Cars, televisions, and smartphones are all increasing in size, but optics are bucking the trend. In the great outdoors, other requirements simply take precedence. Sandra Schweninger, Product Manager with SWAROVSKI OPTIK, explains: “We’re not seeing any great demand for increasingly large products. But we are noticing a trend for ever-more powerful long-range optics.”
YOUR PASSION FOR HUNTING TAKES YOU INTO ROUGH TERRAIN, REMOTE AREAS, AND DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. EVERY OUNCE LESS IN YOUR BACKPACK CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN COMFORT ON SHORT OR LONG TOURS. COMPACT, LIGHTWEIGHT, AND POWERFUL LONG-RANGE OPTICS OPEN UP GREATER FREEDOM TO ENJOY YOUR ADVENTURES. SANDRA SCHWENINGER AND MATTHEW HICKS, PRODUCT MANAGERS AT SWAROVSKI OPTIK, TALK ABOUT CHALLENGES IN DEVELOPMENT.
NEW TRENDS, NEW REQUIREMENTS
Trends affect practically every area of life – and to a certain extent this is true for hunting too. Certain types of hunting that had more of a niche appeal 20 years ago are now attracting growing numbers of followers. Matthew Hicks, Product Manager at SWAROVSKI OPTIK, cites backcountry hunting as well as the physically challenging mountain hunting. These developments are also driving new requirements for long-range optics. He explains: “Hunting has evolved. Many hunters are not just looking at optical performance, but also at criteria such as weight, size, or durability.” And this is hardly surprising as every ounce counts, especially on extensive tours.
A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT
Demand for ultra-compact long-range optics poses huge challenges for SWAROVSKI OPTIK’s product developers. Packing high performance into a compact product calls for herculean efforts from optics experts and designers. “This is particularly true for products such as the CL Curio, when we were tasked with developing a device you could slip into a chest pocket. In this case, the portability of the product was almost the main challenge,” comments Sandra Schweninger.
It is important to remember limits imposed by physics. “If we were to produce binoculars with an objective lens diameter of half an inch, at typical magnification, they would have an extremely small exit pupil. The light intensity would also be impaired,” explains Schweninger. She adds that weight savings are partially achieved through raw materials, such as magnesium, aluminum, or titanium. “Of course, the optics are still made from glass, and this is the biggest weight factor in our products.”
All this makes the weight and dimensions of the ATC/STC compact spotting scope even more impressive. At just 970 grams (34.2 ounces) and 258 millimeters (10.2 inches) long, it is an indisputably powerful yet compact companion. Or, as Sandra Schweninger puts it:
Matthew Hicks highlights the Z8i line in this respect – in particular, the Z8i 1.7-13.3×42 and the Z8i 3.5-28×50: “These products are slimmer, lighter, more powerful, and more compact in comparison with competing devices.” He adds, however, that: “Here at SWAROVSKI OPTIK, we are not always on a mission to make small or compact products.” As his colleague concludes: “We want to deliver the best-possible response to our customers’ needs.”
Whatever the application and hunting situation, hunters can find the perfect package every time in SWAROVSKI OPTIK’s wide product portfolio.
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