Swarovski Optiks - End of an Era
The discovery of the lens and its implementation throughout our society has had fundamental impacts. Health, space exploration and ofcourse hunting/stalking have all benefited greatley. Now as much as I would like to blog about the impact of lenses on space exploration and discovery I think it may be a little off of the beaten track so I'll stick to what we know best, hunting and stalking. Primarily we'll be looking at Swarovski Optiks and the end of one their long running laser range finder monoculars.
See the world through new eyes
Swarovski Optiks (a division of the Swarovski group of companies) was founded in Austria in 1949, but its roots date back to 1935, where Wilhelm Swarovski began the first production of Swarovski bincolars which were 6x30. Regardless of the Swarovski company you look into, they are all fundamentally associated with the premium end of the market wih highly sought after goods, and for good reason. Swarovski Optiks pride themselves on the technical expertise with which they bring to the field and make no compromises when it comes down to design or specifications - something which any Swarovski user will confirm.
Over the years the range of items available from Swarovski have increased, as one would expect, allowing them to maintain a strong presence in the entire field of hunting and stalking. The following illustrates how they have managed to carve themselves into all aspects of our sport;.
- 1935 First Swarovski binoculars, which was a 6x30
- 1949 Formation of Swarovski Optik
- 1959 First Swarovski Optik rifle scope (4x32)
- 1967 First Swarovski Optik extendable spotting scope (30x75)
- 1991 First AT 80 telescope
- 1993 First hunting rifle scope with reticle illumination
- 1995 First rifle scope with integrated laser range finder
- 1999 First binoculars with wrap-around grip, named EL
- 2007 First Swarovski rifle scope with 6x zoom
The optics created by Swarovski have an excellent retail life span and generally stick around at the top of the game for 8, 9 , 10 years and beyond. This is how powerful Swarovski is as a brand. Although they are a premium manufacturer their equipement sells very well and for good reason - superior optics with exceptionally robust bodies that are desinged to stand up to knocks and drops. There comes a time, however, when ranges and specific items meet their desmise. All good things have to end at some point and today is one of those days.
The Swarovski Laser Range Finder 8x30 has been one of our best selling range finders since our inception 10 years ago. This little beauty has been going strong since but has now come to the end of its tether and is no longer being manufactured. But this shows the point I am making today - 10 years in the market and still one of the leaders in its field. As sad as it is to see a BushWear staple saying good bye it opens the door for new innovative and exciting products to make their way in, which is never a bad thing.
As a fairwell to this model, we, at BushWear, are selling the very last of our stock with a high discount. The models available would be considered as a category 2 which shows only slight wear on the body of the item with the optics in prestine condition. These could still be passed as out of the box new. These are Ex-demo models and here are the details.
Specifications
- Maximum range up to 1500 yds (1400 m).
- Rangefinder Accuracy = ± 1 yds (± 1 m).
- Laser: Eye-safe Class 1.
- Scan mode. 1.18 in (30 mm) viewing optics. / 1.18 in (30 mm) receiving optics.
- Dioptric eye correction ± 4 diopters.
- Swarovski Rangefinder Usability
- Compact, ergonomic and lightweight range finder design.
- Swarovski Range finder weight with batteries: 13.65 oz (386 g).
- Tripod adapter connection
- CR2-3V Lithium battery lifetime: minimum 1000 measurements.
- Yards or meters readout selector.
- Range finder LCD display with aiming circle for rapid target acquisition.
- Operating temperatures: 14°F to 122°F (-10°C to +50°C).
- Waterproof to 13 ft. (0.4 bar).
What's included
- Laser Rangefinder 8x30.
- Neoprene carry case.
- Belt holder.
- Lithium battery.
- Original packaging and documentation.
- Full warranty.
Very compact laser rangefinder - The Laser Guide 8 x 30 monocular weighs only 12 oz., yet it will deliver ±1 yard accuracy from 10 yards out to a very impressive 1500 yards. This 8x power monocular with Swarobright coatings has a built in rangefinder that can be set for readings in yards or meters. 1500 yd/m range with scan capability. Both the standard and the scan modes are activated by a single push button. The Laser Guide 8 x 30 is fully waterproof. Push-down eyecup accommodates eyeglass wearers, and the adjustable twist-in eyecup may be removed for easy cleaning. Features an LED display with aiming circle for rapid target acquisition, and includes a built-in tripod adapter. Includes a neoprene carry strap, belt holster and battery.
