TechTicker Special: Presentation of Swarovski CL Companion binoculars and a plea for a more conscious experience of nature | News

SWAROVSKI CL COMPANION: TRAVEL BINOCULARS REDEFINED
The good things in life always come back. Also things that were once very important in leisure activities, but then somehow disappeared from view. As do optical instruments for observing nature, such as binoculars and telescopes. It is not the case that there is a shortage of these today. On the contrary. The market is full of such optical instruments, often at real bargain prices. But now that many people realize that the smartphone should not determine all aspects of life, and that enjoying nature with one’s own senses is back in fashion, the desire for high-class and valuable observation glasses is growing again. Brands such as Zeiss, Leica or the Tyrolean family business Swarovski Optik are ideal contact points for this.

Swarovski not only underlines the new desire for mechanically and optically outstanding products with innovations such as the recently introduced spotting scopes of the AT/ST Balance series (see here) with optical image stabilizer, but has now also introduced a new generation of its most popular binoculars for travelers and outdoor enthusiasts.

The CL Companion wants to impress with its compact design, low weight and intuitive operation while at the same time offering the highest mechanical precision – paired with an attractive design in various colors (Desert Orange, Mountain Green and Safari Brown). These are “size 30” binoculars, if you want to call it that. This refers to the diameter of the entrance pupil, i.e. the front lenses. In connection with the magnification, these determine, among other things, how bright the binoculars are and how far into the twilight they can be used, but also have an influence on the overall size of the binoculars and their weight. The light intensity is given here as a so-called twilight number, which can be between 1 and 25. The CL Companion 10×30 has a twilight number of 17.3, the 8×30 is 15.5. Both are good values ​​for binoculars in this (price) class and are on par with top-class competitors such as the Zeiss Victory SFL 8×30 and 10×30.

Here too, as with lenses for system cameras, more light intensity means larger glass, more weight and higher costs. 30 mm binoculars offer a good compromise between portability and image quality. That’s why this class is also referred to as travel binoculars, because models with a diameter of 40 to over 50 mm quickly become quite bulky and heavy if they are supposed to be any good optically.

Two new CL companion models are available. One with 8x and one with 10x magnification. Both are the same size and the same weight (around 550 g). The 8×30 offers a larger field of view for a better overview and a calmer image, while the 10×30 offers a little more range. The customer has always been spoiled for choice and that doesn’t change with the CL Companion. Much more than 10x magnification is not necessarily worth aiming for, because with even more magnification it becomes more and more difficult to hold the binoculars steady enough without a tripod or leaning on them. 8-10x magnification has established itself as the most useful compromise, which is why most binoculars are offered in this range. But of course there are also those with higher magnification.

The new binoculars are designed for maximum visual comfort and the finest image quality. They offer sharp, high-contrast images with natural color fidelity, promises Swarovski Optik. The lightweight housing and easy handling make it the ideal companion for on the go, be it on safari, hiking, cruising or on a regular walk in the local area – or in the garden at home for bird watching. In order to meet the high demands (and price), the CL Companion are of course made with high-quality materials and of excellent quality, so that they are also a tactile pleasure. And of course also for maximum stability and longevity. In contrast to smartphones etc., whose function you never have forever, binoculars can actually be inherited because they neither need software updates nor electricity, nor do they age quickly. And they don’t cost their users any license or subscription fees. Once you buy it, it’s yours.

By the way: The joy of purely analog observation of nature can still be wonderfully combined with the digital world if necessary or even if you have a strong desire to experiment. With a smartphone adapter such as the Variable Phone Adapter 2 (VPA 2), smartphone cameras such as those on the iPhone can be mounted mechanically precisely in front of one of the eyepieces and in this way impressive telephoto images can be taken. With this feature in particular, the particularly high optical quality of the binoculars and mechanical precision of the adapter pay off in order to achieve optimal image results.

The VPA 2 from Swarovski is therefore not cheap. Together with a matching adapter ring, of which there are three to choose from, it costs 248 euros. Mechanically, it is beyond any doubt and of course optimally designed for the manufacturer’s optics. Using the adapter rings, the VPA 2 can also be used for the manufacturer’s telescopes, which drastically increases the telephoto range.

It’s also pleasing that Swarovski Optik not only offers the new binoculars in a standard color (usually “Jägermeister Green”, as I would like to call it with a wink), but also offers a beautiful earthy tone with Safari Brown (and black) and a very eye-catching color with Desert Orange (and silver). Each with a matching colored carrying strap.

The Swarovski binoculars from the new CL Companion series are now available in the colors Desert Orange, Mountain Green and Safari Brown from specialist retailers and in the manufacturer’s e-shop.

The prices:
CL Companion III 8×30: 1,290 euros
CL Companion III 10×30: 1,320 euros
VPA2 Variable Phone Adapter + 1 clamp adapter: 248 euros