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Written by Terry Spraque
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Jan 01, 2008 at 10:58 AM |
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IF WE ARE GOING TO BIRD SERIOUSLY, THEN LET’S DO IT RIGHT !
 One of the areas covered in an annual Bird Identification Course that I teach is optical aids. Several pairs of binoculars are displayed, and individually discussed during the course. Invariably, someone in the class will ask why I have so many pairs of binoculars. Without missing a beat, I quickly retort, "Except for the pair of binoculars at the end of the table, these all represent past mistakes !"As movie actor Burt Reynolds stated in the famous 1970s movie Deliverance, "Sometimes you have to lose yourself to find anything." And so it was for me, bumbling along until I found the perfect binocular.  Having birded now for over 40 years, I unhesitatingly endorse Swarovski optics, whether it’s binoculars or spotting scopes. My first exposure to Swarovski was through friends and award winning nature film makers John and Janet Foster who are seldom seen without their Swarovskis swinging from their necks. One look through them and the difference was amazing. The optical system offered an unbelievable sharpness of image and true natural colour - essential elements when trying to identify birds in the field. The Swarovski EL 8.5 X 42 binoculars that I eventually purchased are amazingly lightweight, and I like the rapid  interior focusing. In addition, the fact they are waterproof is an added bonus for someone who often finds himself out in the rain a considerable distance away from the car! The non slip rubber housing also makes them comfortable to handle. When most of us hear the name "Swarovski," we immediately think of the top global manufacturer of full-cut crystal and the largest manufacturer of crystal jewellery, in Austria. It wasn’t until the early 1940s that Swarovski started experimenting with optics, and some 10 years later started marketing a whole series of optical products, ultimately placing Swarovski Optik as a market leader in the superior grade sector. The timing was excellent as the hobby of birding was escalating to eventually become North America’s second most popular hobby, next to gardening. "Constantly improving what was good" was the philosophy of company founder, Daniel Swarovski, over 100 years ago, and has remained a key objective to this day. With the move to a superior pair of binoculars, it was now necessary to do something about replacing my 40 year old spotting scope that had taken so many tumbles and suffered so much abuse, that focusing it required the use of a pair of pliers. After considerable consultation with other birders I selected the STS-80 High Definition Swarovski spotting scope and also purchased a digital camera adapter to accommodate my new Canon Rebel digital camera, providing me with the equivalent of an 800 mm camera lens for those distant shots.  The optical system on this spotting scope is of the same high quality as the binoculars. As well as being a must for distant shorebirds and waterfowl, it also has excellent close-up focusing, to 5 metres. Like the binoculars, it is coated in rubber armouring to protect it from jarring and is very user friendly. I chose to include the 20 X 60 eyepiece and also purchased a zippered stay-on case to provide a bit of extra protection. Needless to say, I have been extremely pleased with both the Swarovski binoculars and spotting scope, and enthusiastically endorse Swarovski Optik as the choice for serious birders. To discuss your optical requirements, please contact Werner Schmalz, Manager, Kindermann (Canada) Inc., 361 Steelcase Road West Unit #3, Markham, Ontario L3R 3V8. Telephone 905-940-9262. Or check out the Kindermann (Canada) Inc. website
 SWAROVSKI EL 8.5 X 42 WB Binoculars ! These binoculars are identical to mine and I highly recommend them. Features: New design, extremely lightweight, with rapid focusing, patented design and easy-grip focusing wheel. Airtight, dustproof, watertight to a depth of 4 metres (13 feet), no fogging, extremely durable and lightweight housing of magnesium alloy and non-slip rubber armouring, which is comfortable to handle even in cold weather. Retail Value: $2,500.00 |
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Last Updated ( Dec 26, 2009 at 11:30 AM )
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