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best binoculars for spotting??
- Thread starter Cody S
- Start date
The 15x56 Swaro SLC is perfect on a tripod. Please give us a call, 516-217-1000, to discuss it
Have a great weekend
Doug
Have a great weekend
Doug
I wouldnt nee
there wouldnt be any benefit to the EL model? just spotting and honestly just day light hours
Swaro SLC 15x are basically the gold standard for spotting binos.
Except not having a reticle, they are perfect for 1200yds and in.
Except not having a reticle, they are perfect for 1200yds and in.
will the kaibobs from votes work just as good?
I really love the forgiving eyebox on the Swarovskis I've looked through. will the razor or kaibob or other model compete with that?
Cody - if interested drop me a PM...
Got a Swarovski EL 12 x 50 with very little use, “safe queen” looking for a good home...
I generally grab the 8 x 30 or setup a spotting scope....
Got a Swarovski EL 12 x 50 with very little use, “safe queen” looking for a good home...
I generally grab the 8 x 30 or setup a spotting scope....
I got a pair. They are ok.
I have a pair of Steiner HX 15x56 on order. I'm pretty excited to see those. German made with Schott glass.
Vortex kaibab and razor are good.
That being said, they ain’t swaro. Swaro makes them look like hammered dog shit if you put them side by side.
First I’d call doug at camera land...awesome guy to deal with and has first hand experience with all this glass.
That said I had a pair of Steiner 10x42 and they were nice but WAYYYY under powered....I’d suggest you get the 15x at minimum for spotting.
As far as brand...the swaros are the cats ass....or everyone says they are anyway...I went with the meopta meostars and they are Fn amazing and $1000+ less expensive.
I’ve never owned the swaros but I have looked though a pair side by side with my meoptas and honestly the swaros might have a tiny bit sharper image but not enough to WOW.
I’ve also looked through the razors and the high end athlons....not so much they are bad but both strain my eyes within a couple of minutes but that just me.
Where the swaros out shine the meopta is in low light conditions...or so I’ve been told I’ve never done a side by side in low light myself.
I’m a glass whore...I’ve owned a lot of different glass and what I look at more than anything is what my eyes do when I look through new glass...if the glass is not that great I can feel my eyes straining after a few minutes.
That tells me if I have to look through them all day I’ll have a headache in no time.
All that said I’m also very interested in the 18x mavens I just don’t know enough about them to buy a pair...yet!
You’ve got a huge budget so buy accordingly...but like I say talk to Doug first and ask questions he has had a lot of these set up outside his shop doing side by sides.
I’ve been using these for a few weeks now and they are absolutely sublime. I spent an entire day not shooting but spectating and spotting friends recently. Binos are hands down the comfortable way to do this.
I was easily spotting light hits and dust at 1000, everyone who looked through them was as impressed as I was. There was a line at some points in the day.
Time will tell if they’re durable but as far as initial build and image quality I am stunned.
Ever since my lasik surgery I am sensitive as hell to CA. There’s none here to speak of.
Resolution is incredibly good, as is contrast and color. Everything is in the “just right” zone.
The edge clarity is also VERY good but is definitely the one spot you can see a difference going back and forth on the 15x SLC. Swarovski does edge clarity better than anyone.
Low light is where the big power binos usually start to shit the bed, even SLCs but these hang right there with them until well after dark for spotting animals (not the discussion here but still).
I will say, 18x requires a nice stable bipod so plan accordingly.
I couldn’t recommend the mavens any higher. I’ve looked through them at least a few hours almost every day for weeks. They are absolutely good to go.
DAMNIT you just helped me spend some more money!! ive been eyeing these for awhile now id like to hear some more reviews thanks for your thoughts.
I have this exact issue so this is fantastic to hear. I think I will likely buy these to replace my spotter for hunting
No they arent. They are shit Chinese made junk and look like ass compared to similar priced binos like the conquest HD , Meopa & Leica cheapos.
I have two Kowa 77MM spotting scopes mounted in a custom frame with 20X and 30X eye pieces. I wouldn't trade them for anything. I also have a set of Bushnell Space Master 20X in a custom frame that are pretty darn good if anyone is interested in them. PM me.
Dave
Kowa Highlander for no holds barred spotting binos. Used Prominars are in your price range, or new non-Prominar.
And then you need the steadiest tripod available. These are old/heavy but they are cheap on EBay. I've used one for 30 years. Look for a version with the elevator shaft. Be sure it has the braces going from the central column to the legs. Very very steady in the wind. You can adjust the attachment point of the leg braces which changes the angle on the legs. I can sit in a chair, cooler by my side and glass all day comfortably.
This one has the dolly with it but the tri pod lifts right out. Save some on shipping.
This one has the dolly with it but the tri pod lifts right out. Save some on shipping.
Samson Quick Set Tripod on Dolly | eBay
Samson Quick Set Tripod on Dolly, Quick-Set Inc.. Reaches height of 60” Lowest setting 44”. Works perfect, very good shape.
www.ebay.com
I set a side of Maven B5s next to the Swaros... and for my money, especially talking new prices, I’m taking the Mavens.
I have been spotting with diamondbacks for 3+ years myself. Opticsaddict- https://opticsaddict.com/hunting-binoculars/ says that this one the top listed binocular for spotting. They get the job done especially for the price. I don't get quite the resolution at distance and they're not quite as strong in low light as a nicer pair, but they're very solid.
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I have a 65mm spotter and love to glass 2-4 miles often on greater than 20x magnification. I'd go with the spotter because I really think if you're in big country that can be glassed, you'll be limited with the 15x binos.
My spotter is a Vortex Viper and I experience basically zero eye strain on it. I don't know why I would want a 15x bino.
My spotter is a Vortex Viper and I experience basically zero eye strain on it. I don't know why I would want a 15x bino.
when I say spotting I mean spotting trace from small 6mm and 6.5mm and generally seeing impacts on dirt or steel, at ranges from 400-1000 yards.
FOV is crucial here as itll be used in prs matches so may need to move around quickly
FOV is crucial here as itll be used in prs matches so may need to move around quickly
this is also the reason I think swarovision, or whatever the field flattening technology is called, would be helpful to give a more accurate depiction of the trace. Am I mistaken?
I'm looking at really only 12x or 15x binos personally
Go with the SLC 15x56 for what you describe. You are not going to see trace any better IMO by going to a lower magnification Swarovision bino. The 12x50 are going to be better glass but I think the extra magnification of the 15’s is helpful when you are looking at little 6mm impacts at 1000+ yards.
It’s also a bit more complicated to mount the EL 12’s on a tripod, you have to send them out to be modified to get the outdoorsmans mount (which is what you want).
Celestron cavalry 15x70 binos. fully multy coated lenses. For anyone who doesnt want to spend more than $150. I have these and they're the best bang for your buck.
Saw Maven has free upgraded paint jobs basically on the B series & spotters through the 31st on their website. Those 18x look amazing...must hide wallet...
I'm pretty pleased with my Leica 15x Geovid. I've had the Cronus 15x and Vortex 18x UHD, and the Leica's are much better, and I don't
need to carry a range finder.
@gr8fuldoug will be your best bet for any of the options mentioned. That's where I got mt Geovids from.
need to carry a range finder.
@gr8fuldoug will be your best bet for any of the options mentioned. That's where I got mt Geovids from.
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