Swarovski Optik Companion III
Binocular Review
What's to like?
Several things. First off, this new binocular is small and light. A pleasant instrument to pick up. Never a burden. I might just lift it by the strap on my way out to the mailbox.
And it has very good optics. Excellent resolution, brightness, freedom from chromatic aberration — qualities we can trust in binoculars from Swarovski Optik.
They come in three colors, so a family can have the same binoculars but easy to tell apart. I love the Desert Orange version. It's easy to spot if I set them down in grass, and it's a beautiful color. However, the Mountain Green edges out both the orange and the Safari Brown, in number sold.
A lovely gift
A Companion III a fine gift for a loved one who is just getting into birding but who appreciates fine quality in tools.
Redesigned for 2026, the Companion III is an upgrade in optics and design from the previous popular Companion binoculars. Like its predecessors, the CL Companion III is deliberately designed as a compact, lightweight, highly portable binocular—particularly for travel and prolonged carrying. Swarovski Optik itself describes it as compact enough for a backpack and an “ideal travel companion.”
With that mission in mind, Swarovski Optik offers the Companion III only as an 8x30 or a 10x30. It's the binocular you'll never leave behind!
Well-working parts
As we have learned to expect from Swarovski Optik, all the elements work well. The focus knob is sure and smooth. The resistence of the bridge is such that you can easily adjust the distance between the eyepieces, and yet it is firm enough that it will not flop on you.
And they're light!
They're so easy to carry. At 19 ounces, they're no burden to the hands. The older I get, the more important this is to my hands and neck.
Field of view
I love a wide field of view. It makes me feel as if I'm completely immersed in the scene. The binoculars disappear. I'm just right there with the bird.
The 8x30 Companion has a 420-feet field of view at 1000 yards. The 10x30 takes in a field 345 feet wide at 1000 yards.
Do you wear glasses?
The 8x30 Companions have an eye relief of 19 mm. On the 10x30 it's 18 mm, still good enough for almost everyone even if they wear glasses. You can see the whole field of view even with your glasses on.
The variable eyecups mean that they also work for people who don't wear glasses. You can fine-tune the adjustment for eye relief that is perfect for you.
An easy on-ramp to the Swarovski Optik world
A place near the top
This is not Swarovski Optik's top line of binoculars. That would be the costlier NL Pure. However, it partakes of the Swarovski Optik excellence in engineering and design, which the company takes great pride in.
The CL Companion is manufactured and assembled by Swarovski Optik at its own facility in Absam, Austria. Under the binocular's bridge, it inscribed, "Made in Austria."
See them in the store
See pricing on the 30mm Companion III binoculars here
