Swarovski CL Companion 10x30 vs Swarovski EL 10x42
Quick take: The Swarovski CL Companion 10x30 costs $450 less; the Swarovski CL Companion 10x30 has a wider field of view (345 vs 336 ft @ 1000 yds); the Swarovski EL 10x42 gathers more light with a larger 42mm objective.
Field of view, to scale
Top-down view · drawn to true scale — no exaggeration
Which one to buy
Plenty of Swarovski owners treat these two as a team rather than rivals: the EL 10x42 for dedicated outings, the CL Companion 10x30 for when the EL stays home. If you're buying only one, the question is how often you'll carry 29.6 oz. The CL weighs 19 oz and slips into a jacket pocket; the EL costs $450 more and is the better binocular in nearly every optical respect, by its own owners' account and the CL's.
The EL's advantages show most as the light fades. Its 4.2mm exit pupil beats the CL's 3.0mm, and CL owners say their view dims noticeably in early morning and evening and that directional light brings a surprising amount of glare. EL owners describe edge-to-edge sharpness across the 336 ft field, rich color, a 5.2 ft close focus that is rare in a 10x42, and 20mm of eye relief against the CL's 18mm. Their complaints are a rolling-ball effect when panning that bothers a minority, some edge fringing, and a nose-heavy feel in long holds.
The CL's case is reach per ounce. Owners call it razor sharp on-axis and ideal for safari and travel, and say that in bright daylight the gap to full-size 10x glass nearly disappears. They also say 10x in a body this light shows hand shake, its 9.8 ft close focus is poor, and most reviewers point general buyers to the 8x30 version instead.
As a primary birding or hunting binocular, the EL is the one. The CL 10x30 makes sense only when you know the bigger glass would stay home and most of your viewing happens in good light.
Swarovski CL Companion 10x30
For safari, travel and hiking in good light, where 10x reach in a 19 oz pocketable body matters more than dusk performance.
Swarovski EL 10x42
The better primary binocular: brighter at dawn and dusk, sharper to the edge, focusing to 5.2 ft, and worth the extra $450 if you'll carry it.
| Spec | Swarovski CL Companion 10x30 | Swarovski EL 10x42 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$1,549 | ~$1,999 |
| Use case | General Purpose | Birding |
| Magnification | 10x | 10x |
| Objective | 30mm | 42mm |
| Exit pupil | 3.0mm | 4.2mm |
| Field of view | 345 ft @ 1000 yds | 336 ft @ 1000 yds |
| Eye relief | 18mm | 20mm |
| Close focus | 9.8 ft | 5.2 ft |
| Prism | Roof | Roof |
| Glass | HD | FL |
| Coating | Fully Multi-Coated | Fully Multi-Coated |
| Weight | 19 oz | 29.6 oz |
| Dimensions | 4.5 x 4.3 in | 5.6 x 4.7 in |
| Warranty | Lifetime | Lifetime |
Feature comparison
Swarovski CL Companion 10x30
- ✓ED Glass
- ✓Phase-Corrected
- ✓Dielectric Coating
- ✓Waterproof
- ✓Fogproof
- ✗Image Stabilized
- ✗Tripod Adaptable
- ✗Magnesium Body
- ✗Locking Diopter
Swarovski EL 10x42
- ✓ED Glass
- ✓Phase-Corrected
- ✓Dielectric Coating
- ✓Waterproof
- ✓Fogproof
- ✗Image Stabilized
- ✓Tripod Adaptable
- ✓Magnesium Body
- ✓Locking Diopter
What birders say
Swarovski CL Companion 10x30
- ✓10x reach in a 19 oz package that slips into a jacket pocket - there's no other way to get this much magnification with this little bulk at this quality level
- ✓Central sharpness draws real praise - reviewers call the on-axis view razor sharp with Swarovski's signature contrast and accurate color
- ✓Ideal safari and travel format per owner reports - the extra reach over an 8x30 matters for distant game and shy wildlife when you can't close the distance
- ✓Slim double-hinge body handles beautifully and balances well despite the small size - the ergonomics get consistent praise across reviews
- ✓Field Pro strap system makes swapping straps and accessories tool-free - small thing, frequently mentioned fondly
- ✓Build quality is full Swarovski: magnesium-light feel, tight tolerances, and a finish that owners say makes bigger rivals feel agricultural
- ✓For hikers who count ounces, it delivers genuine long-range identification ability at half the weight of a 10x42
- ✓Wide-open daylight is its element - in good light owners say the gap to full-size 10x glass nearly disappears
- ✗The 3mm exit pupil is unforgiving - eye placement is fussier than the 8x30 and the view dims noticeably in early morning and evening light
- ✗Glare is the most repeated criticism in reviews - uneven or directional light produces a surprising amount of veiling glare for glass at this price
- ✗345 ft field of view is only average, and combined with edge softening some reviewers found extended viewing a little uncomfortable
- ✗10x magnification amplifies hand shake, and this light body gives you little inertia to damp it - shaky-handed users should stick to 8x
- ✗9.8 ft close focus is poor for an all-rounder - butterflies and close feeder birds are out of reach
- ✗Eye relief is 18mm, a millimetre shorter than the 8x30's 19mm
- ✗Reviewers repeatedly conclude the 8x30 is the smarter buy for most people - the 10x30 is the niche pick within an already niche format
- ✗Costs slightly more than the 8x30 while being harder to use well, so it only makes sense if you specifically need the reach
Swarovski EL 10x42
- ✓Swarovision optics still trade punches with current flagships - hunters and birders who compared it directly to the NL Pure 10x42 report no significant difference for most real-world use
- ✓Edge-to-edge sharpness from the field flattener means the entire 336 ft field is usable - scanning ridgelines or seabird rafts, nothing smears at the margins
- ✓The post-NL price drop made it the consensus 'value alpha' - forum threads consistently steer buyers to new-discounted or used ELs as the smart way into Swarovski glass
- ✓Award-winning pedigree (Best of the Best honors in its era) and a decade-plus of field reports give it one of the deepest track records in optics
- ✓The open-bridge wrap-around grip is one of the most loved ergonomic designs ever shipped - secure one-handed carry that hunters especially praise
- ✓Brilliant color rendition and contrast - the richness and depth of the Swarovision image is still described as breathtaking in reviews
- ✓5.2 ft close focus is exceptional for a 10x42 and better than the Zeiss SF 10x42's, useful for insects and close hides
- ✓Swarovski's legendary service reputation - owners routinely report decade-old ELs coming back from service like new, which underwrites used purchases
- ✗The NL Pure 10x42's 399 ft field makes the EL's 336 ft feel dated - field width is the one spec where the EL clearly lost the crown
- ✗Swarovski lists 20mm of eye relief, but some eyeglass wearers still fiddle with the eyecup stops to see the whole field
- ✗The field-flattener rolling-ball effect bothers a minority of users when panning, and it's a permanent characteristic, not a defect
- ✗Glare in low-angle light draws recurring comments, though it's less criticized than in the 32mm ELs
- ✗Resale values fell after the NL launch and discounting - sellers who bought at peak pricing took the hit, and buyers should not overpay for used samples
- ✗At 29.6 oz it's heavier than the Zeiss SF 10x42 and lacks that model's rearward balance trick, so it feels more nose-heavy in extended holds
- ✗Some edge chromatic aberration is baked into the Swarovision design - visible fringing in the outer field on high-contrast subjects
- ✗10x magnification and a conventional balance mean shake management matters - forum threads regularly note the 8.5x42 shows most people more actual detail
Swarovski CL Companion 10x30 vs Swarovski EL 10x42: common questions
Is the Swarovski EL 10x42 worth $450 more than the CL Companion 10x30?▾
If it will be your main binocular, yes. Owners of both describe the EL as better in every optical respect, with more light at dawn and dusk, better glare control and edge-to-edge sharpness. The CL earns its place only when its 19 oz size means it comes along and the EL wouldn't.
Which is steadier to hold, the CL Companion 10x30 or the EL 10x42?▾
The EL. CL owners say a 19 oz body gives little inertia to damp 10x shake, so tremor shows more than through a 10x42. EL owners still note that 10x needs some shake management and that it can feel nose-heavy in long holds.
Can the CL Companion 10x30 replace the EL 10x42 for birding?▾
For most birders, no. CL owners call it a bright-daylight instrument with a 9.8 ft close focus, while the EL focuses to 5.2 ft and holds up far better in dim woods. Many owners keep the CL as a second binocular alongside a full-size one.