I'm looking at the Swarovski 8x30 SLCs ($850) and the Pentax 8x32 DCF EDs ($575) and would welcome opinions and comparisons with regards to optical/mechanical quality and value from anyone who has tried both...no local dealers carry the Pentax model; and I don't yet know if my local Cabela's has any of the (discontinued, AFAIK) Swaro 8x30s in store.
Thanks!
I have looked and compared both extensively and these are just my own personal amateur observations.
First off all $575 for the Pentax ED is a great price. They are usually around $799.
I have a Swarovski 7x30 SLC that is 10 years old and I love it. And I am a big fan of Swarovski and also a big fan of any quality 30 and 32 mm size glass. Also as you know as far as value, you really can not go wrong with Swarovski.
I have a very nice sample of a 8x32 Pentax DCF ED and last year bought a 2010 8x30 Swaro SLC with the idea of maybe selling my 7x30 SLC and the Pentax and just keeping the 8x30 SLC because I just figured that it would be better than the pentax.
Well, to my surprise the 8x30 SLC was not better to my eyes than the Pentax ED. The Pentax was sharper in the middle and had better overall resolution and clarity and was definately better at resolving detail at low light which was very important to me. The SLC might be slightly better at the edges, but it is not by much. The Pentax had a little better eye relief and the Swarovski had a slightly better FOV. Both are built like tanks and have very good build quality. On my sample of Pentax ED- the focus was smoother and could fine tune a little better than the 8x30 SLC. The sample that I have of Swaro SLC 7x30 has an extremely smooth focus, but it is more broke in.
So... I still have the 7x30 SLC and the Pentax ED and sold the 8x30 SLC.
I also had for a short time an 8x32 Swarovski EL (2009) and actually that is a better comparison for the Pentax DCF ED (it is that good) than the Swaro SLC 8x30. The Swaro 8x32 EL is better optically than the Pentax ED, but..... to me it is very close. Closer to me than the Swaro SLC 8x30.
Here are a couple links for you to look at also:
This has some good opinions discussing the Pentax ED's vs. the SP's
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=172850
And this was from a birdwatching.com and a small testing group looking at midsized binos.
http://www.birdwatching.com/optics/...bins/index.html
Take this particular test for what it is worth- a small sample of people looking at a certain size of bino's. I thought that their overall chart and score added up was a fairly good summary of this class of midsized binoculars (especially at the top)
This group gave the Swarovski 8x30 SLC and the Pentax ED a tie. Although their score had Pentax's resolution higher than the SLC and I agree.
In their test of this size of bino's I would not have any problem with their top 4 (in their chart at the end), but to my eyes I personally would disagree with Meopta and the Vortex being ahead of the Pentax ED or the Swaro SLC. As I too spent a couple weeks last year in a bunch of different conditions (as far as light) comparing a sample of the Meopta 8x32 and to me the Pentax ED was clearly better.
I also spent some time last year comparing the Vortex 8x32 Viper to the 8x32 ED Pentax and the Pentax is better overall. Although I am a big fan of the 6x32 Viper- the 8x32 is not as good to me. Also putting the 8x32 Viper ahead of the Swaro 8x30 SLC did not jive with my own observations.
I can't comment on the Pentax v Swarovski comparison. However I am pleased to see somebody comment positively on the 7x30 SLC, which is a highly underappreciated binocular. Despite its comparatively narrow FOV, it offers a wonderful, natural view. The focus on mine is as smooth as butter and has been since it was new. When I tried 8x30 SLCs in the late '90s and early '00s, their focus was stiffer and rougher. I still don't understand why they would have been different. Anyway, the 7x30 can be had occasionally on eBay for around $500, which is a bargain price.