I might just be a dumbass but I can't figure out the difference in the Swarovski 8 X 30 binos. Some ar around $900 and some are around $1800. I have read everything I can but I still don't see the difference. Help?

The EL model is the highest grade Swarovski makes, and the SL is their other line, which is less expensive. Both are great glass.

Biebs is right: EL is the top line, SLC the 2nd, but there will be a ne CL Companion 8x30 coming up in July

BUT: if You look for the best you could get, you should go to the 8,5x42 SWAROVISION - it´s a bit heavier so, but the optics is much superior, even compared against teh EL 8x32 WB ! Definetly!

Klaus

There goes Klaus again, always pushing his Swaro brand! I never knew Zeiss and Leica optics were such a POS...until he told me!!!! :-)

Swarovski = Ausgeseichnet!!!!!!!!!

I carried 10 X 42 on my first elk (non-Swaro's) and I am thinking I want to shave weight and go with the 8 X 30's. But I might wait for the new models.

It looks to me, based on the style and the price points, that the Companion line will replace the current SLs. They look more like the EL style, and are priced about like the SLs, so I don't know why they'd carry both, unless there's some special feature I'm not aware of.

I have tried the SLC's and the EL's - I prefer the SLC's for clarity and ease of use.