New 30mm Zeiss SFL
Binocular Review
This one's always in my hands
Some weeks ago, I got my hands on the new Zeiss 8x30 SFL binocular. For testing. I took it outside for a walk. So light around my neck it might as well have been a 25mm pocket binocular.
But so bright and sharp it could have been a top-of-the-line, $2000-plus binocular. Like the one hanging on the hook back at my house.
Now when I reach for binoculars for a little birding, it’s the 8x30 SFL that goes out the door with me. I mean, it’s utterly comfortable to carry. And the image is so nice!
How can this be?
Optical quality
It’s the most important thing. It is what makes everything else about these binoculars matter.
All four sizes of the new Zeiss SFL binoculars have the Zeiss Ultra-HD Concept, which provides great detail and true colors thanks to high-end coatings and opical design. This technology provides 90% light transmission and a level of detail resolution that birders dream of. Zeiss includes the Ultra-HD Concept in the new, economical SFL. What a gift!
Weight and size
The Zeiss SFL 8x30 binocular weighs only 16.2 ounces, much less than other high-end, mid-sized binoculars. But the SFL has the easy usability that you get with a full-sized binocular.
I'm usually also carrying my camera with a 500mm lens. With a larger binocular, the straps of my camera and binocular tend to get tangled up.
That problem disappeared when I started carrying the 30mm SFL. It's bigger and easier to handle than a pocket binocular, but a full inch shorter than most of the 32mm binoculars. It seems to know how to stay out of the way but be there when I need it.
| MODEL | Zeiss SFL 8x30 |
Zeiss SF 8x32 |
Zeiss Victory 8x25 |
Swarovski NL Pure 8x32 |
Leica Ultravid HD-Plus 8x32 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 16.2 oz | 21.2 oz | 10.8 oz | 22.8 oz | 18.9 oz |
| MODEL | Zeiss SFL 8x30 |
Zeiss SF 8x32 |
Zeiss Victory 8x25 |
Swarovski NL Pure 8x32 |
Leica Ultravid HD-Plus 8x32 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 4.7 in. | 5.9 in. | 3.9 in. | 5.7 in. | 4.6 in. |
Build quality
Like all Zeiss binoculars, the SFL 8x30 is waterproof and fog-proof. Zeiss has been building optics since 1846, and their binoculars are known for their durability and reliability.
Field of view
A wide field of view gives the feeling of immersion in a scene, as if you're magically closer to the bird. The Zeiss SFL 8x30 has a field of view of 426 feet at 1000 yards.
| MODEL | Zeiss SFL 8x30 |
Zeiss SF 8x32 |
Swarovski Pure 8x32 |
Leica Ultravid HD-Plus 8x32 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field of View | 426 ft. | 465 ft. | 450 ft. | 404 ft. |
Close focus
It's nice to be able to focus on your bird feeder without having to back away from your window. The chart shows the minimum focus distance in feet. The SFL allows you to watch hummingbirds with ease.
Also, the focus knob is big. Big enough to use with two fingers. Easy to roll, throughout the entire focus range.
| MODEL | Zeiss SFL 8x30 |
Zeiss SF 8x32 |
Swarovski Pure 8x32 |
Leica Ultravid HD-Plus 8x32 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Close Focus | 4.9 ft. | 6.4 ft. | 6.6 ft. | 6.9 ft. |
Sweet spot pricing
The Zeiss SFL is at a good price point. You get a top-quality binocular at an affordable price.
| MODEL | Zeiss SFL 8x30 |
Zeiss SF 8x32 |
Swarovski Pure 8x32 |
Leica Ultravid HD-Plus 8x32 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Price | $1500 | $2500 | $2769 | $2199 |
The SFL family
The new Zeiss SFL binocular is made in four verions, 8x40 10x40, 8x30, and 10x30. Zeiss launched the 40mm versions in 2022. You can see our review of the 40mm SFLs here.
The 30mm versions are being launched in 2023. As of this writing, the 8x30 and the 10x30 are now available. However, we had not yet seen the 10x30 when we wrote this review, so it is not explicitly included.
However, we can tell you that the size, shape, weight, and optical quality are the same as the 8x30.
The 8x40, 10x40, 10x30, and 8x30 are all made to the same basic design, differing only in the magnification and the diameter of the objective lenses. Find them all at the Birdwatching Dot Com Store.
We're more than pleased with this addition to the Zeiss collection of binoculars. We would be glad to hear your impressions of these binoculars after you have used them and evaluated them in
Zeiss SFL 8x40
Zeiss SFL 10x40
Zeiss SFL 8x30
Zeiss SFL 10x30