Just past a year of owning the Btx 95. I got it for my Arizona Strip Hunt, figuring full well I’d sale it after the hunt. Never been a spotter guy, and it’s just expensive. However after a few days next to my brother with his 15s I was stuck. I hunt and help a lot! And only twice have I used it and not found something. It is just incredible with the power and clarity you get, with zero eye fatigue. Yes it’s expensive, but if you’re considering it, do it. You’ll never regret it.
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Hunting & Fishing Full Year Review of Swarovski BTX
- Thread starter Firstfive
- Start date
I’m very new to this game. Attended a PRS a couple of weeks go and spent some time looking through Swarovski binoculars and an 80atx. Not enough time to get eye fatigue or a headache. I never had a chance to try the BTX version. I understand that expense is a large consideration and the size/weight difference also plays a party’s binoculars. I guess my question is, does the BTX version offer the very best spotting option outside of cost and weight. I also realize either binoculars or spotting scope will need to be placed on a tripod. Apologies if this has been covered somewhere, I just can’t find it. Thx.
Yes and no. As far as Spotting scopes and binoculars go, nothing beats Swarovski. As far as The BTX offering the best spotting option, that’s where the yes and no come in. You won’t get the range from a Btx like a traditional spotter as the power is fixed. 65 85mm being 27 power. 95 being 30 power. Although with the extender it puts you somewhere around 57 power. There’s no zoom, just focus. So for picking things apart at very long distance a traditional single eyepiece spotter would be better. However as far as glassing purpose goes for hunting applications where long periods of time behind the glass are needed, nothing comes close to the BTX. Arguably Kowas Docters or dual spotters, but those all are very heavy. Also 30 power is a lot of power, and more than enough. If it’s just for shooting purposes, a spotting scope would be better. But if you hunt also, my opinion is the BTX wins in a landslide. You can sit behind it for long periods of time with zero eye fatigue. And the animals you pick up vs anything else, I’d pretty mind blowing. I mean it’s like 15x56 times 2 basically. And with the btx system the normal eyepiece can be switched out anytime you need more range. I have not ran into that problem. I see deer and elk way further than I want to walk. It’s amazing to be as honest as I can. I’ve never used anything that good.
In the context of PRS competition...
If you plan to be a range officer and stay in one place all day to watch targets or if you are shooting an ELR match then “Yes” it’s the best. If you are a PRS competitor and need to carry around a rifle, backpack and other match gear from stage to stage all day then I would steer you towards the SLC 15x56 HD binos. The binos are probably easier to plop down and scan a wider area to locate targets quickly.
One other downside of the BTX for a PRS match is having to adjust eye width spacing between users, more difficult than with binos. And you know everyone else in your squad is going to want to look through it and mess it up from your desired settings. ?
I would say if it’s not going to be used for hunting, then I would just go with a Normal Swaro spotter like an Sts or Ats. Much cheaper, especially used, and glass is the same. Or like Sheldon said 15x56. For PRS a btx especially with the cost is not necessary.
Swaro needs to come out with a BTX setup in a straight version, I want a BTX but not in the angled configuration.
Off topic, but are you talking about the STS HD in particular, or do you think the Non-HD model STS would be a good option for hunting? Just curious as I’m torn right now between a Swarovski STS 65mm (Non- HD), or getting a Zeiss Victory Diascope FL 65mm...?
HD has some improvements. However not worth the price jump. Nothing wrong with non Hd. Before HD it was still the best glass on the planet. The 15x56 non Hd and HD, there is a difference, but it’s not by much. The non HD swaro in my opinion is still better than the latest other top brands.
The 65mm/85mm objectives with the BTX are 30x. The 95mm is 35X.
I have both the ATX as well as the BTX with all the objectives and the 1.7 mag extender. The ability to go “light”with the ATX mono is nice in high country for a final analysis of the animal’s characteristics; however the ability to stay on the glass all day long to find good bulls 3-5 miles out is simply amazing.
If you are hunting in my area I would highly discourage you from purchasing the BTX...you may end up finding a bull like this and I don’t need anymore competition.
I have both the ATX as well as the BTX with all the objectives and the 1.7 mag extender. The ability to go “light”with the ATX mono is nice in high country for a final analysis of the animal’s characteristics; however the ability to stay on the glass all day long to find good bulls 3-5 miles out is simply amazing.
If you are hunting in my area I would highly discourage you from purchasing the BTX...you may end up finding a bull like this and I don’t need anymore competition.
Update.... Had the good fortune to finish well at a match and got a discount certificate for Swarovski. A couple weeks later and I'm now the proud owner of a BTX 95 (with the stay on case).
Hooo-leee freaking cow is this thing amazing. Makes my SLC HD 15x56 binos look like a happy meal toy in comparison. Also way more immersive to look through than my Meopta 20-70x82 spotter, not as much magnification but you just SEE so much better, and you see so much more. Wind, mirage, FOV.......
Now I"m torn about what I'm gonna pack around to matches 15's or give myself a hernia with the BTX.
Hooo-leee freaking cow is this thing amazing. Makes my SLC HD 15x56 binos look like a happy meal toy in comparison. Also way more immersive to look through than my Meopta 20-70x82 spotter, not as much magnification but you just SEE so much better, and you see so much more. Wind, mirage, FOV.......
Now I"m torn about what I'm gonna pack around to matches 15's or give myself a hernia with the BTX.
Oh but so worth the weight!
Actually not too bad, about 1 1/2lbs heavier than my Meopta spotter.
Actually not too bad, about 1 1/2lbs heavier than my Meopta spotter.
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