Swarovski EL 8.5x42 specs and field of view
The calculated exit pupil works out to 4.9 mm, wider than the 4.2 mm on the EL 10x42. Its field is 399 ft with 20 mm of eye relief.
- Field of view
- 399 ftat 1,000 yd
- Eye relief
- 20 mm
- Close focus
- 10.8 ft
- Weight
- 29.5 oz
- Exit pupil
- 4.9 mmcalculated
Why pick it
- 20 mm eye relief, enough for glasses
- Takes a tripod adapter
Who the EL 8.5x42 suits
A wide exit pupil and 20 mm of eye relief suit eyeglass wearers watching in fading light. The tripod adaptable body helps on long sessions.
It weighs 29.5 oz, and the 10.8 ft close focus rules out very near subjects.
EL 8.5x42 can be set against the most popular models of every size in the best binoculars list. Swarovski lists it in the $1,000 to $2,000 price band, alongside the models in best binoculars over $1,000.
EL 8.5x42 specifications
EL 8.5x42 figures as Swarovski prints them; rows marked * are calculated from the 8.5x42 size.
| Magnification | 8.5x |
|---|---|
| Objective lens | 42 mm |
| Field of view | 399 ft at 1,000 yd (133 m at 1,000 m) |
| Angular field of view | 7.6° |
| Apparent field of view | 60° |
| Eye relief | 20 mm |
| Close focus | 10.8 ft (3.3 m) |
| Eye spacing range | 56 to 74 mm |
| Weight | 29.5 oz (835 g) |
| Length | 2.4 in (160 mm) |
| Width | 5.2 in (131 mm) |
| Tripod adaptable | Yes |
| Maker list price | $1,000 to $2,000 |
| Exit pupil | 4.9 mm * |
| Twilight factor | 18.9 * |
| Relative brightness | 24.4 * |
* Calculated from the size, not printed by the maker.
Other sizes of the EL
Swarovski makes the EL in 2 sizes; a larger front lens adds brightness and weight, and more magnification narrows the view.
| Model | Size | Field of view | Eye relief | Close focus | Weight | Exit pupil | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swarovski EL 8.5x42 | 8.5x42 | 399 ft | 20 mm | 10.8 ft | 29.5 oz | 4.9 mm | |
| Swarovski EL 10x42 | 10x42 | 336 ft | 20 mm | 10.8 ft | 29.6 oz | 4.2 mm | Check price on Amazon |
Binocular Chart earns a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases made through these buttons.
Swarovski binoculars
EL 8.5x42 questions
EL 8.5x42: does it work with glasses?
EL 8.5x42 has 20 mm of eye relief, which meets the 16 mm the RSPB advises for people who wear glasses.
EL 8.5x42: what does 8.5x42 mean?
EL 8.5x42 magnifies 8.5 times through 42 mm front lenses, which works out to an exit pupil of 4.9 mm, the width of the beam of light that reaches each eye.
EL 8.5x42: can it go on a tripod?
EL 8.5x42 is tripod adaptable according to Swarovski, so it accepts a binocular tripod adapter.