My main binos are a pair of 21 year old Swaro 7x42 SLC that I bought new for $799 in 1999 after using the Swaro 8x30 for several years. Super happy with them. I hunt blacktails in clear cuts and brush, and these are crystal clear and the large ocular lenses are like looking through a big picture window, and the weight is not a big deal for me. That being said, I just bought a pair of the Tract Toric 8x42 to see if they can unseat my Swaros or my Pentax DCF 8x42.
So how do the Tract's compare.......?
I had used a 2000 model slc 8x30 for years. When the Tracts came out, I wanted to see if the 8x42 would be an improvement in low light. When I got the Toric 8x42, they were instantly better than my slc 8x30 in broad daylight. I didnt even use the 8x30 slc again.
A year or 2 later, I picked up a Slc 7x42 that was a 1996 model, that was upgraded with new lenses and prisms in 2013. Once again they were much better than the Slc 8x30.
I knew the 8x30 didnt have the better prisms and lenses that the 7x42 were upgraded to, so I paid Swaro to upgrade them. What a difference the upgrade made.
Before the upgrade, the 8x30 was clear, but the view just seemed cold. They also had quite a bit of glare, looking into the sun. Now the colors are true, and little to no glare.
The Torics view is just as good as either Swaro. They are sharp, bright, and extremely good. The only thing that isnt as good as either slc, are the eyecups, and lack of locking diopter (1st gen Toric). The eyecups dont fit my face as well as the Swaro's, and dont lock at the fully extended position as firmly as I would like. I just stack o-rings to keep them extended fully.
The Swaro's service is second to none! The option to have older binos upgraded, is a great thing to me, and absolutely worth it!
The SLC 7x42 is just so easy to look through. I wouldnt say the view is better than the Tract, just that they fit my face better, and eye placement is so natural.
The Toric is noticably lighter, and the focus knob is smoother.
The Toric is a very good bino, I just happened to get the SLC 7x42 for only a little more than I paid for the Toric.
