Colin Hockley reviews the new Swarovski Optik AX Visio Smart Binoculars and discovers there is an awful lot going on under the bonnet.
While there may not be herds of wildebeest stretching across the North London horizon or white-tailed eagles wheeling overhead, there is enough going on around my local nature reserve for me to focus Swarovski’s flagship and groundbreaking AX Visio 10 X 32 AI supported binoculars on.
In most cases with binoculars, it’s all about clarity, comfort, field of view and magnification. But with the Swarovski Optik AX Visio there is more…so much more. Swarovski claims these to be the first Smart binocular making it possible to not only photograph and video your subject, but with the assistance of AI, it will even identify the bird or mammal being viewed.
Using the associated Swarovski Optik Outdoor app, you can then download the images to your phone. If you spot something you’d like to share with your birding buddy, gone are the days when you hand the binoculars over to then and try and guide them to where you were looking……left a bit …. right a bit …up a bit…aim….fire! With the Optik AX Visio you simply spot your subject, select ‘Share Discoveries’ on the function wheel, hand the binoculars to your pal and by means of red arrow markings it will guide them straight to the same spot.
All this is possible due to the third lens sitting discreetly between the two viewing lenses and which delivers high resolution 13megapixel images and video stabilisation. An electronic compass is also included in the hi-tech inventory.
As you would expect of Swarovski the high level of quality and workmanship is obvious, with clarity, brightness, contrast, colour range and edge to edge sharpness being second to none.
But the battery (good for 15 hours) and added technology does come at a cost, not just in the price but by adding a considerable amount of weight to what you would normally expect from a pair of standard 10×32 binoculars. The Axio weighs in at 1030gm as opposed for example to Swarovski’s EL 10×32 weighing in at just 680gm.
The main downside to this is that they can be difficult to hold steady for any length of time, particularly in a strong wind. Swarovski may benefit from sacrificing 2x of magnification and introducing an 8×32 version of the AX Visio which is often the go to piece of birding and wildlife kit allowing for steady viewing and minimum focus adjustment, before moving on to more serious gear.
Alternatively for the price, I’d like to see a tripod bracket included rather than being offered as a strap-on extra for £128.
While the bird and mammal identification function is not foolproof, it does work well if the subject fills a good percentage of the viewfinder and is relatively still for a few seconds at least. I was particularly impressed with the stabilised video option and while this piece of kit for me, won’t replace a good camera and lens, the optics are outstanding, and if you do spot that rare white-tailed eagle, you have the opportunity of instantly recording something really special.
Images (C) Swarovski Optik
Tell me more about Swarovski Optik AX Visio binoculars
Swarovski Optik AX Visio binoculars
The Swarovski Optik AX Visio binoculars are available directly from Swarovski Optik for £3,890
About Swarovski Optik
Founded in 1949 Swarovsky Optik specialises in the development and manufacturing of long-range optical instruments of the highest precision in the premium segment of the market. The binoculars, spotting scopes, and optronic instruments are products of choice for demanding users. The appreciation of nature is an essential part of its company philosophy and is reflected in its environmentally friendly production and its long-term commitment to selected nature conservation projects.
