Swarovski SLC 7×42 “Habicht”

Specifications:

Objective diameter:  42 mm
Magnification:  7 x
Exit pupil: 6 mm
Eye relief (according to spec:): 19 mm
Usable eye relief (measured from rim of folded eyecups): 17.5 mm
IPD (measured): 55 – 75 mm
RFOV(acc. to spec.):  8  degrees = 140 m
AFOV (acc. to spec.): 55 degrees
Minimum focus distance (measured): 3.7 m
Focus type: CF (direction of rotation from close to infinity: > clockwise)
Degrees of rotation of focus wheel from 3.7 m to infinity (measured): 250 degrees
Range of diopter adjustment (acc. to spec.): +/- 3 dpt*
Excess travel of focus wheel beyond infinity position (estimate): > 5 dpt*
Prism system:  Schmidt-Pechan
Waterproof: yes
Weight (acc. to spec, without accessories): 950 g
Weight (measured, with eyepiece cover and strap): 1043 g
Made in: Austria
*range of diopter adjustment not affected by position of focus wheel

Remarks:

The SLC 7×42 labeled «Habicht» was introduced in 1992 and was in production until 2010. From 2005, a slightly revised version (semi-officially called “”New”) was sold. In 2010,  production of all 7×42,  8×42 and 10×42 SLC models was stopped and a new “W B” line was brought to the market, but only in 8×42 and 10×42, so there is no 7×42 model in Swarovski’s product portfolio since then (the 8×42 and 10×42 versions were sold until the introduction of the NL Pure line and since then are now marketed – optically and mechanically identical – under the Kahles brand, while production remains in Absam. See https://binocular.ch/kahles-helia-s-8×42/).

The sample presented here was produced in 1998, so is roughly 25 years old, and it still impresses today with an incredibly “relaxed” ease of view, an almost perfect panning experience, good sharpness / brightness / color fidelity, very good straylight control, and superb mechanics. There is no difference in “torque” when rotating the focus wheel left or right, as is the case in a number of more recent Swarovski binoculars, and no funny noises or other anomalies in the focus mechanism. Of course, minimum focus distance is nowhere near current expectations, the eyecups don’t have intermediate clickstops, and the weight of roughly 1kg is a lot for a 7×42 by today’s standards. But you forget all that once you observe with this real classic of a binocular, which reminds us of other classics such as the famous BA/BN models of the Trinovid line or the Victory FL line from Zeiss.

See also separate posts at https://binocular.ch/swarovski-slc-8×42-w-b/ and https://binocular.ch/swarovski-slc-10×42-w-b/ .

Ratings:

Review:

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