Dream set of Binos, Swaro, Leica, Steiner ?

[Mr.Impact]

I’ve been using a pair of 1989 Steiner commander binoculars my grandfather gave me and looking to upgrade binoculars. I’m a buy once cry once person.
Primary uses will be long range hunting/spotting and I would like to be able to have a good enough pair to essentially replace the need of a spotting scope. 2000 yards and in.This is what I want ranking from most important to least.

1. Glass, I want to be able to see the mirage with ease, and bullet trace. Strong color. They will be on tripod 99 percent of time. I want to video the shots with my nova grade double gripper and iPhone.
2. Reticle would be a massive plus
3. Rangefinding capability that can do everything my vectonix PLRF10 can do where I could sell it if the right unit came along. I hit 2500 yards easy all day every day on animals with my Vectronix.

I would probably go with the Steiner 8x30 with the 1535 laser if knew the glass was as good as Leica or swaro but I have my doubts. I feel the same way about the Vectronix vectors. Any thoughts would be great. If there’s no such thing as the all around best at everything, I will keep my PLRF10 and just focus on glass and a reticle as a bonus. That would leave me looking at the Leica Duovids 10-15x50 or the swaro 15x56 slc and still wishing I had a reticle. If I missing something let me know.
Thanks!!

 

[FjallJager]

Binoculars are largely dependent on your own eyes. You need to go some place and look through as many as possible.

Near sighted people generally need much more eye relief.

I am massively near sighted 20/400 and to me the best is 8x56 and some 8x42. The best brand and model is the Swarovski 10x50 EL and 8x42 EL. Swaro does not make a EL in the 8x56 line. But their SLC 8x56 is also really good. Leica, Zeiss, and Meopta are other top brands, but they must fit you if you are near sighted.

If you are lucky enough to be far sighted it won't matter as much.

 

[goatboy]

Swaro 8x42 EL is the best bino. A bino is a hand held device, they can’t replace a spotting scope. Good glass will last 30+ years, keep the electronics out of it. No doubt there are 30 year old Leica Geovids still going strong, but I’ll bet the optical tech hasn’t changed as much as the electronic tech during that period.

 

[Mr.Impact]

Binoculars are largely dependent on your own eyes. You need to go some place and look through as many as possible.

Near sighted people generally need much more eye relief.

I am massively near sighted 20/400 and to me the best is 8x56 and some 8x42. The best brand and model is the Swarovski 10x50 EL and 8x42 EL. Swaro does not make a EL in the 8x56 line. But their SLC 8x56 is also really good. Leica, Zeiss, and Meopta are other top brands, but they must fit you if you are near sighted.

If you are lucky enough to be far sighted it won't matter as much.

Thanks for reply, I looked through base model Leica and swaro today, best ones locally available, and preferred Leica. I’ve got young eyes. I’m near sighted some but nothing contacts don’t fix back to 20/20

 

[goatboy]

The eye reliefis helpful with glasses. One advantage of the Swaro binos is the dial-in/collapsible eye cups. Set them all the way in, and the binos are super easy with the glasses I wear

 

[Finnbear0511]

Interested to hear folks chime in about point #2. I haven't done a ton of bino shopping... but it seems options are limited if you're looking for some sort of reticle.

 

[DairyDictator]

Honestly swarovski has the best glass I've ever had the pleasure of looking through. It's highly unlikely you'll find a good clear pair of binoculars with a reticle as those seem to be mostly intended for .mil use which means good 'nuff glass and cheap enough to buy in semi bulk or outlandishly expensive for the high end units. Personally I wanted a reticle in my spotter until I got one. Never use the reticle and it just blocks my vision.

 

[laMeegra]

I've had a pair of the 15x56 Swarovski's for a few years now. absolutely love the glass. I've spent hours at a time on them glassing up Coues deer with little to no eyestrain afterward. It goes without saying that they are pretty much useless with out a tripod though.

 

[Darayavaus]

Swaro EL's.

I'm a big fan of meopta, but their binos are not close to the EL's. Nor are Leica. I just sold off my last pair of Ultravids. Also a fan of zeiss, and have a lot of their better stuff in riflescopes, but again ..... Swaro EL's are just special. I would not replace them with any other binocular.

 

[JayseM_SportOptics]

The Swarovski has my vote, as far a the best overall complete package. Leica is great as well; they have probably the largest depth of field of any of the high end stuff and possibly the truest color transmission, but the Swaros are just the best balance of everything and they feel better in the hand to most people. Of course, not speaking for everyone here, just giving my opinion and what I generally see with customers.

 

[FjallJager]

Not everyone is looking through the same set of eye balls, and it really is dependent on the individual person.

I include Meopta in the list because for some people they are really good. There are Alpha level (top level) high end Minox, Fujinon and Steiners that are amazing.

The difference between Leica, Zeiss, Swarovski and other alpha glass is really dependent on the end user.

 

[gr8fuldoug]

THE BEST binocular, IMO, is the Leica Noctivid

 

[RTH1800]

I really do not agree that individual perceptions are that valid. Scientific testing will tell the story. Some folks are more likely to discern it. Because you cannot tell the difference in a Swaro and a Bushnell does not prove they are equal quality.

Features are individual preference. Quality is not.

@JayseM_SportOptics nailed it just above.
45 years of seriously testing and daily use confirms exactly what he posted.

Final choice is always the same. Purchase what has the features you like and all the quality you can afford.

Seldom a mistake to shop used as few binoculars actually see much use or abuse and prices are sub 50% on the second hand market.

 

[264win]

I went through the same process as OP a few years ago, I went with Zeiss Victory.
After quite a bit of time behind Leica, Swaro and Zeiss I realized that the glass was phenomenal in all of them, so I went with the one that had features that fit my needs best and the best warranty.
At the time, Leica warranty was not great and had a bunch of fine print

 

[Mooncake]

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No, you’re not going to sling them around your neck. But for tripod use, I haven’t looked through anything like them.

 

[Mr.Impact]

THE BEST binocular, IMO, is the Leica Noctivid

Great talking to you today, how does the Duovid 10-15x50 compared to the swaro 15x56?

 

[blbennett1288]

I much prefer the Meopta Meostar B1 15x56 HD to the Swarovski SLC 15’s. The Swarovski displayed some CA.

 

[alfmoonspace]

We’re biased because we don’t own them all at one time.

I like the Meoptas, maybe I am too dumb to tell a big difference but like @blbennett1288 mentioned, I can see no CA in them. To me that is worth the SLIGHT image IQ loss compared to the Swaros.

 

[Mr.Impact]

What is CA, sorry?

 

[264win]

Chromatic Aberration. Often seen as a discoloration or ring near the outside edge of view

 

[Threadcutter308]

What is CA, sorry?

Chromatic Aberration. Easiest to just Google it. Purple or yellow fringing around outer edges of FOV, or straight edges of objects. Usually a result of optical design/possibly inferior glass. Very emotional/hot topic here on the Hide.
Personally, I will not buy an optical product with known/observable CA.
Swarovski optics are superb. I have owned numerous Leica camera lenses and as has been said many times, there is something special about Leica glass. If I were I the market for Binos right now, I’d be taking a long, hard look at the Leicas that Doug/Cameraland mentions above.

 

[Mr.Impact]

Thank you, what makes this so hard is not being around them all at once, even inside of store I wouldn’t be able to tell much, might have to just buy a pair and see and sale if not happy.

 

[Mag 300]

Highly suggest the Swarovski 10x 50 if NOT hunting , tripod a must !!!!
I have Leica 8x42 but still like the Swaro’s better

 

[gr8fuldoug]

Great talking to you today, how does the Duovid 10-15x50 compared to the swaro 15x56?

The Duovid optically is great but has a narrower FOV

 

[codym]

I have the 12x50 EL swaros. Most amazing glass I’ve been around. Take them over the 15’s any day. But the 15’s are nice too.

 

[FjallJager]

I really do not agree that individual perceptions are that valid. Scientific testing will tell the story. Some folks are more likely to discern it. Because you cannot tell the difference in a Swaro and a Bushnell does not prove they are equal quality.

Features are individual preference. Quality is not.

@JayseM_SportOptics nailed it just above.
45 years of seriously testing and daily use confirms exactly what he posted.

Final choice is always the same. Purchase what has the features you like and all the quality you can afford.

Seldom a mistake to shop used as few binoculars actually see much use or abuse and prices are sub 50% on the second hand market.

What my eyes need is not what your eyes need. Someone with perfect vision will have totally different requirements to someone who is near sighted. A younger person will require less quality because their own eyes can make up for it.

The reason we have individual prescriptions with adjustments for astigmatism power has to do with this.

What is the best for me may not be the best for you. Equipment can be scientifically tested, but those test do not take into account a person's physical limitations.

No one is saying that a $20 Walmart blister pack Bushnell optic is as good as a $2800 pair of ELs. The issue is the difference between a Leica, Swaorvski, Zeiss, Meopta, Funjinon, Doctor, Minox and others at the same price point.

 

[RTH1800]

All our eyes need good glass. One person will not get better performance from a lesser binocular due to some eye anomaly. It is possibly that you could get all the quality you can use with faulty eyes. Quality is quality. We simply will disagree I suppose.

 

[ToddM]

As unrealistic as they are to pack around, by far my favorite pair of binoculars I've used is the Zeis 20x80 classic stabilized ones, we used to use them at work frequently.

I'm not sure there is a binocular that hits all your wants, if it's tripod 99% of the time 15x is the way I'd go, without a rangefinder that would be the Swarovski's With a rangefinder, that pretty much limits it to the Leica 15x56's, none of them have a reticle. If it's tripod 75% of the time I'd probably go for a set of 12's.

For me I'd have to split it up into 2, I'd want a Leica HD 3200's 10x50 for hunting/packing, and a set of 15x swarovski's for shooting/tripod use.

That said, a lot of guys overlook them, but the Canon stabilized binoculars, if you are glassing offhand a lot, even though the glass won't compare to Leica/Zeiss/Swarovski, the detail you can see will crush them. I used to use a fairly cheap ($700) 12x set for 3D archery and I'd let guys spot arrows with them that had all the top glass, and every one of them left jaw dropped. You can read license plate renewal tag serial numbers across the parking lot, there's simply too much shake with non-stabilized binoculars unsupported to make out detail like that. The downside is most don't work well for hunting, not waterproof, and not amazing light gathering.

 

[Pre-64]

Another vote for the Swarovski EL, I had a set of Leica 10x42 and they are an awesome set of binoculars, they are just heavy. That was several years ago so I’m sure they have lightened them up some by now. But I’ve never regretted buying the EL’s, no eye fatigue and great customer service plus a 40 year warranty.

 

[regency]

I have Swaro EL's and Leica Geovids. I think the Swaro's ever so slightly edge it out optically but the features on the Leica are better.

 

[Mr.Impact]

Y’all are really helping me out I appreciate it !

 

[TRyanOC]

I've had Steiner, Meopta, and Swaro SLC 10X50's . Never looked through Leica so I can't comment on those. My vote is on Swarovski no question.

I use my 10x50's with and w/o tripod, but with the tripod is outstanding for sizing up that buck from 1500 yards and knowing exactly what your looking at instead of wasting half a day sneaking up for a closer look. Also love them for extended glassing sessions.

For hunting and long hours of glassing/ spotting game way out there, I can't recommend the Swaros enough.

Look for a good used set of Swaros. I paid $1000 for mine used, but that was almost 20 years ago. They're still like new to this day after many hunting trips. They hold their value, for sure!

 

[AZn8v]

I recently traded for a pair of Zeiss Victory 10x54RF to go along with Swarovski 8.5x42 EL's and 12x50 EL's that I already own and I really like them. I find that I use the Zeiss more than even the 12x50's simply because of the range finding ability. I'll probably end of trading the 12x50's for 15x56 HD's.

 

[BigTex]

I wouldn't take for my Swaro EL 10x50. Sometimes I wish I had gone with the 10x42, but that goes away when I put them up to my eyes.

 

[FjallJager]

The 10x50 EL is just so good. I wish other Alphas made a 10x50 or a 10x56. Some of them make them, but they are not imported to the USA or rare.

I have a pair of 10x56 older Nikon Monarch Golds. They are so much better than my all the 10x42, 8x42 and 10x50s I own it is crazy. My 8x56 Minox edge them out a bit, as they are of 2019 vintage and provide a cleaner image with more relief.

 

[86alaskan]

I've got a set of the Leica HD-B 2000 LRF binos. I'd say they are equal or better than the Swaro SLC 15x50's I have for use on the range and spotting. They are more compact and less power, but the glass is phenomenal. If I could do it again, I'd have waited another 3mo and bought the HD-B3 000 on sale for the same price. The LRF functions great and I've gotten animals to range around 1200-1500 pretty reliably. I'm sure the 3000's improve upon that. I've had them side by side with the newer generation EL range, and they compare equally. Definitely and apples to apples comparison. The swaro may be a bit better here, but the Leica's a little better there. Kinda personal preference. I feel like, at that level, you'd be splitting hairs and choosing binos solely based on personal pref.

 

[tansinator]

For woods hunting . I would pick the Swaro SLC's over the El's. For long range, go with the EL's!

 

[Mr.Impact]

Has anybody been in enough real world senerios ranging with the 3300 leicas to see what they can range a animal at all day every time?

 

[XTR]

My dream binos are Swaro or Leica glass with Steiner focus system that dispenses with the focus knob. I've got one very old pair of Steiner Marine 7x56s that weigh a ton, but damn I would rather use those than just about any others just because where ever I look it is in focus.

 

[mrtoyz]

Has anybody been in enough real world senerios ranging with the 3300 leicas to see what they can range a animal at all day every time?

I think you’re referring to the Leica 3200.com. I’m having some inconsistent reading with mine. Have a call into Leica but it sounds like they are closed.
Glass is fantastic. IMO is a step better than the Leica SLC. Spent a lot of time comparing with my Schmidt PM2 and it’s right there.

 

[ratton]

Don't exclude Zeiss optics. They make some pretty outstanding binos and rangefinders also.

 

[pmclaine]

I have Steiners and they are a great "scanning" bino. If you are stationary and looking at a lot of terrain you won't have to focus at each distance.

This strength is also it weakness.

Sometimes when you want to really "bear down" on a specific area to see you might find the glass focus and your eye focus are not cutting it.

I often scan ocean water so Steiners work for me but sometimes when I see something and need to sharpen focus I really miss the center focus

Consider your use.

 

[alfmoonspace]

I have Steiners and they are a great "scanning" bino. If you are stationary and looking at a lot of terrain you won't have to focus at each distance.

This strength is also it weakness.

Sometimes when you want to really "bear down" on a specific area to see you might find the glass focus and your eye focus are not cutting it.

I often scan ocean water so Steiners work for me but sometimes when I see something and need to sharpen focus I really miss the center focus

Consider your use.

Which Steiner model is that?

 

[XTR]

Which Steiner model is that?

Any of the Steiners with the “Sports auto focus”.

 

[pmclaine]

Which Steiner model is that?

Mine are Military 8x30R. Sport focus model.

If I was interested in different "packaging" and a center focus wheel I'd probably move beyond the Steiner options.

The Steiner Military/Police line is just a bombproof engineering.

Im not a glass connoisseur.......my ability to judge good glass seems non existent. My reading though is the consensus claims Swarovski is an orgasm for your eyeballs, I'd look there for center focus designed binos

 

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[762libertarian]

I have a Swarovski EL Range 8x42 that I love. Great colour and clarity. As a handheld bino, I think 8x42 is a great format. I very much prefer it to 10x.

If the binos are going to be tripod mounted 99% of the time, why not go for something like the Swarovski SLC 15x56? They don't have a reticle, but if that's a must, there must be something in that class that does.

 

[XTR]

I'm curious, I've never extensively used binos with more than 10x and I thought even at 10x hand held stability was an issue. Are those of you who use them able to use higher powered binocs hand held or do they need a tripod?

 

[mrtoyz]

Most people will use binos above 10x on a tripod

 

[762libertarian]

This guy wants to see stuff at 1000-2000 yards, with tripod mounted binos. 8x or 10x is unnecessarily low magnification. I love my 8x and will argue against 10x all day, but I never mount my binos to a tripod. Go with more magnification.