Swift Audubon 8.5x44mm ED Glass HP Porro Binoculars

Comments about Swift Audubon 8.5x44 HP Binoculars:

While these are not as light weight as some (e.g. roof prism binocs), they are much more comfortable to handle and give very bright views. Used them on a birding weekend and am very pleased with them.

Comments about Swift Audubon 8.5x44 HP Binoculars:

I am aware of the love the current buyer community has for the roof prism binocular. They look and feel sleek. I prefer the porro prism however because the configuration moves those nice big objective lenses further apart and this produces a dramatic 3D effect even at substantial distances. I feel like I can pick a warbler out of the leaves at 70 paces more easily with that effect than with the flatter image I get with a fine roof prism glass. I also LOVE the field of view this glass produces. I have heard that Swift is considering stopping the production of this glass. That would be a real bummer since there is no other porro prism glass on the market with these specs. My whole family uses this glass and I hope we will into the future.

Comments about Swift Audubon 8.5x44 HP Binoculars:

Both the Swift Audubon 8.5x44 BWCF 820ED and non ED model are as sharp, or sharper, than any binoculars around regardless of price. The advantage the ED model has over the non ED model is that the former has virtually no purple fringing. The Non ED model has some--but not as much as many much more expensive binoculars.

I would spend the extra money and opt for the ED version. Truly amazing binoculars--especially for their price, but amazing at any price.

Comments about Swift Audubon 8.5x44 HP Binoculars:

I have used this product for about a month. These binoculars provide a great image. The color is superb. When mounted they are amazing. I've used them for astronomy and bird watching. On the down side; I find them wide in my hands. I think it is this that causes a side to side shake I didn't experience with my other porros. At the same time I'm not switching back, just skipping the strong black tea as the depth of field is tremendous and I rarely need to adjust the focus. I can set it where everything from 50 feet to infinity is reasonably crisp. If my target settles in one place I can then adjust the focus to further improve the image. I find I have to push my elbows up when holding these binoculars when I am birding in close range. That is, the focus seems hard to reach. But for shorebirds or hawking they are great, especially if I can prop my elbows on something.

Comments about Swift Audubon 8.5x44 HP Binoculars:

Purchased for wife. Despite porro bulk and little greater weight very comfortable to hold and use, and to have slung around her neck for hours on end, with wide strap supplied. Superb optical performance in brightness, colour rendition and imaging quality in the field, both on land and at sea, with their wide field of view. At about 11 feet can see easily individual pixel lines on 20 inch colour TV. Have not yet found better value for money to purchase my own set.