Zeiss, because the ones i use will range out to 1900 yards on reflective targets constantly and have ranged a wood house in mid day sunshine at 1700+. And the optics are Superb. Just as bright and clear as the non ranging els. compared side by side.

 

[NZ Longranger]

Jon,
I've been told the opposite 1.5 wide by .5 high! I'll check up and come back to you. From the testing I've done they are better than the Zeiss RF's and way better than the Leica's at getting over the tops of intermediate range tree tops etc. I've just been ranging a hill face at 1200 yards thru gaps in a 250 yard row of trees, and the Swaro's can still give you the 1200 yard face thru the tiniest holes in the closer trees that the others can't get even close to doing - especially the Leica!
Greg

 

[Jon A]

Thanks, Greg. A video camera with "nightshot mode" is a really easy way to check for sure.

 

[NZ Longranger]

Interesting! I'll check that out. You have to do it at night?