Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Swarovski EL - Educate me

How many generations/iterations have there been of the EL? LGS has a set of 8.5x42s refurbished by Swarovski for $1300. Salesman said they were around 10 years old, but I don't have the knowledge to know which ones they are. They are perfect optically and were a dream to look through. Any thoughts? Good price?

If you want to know for sure how old they are you can get the serial number and call Swarovski and they can tell you exactly when they were made.

FB-

They are the previous generation to today's Swarovision (SV).
Still one heck of a bino but IMO that's at the very top end of what I'd pay for them.

But, they are a bargain compared to the SV.

Three generations, technically. The first EL's (pictured on the right) had a real slow speed focus knob, which was later updated to "fast focus" (no difference in appearance). Latest incarnation is the Swarovision/SV (pictured on the left).

With Swarovski, you can take the first two digits of the serial number and add 30 to it for the year of manufacture. If they're the "older" EL's, about $200.00 overpriced, IMO.

GW-
Good point on the FF - I'd forgotten that.

If $1300 was my threshold, I'd be inclined to find a gently used 8x42 SLC HD.

Salesman was quick to tell me they would negotiate a lower price, but I needed to get out the door and didn't get the chance to discuss it. They had an older model SLC in stock, but I need to get somewhere where I can check out the HDs.

I went found a good deal in the sv and never looked back