I moved my daughter this weekend and stopped at the "Outfitters Wholesale Sports" -( I think that is what it is called; used to be Sportsman Warehouse) on the way back from Portland. Anyways I spent some time looking thru the 8x30 SLC's and the 8x32 EL's and I could not believe the difference- I did not think that it would be that much. It was in the store and outside at dusk. I was with the salesmen who deals with these all the time.
Before we looked at them I asked him if there was much difference in the optics (between the 30 SLC's and the 32 mm EL's)and he did not think that there was. They have a picture of a Grizzley on a mountain in the back of the store inside that is supposed to simulate a 1000 yard view. When I looked thru the SLC 30's at first and then looked thru the 32mm EL's I could not believe how much brighter the EL's were. I used to have a 7x30 SLC for a quite while, so I was quite aware of the quality of the SLC's. I had the salesman look thru both (I had him look thru the EL's 2nd) and he just said "WOW, I did not think there would be that much difference" when he looked thru the EL's.
We also went outside since it was close to dusk and also brought along a pair of Zeiss Victory 8x42's and a pair of Leica's 8x42's (he did not have a pair of either brands 32 mm size) along with the 8x32 EL's and the 30mm SLC's. They were not busy and we had fun looking through all of them. I know I am a bit of a fan of binoculars and really just wanted to stop and see how the SLC's and the EL's compared. Anyways we both thought that outside it was just the same as inside-the EL's were definately better that the SLC's -brighter and more contrast,etc. The 32 mm EL's were real close to the Zeiss and the Leica 42's which was impressive-the salesman thought the same thing. The only one that was brighter than the 32 mm EL'S was the 8.5 X 42 Swaro. EL-but that was expected; but it was only by a little bit. The 42 mm EL is a LOT bigger and heavier than the 32 mm EL.
This was our (the salesmans and mine) opinion as to how they looked to us. He said more than once how surprised he was in the difference between the Swaro. EL 32 and the SLC 30mm. He just did not think that it would be that obvious; and I must say that it surprised me also.
