The Swarovski CL Companion is an 8 x 33mm model. With a lightweight design and crisp imagery the high quality lenses on these binoculars will provide sharp focus and color accuracy. Swarovski has a reputation for providing expensive, quality binoculars that offer nothing but the best viewing experience possible, whether you’re a birder, hunter or a nature lover. See the outdoors like never before, through the lenses of the Companion.
The Companion by Swarovski features advanced optical coatings: Swarodur, Swarotop and Swarobright. Swarodur coating works by making the lenses scratch resistant. Swarotop is a multi-coating that’s anti-reflective and works by enhancing light transmission. Last of all, is Swarobright, which is a mirrored prism coating that improves color reproduction and brightness.
Product Overview And Features
If binoculars aren’t a hundred percent indispensable to birding, then they’re pretty close. A good pair of binoculars will show you the fine details for almost any bird that crosses your path. They can also improve your chances of identifying each species you see. For most birders, binoculars will almost feel like an extension of your body.
While binoculars are not required for birding, they’ll definitely improve your chances of spotting a wider variety of birds.
What makes birding so popular these days is the social aspect, not to mention sharing in the sense of discovery and wonder that comes with spotting a rare bird. And there is no better way to share this experience with your friends of birding club members than through the view of your binoculars.
These binoculars are just over four and a half inches long, weighing just eighteen ounces. Small enough to store in your pocket and light enough to tote around all day, these binoculars are designed for user comfort.
Check out our full Buyer’s Guide on the best binoculars for bird watching for this year!
- Comes with a neoprene wrist and neck strap
- Has push-on lens caps and eyepiece covers
- Has a lifetime warranty
- Available in tan, black, and green
- Compact sizing ideal for travellers
- Entirely weather resistant
- Crystal clear image
Elemental Resistance
Waterproof, dust proof and fog proof, this model can also be submerged in up to thirteen feet of water.
The model’s individually adjustable twist-in eyecups offer 14 MM eye relief, with no runner eyecups to unfold and fold. The entire model is covered in rubber armor for added protection. These binoculars also include thumb depressions on the underside of the barrels for added comfort and improved grip. The CL Companion is not equipped with a tripod mount, but fortunately, they’re light enough that wrist and arm fatigue is not an issue.
Ideal For Pros and Amateurs
Birding can be exacting scientific work or a casual activity. Because of this, the quality of the optics are of great importance. Premium optics allow the user to view subtle colors and patterns on the mantle and breast and allow them to examine the delicate plumage found on the wing bars. For many birders, accurate identification is their mission, which is why birders need binoculars that offer the best, clearest view possible.
Better optics means a better viewing experience and an overall improved birding experience. There is a kind of subtle, intangible pleasure you get to experience when you look through optics that are bright and crisp.
A Few Birding Tips
Birding isn’t always done on bright sunny days, which means you’ll definitely need a pair of binoculars that are waterproof. This particular model is not only waterproof, but fog-proof as well. This is a great feature that works to keep the binoculars fog-free on cold mornings.
If you’re new to birding, do a little research and know what to expect in your area. The large woodpecker you saw in your backyard may have been an ivory-billed woodpecker, not a pileated woodpecker. Many national and state parks near you offer free checklists of the birds commonly seen in the park. Or you can go online and search for bird checklists based on state.
As a birder, you also need to learn how to find birds. In order to do this, you need to learn about the common habitat each type of bird prefers. Do they often spend most of their time on the ground, at the top of a tree or on the water?
You will also need to learn the songs of the birds that hang around your yard. Later on, you can learn the songs of rare birds found in different parts of the country. In order to find a bird you often need to hear it first.
If you don’t have much bird watching experience, try a birding tour or trip. These local trips are usually advertised in newspapers and are typically led by a local Audubon member or park ranger. After reciting the list of birds commonly found in the area, your guide will often mention any upcoming events such as field trips. These trips can last a few hours or most of the day. And the best part? These trips are usually free.
If you want to check out something far more premium but also with a more premium price tag, check out our Leica Duovid review.
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- Comes with a neoprene wrist and neck strap
- Has push-on lens caps and eyepiece covers
- Has a lifetime warranty
- Available in tan, black, and green
- Compact sizing ideal for travellers
- Entirely weather resistant
- Crystal clear image
Cons
- Some consumers describe the optics as good, but not great. Additionally, the focus mechanism tends to stick and grind.
Conclusion and Rating
Birding Rocks:
Consumers gave the Swarovski Optik CL Companion Binoculars a rating of four out of five stars for ease of use, lightweight design, comfortable viewing even for users who wear glasses and the overall clear imagery you’ll experience. A pricier model, some consumers felt that these binoculars were too expensive, while others considered it an investment. We gave this model four and a half out of five stars rating.
