I am sometimes asked why the
Swarovski EL binocular costs more than that old favorite binocular, the
Swarovski SLC? Does the Swarovski EL binocular really have that much better optics than the Swarovski SLC binocular? The answer is, no, the
Swarovski EL binocular is not a significant upgrade over the
Swarovski SLC binocular in terms of optics. What you do get with the Swarovski EL is that wonderful open bridge body design with that open center section. So what? Pick up a Swarovski EL binocular and the first thing you notice is the way it balances and holds in your hands. It is quite unlike the way the conventional body design of the Swarovski SLC feels in your hand. The Swarovski EL is truly a joy and treat to hold in your hand and, once you've tried it, you may never want to hold another binocular, again. It really is that good. The price difference comes into play because that open bridge design on the Swarovski EL is more expensive to produce than a conventional body design, especially with regards to the focusing mechanism. This is where many of the Swarovski EL's imitators come up short. I have tested many less expensive open bridge design binoculars of various brands and, invariably, the focusing is not on a par with the Swarovski EL and we are not even talking about the optics, yet..