Swarovski NL Pure Binoculars
52mm Hands-on Review
New, powerful, super Pure
The new 52mm NL Pure binoculars are another giant step in stunning optics by Swarovski.
This new addition to Swarovski's NL Pure line has bigger, 52mm objectives. We found them amazingly bright. And incredibly clear.
Birders like magnification. For shorebirds or any long-distance viewing, we always want a little more magnification.
The 14x52 NL Pure gives us the power we have long craved. It also gives us portability and a wide field of view.
Weighing 36 oz, it has a 279 foot field of view at 1000 yards.
Stability
You can easily stabilize the 14-power NL Pure on a car window, as Michael is doing in a photo above. (He's resting the binocular on a length of pipe insulation slipped over the edge of the window.)
Why 52 millimeters?
The laws of optics say a larger diameter lens has more resolution and detail in its image. That’s why astronomical telescopes are very big. So they can show more detail.
When you combine all these features...
- 52mm diameter objective lens
- 14 power magnification
- Swarovski quality glass
- State-of-the-art anti-reflection lens coatings
- Binocular vision (which present two images to your brain’s visual cortex)
You get the most detailed image you can possibly see.
And now a tripod adapter
Swarovski now has a new tripod adapter that lets you quickly mount your 52mm NL Pure on a tripod.
Combined with a lightweight carbon fiber tripod, you can take the 14x52 Swarovski anywhere. You can carry both a small Swarovski ATC scope and the 14x52mm NL Pure and switch back and forth as needed.
And for astronomy, the 10x52
The 10x52 NL Pure is ideal for viewing the night sky with hand-held binoculars. The larger, 52mm objective lenses resolve more detail.
We like to lie down on our backs and look at the planets and stars with binoculars. Using both eyes together gives a more satisfying view of the night sky. For this, 10 power is the ideal magnification. It gives you a steady image plus a broad look at the sky. The 10x52 has a 7.4 degree field of view. (That's 390 feet at 1000 yards.) We're looking forward using the 10x52 NL Pure to see the upcoming supernova event.
Hand friendly shape
Both 52mm versions are super comfortable in the hand. The barrels narrow in just the right place. They're not round in the center. They're designed for the way human hands are positioned when holding binoculars, with the narrowing on the diagonal.
Why haven't all binoculars always been made this way?
It makes your finger fall perfectly on the focus knob.
Focus knob
The focus knob is like butter. It's the most ergonomic one we've used. Effortless to adjust, and without a trace of slack. Also, it's wide enough to be glove friendly in the winter. It's perfect.
Diopter mechanism
It's perfect. On the center element, it is well marked with a scale. It's easy to adjust but out of the way, not likely to be turned by accident.
Eye relief
Both these 52mm NL Pures have an eye relief of 18mm. That lets you see the whole field of view even with your glasses on. The variable eyecups mean that they also work for people who don't wear glasses. You can fine-tune the adjustment for eye relief that is just right for you.
Summing up
What can we say? If you're in the market for the ultimate upgrade, this is for you.