Interested in adding a 12 or 15x set of binoculars. I know Caladan is the man around here for those details the majority of the time, and I'm certainly hopeful for a reply, but does anyone else have any recs for that range? Will probably try to keep it under $750ish due to the fact that they'll be fairly limited use. Application will be long range hunting, so fairly low light, etc. thanks!

mt3950 said:

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Interested in adding a 12 or 15x set of binoculars. I know Canadian is the man around here for those details the majority of the time, and I'm certainly hopeful for a reply, but does anyone else have any recs for that range? Will probably try to keep it under $750ish due to the fact that they'll be fairly limited use. Application will be long range hunting, so fairly low light, etc. thanks!

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Caladan, I believe, and he normally does find these optics questions.

Ha! Wow, autocorrect. Didn't even notice that.

Hello,

Canadian here -

I have used a few 12x and 15x binos, but not all of them since those two magnifications are of little interest to me. There aren't many 12x's in your price range that I could confidently recommend. But I did like the Tract Optics "Toric", which is actually a 12.5x. That is probably the 12x I would buy if I were in that market. The other one that I would consider but haven't actually tried is the Leupold Pro Guide HD 12x50. The other Pro Guides are pretty good binos, so I would think that the 12x is as well.

One 12x that might well be worth your time to investigate is the Athlon Midas G2 UHD (*not* the HD). The 8x42 is an excellent performer for the low price, so the 12x50 might be as well. Perhaps purchase one from a place that does not make it difficult to return it, and see how you like it.

Unfortunately, there are no 15x binos in your price range that I would consider purchasing or recommending.

C

Apologies for the autocorrect…thank you for the candid response!!

Really appreciate your input, as always! I'll report back with what I go with and how they perform. Thanks again!

Ok, change of plans…think I'm going to increase the budget after doing some research on what's available at the previous price point. Anyone have experience with the Swaro SLC 15x56 or Maven B5 15x56? The ~$1k price difference is appealing toward the Maven.

I have some 10x42 SLC's and love them, but not sure if that would translate exactly to the 15x. Also interested in the Vortex Razor UHD 12x50, but unsure how much more I would get out of those vs my current 10x42 SLC's.

What is the purpose of 12-15X if we can ask?

And out of curiosity have you had much experience with 10X mounted on a tripod?

I don't have much to compare them to but the Vortex kaibab 15x56 are pretty great, now that your price range includes them

Long range hunting…I'd prefer to not pack a spotting scope, and binoculars…that being said, I think most action should take place in less than 750-1000 yds.

mt3950 said:

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Ok, change of plans…think I'm going to increase the budget after doing some research on what's available at the previous price point. Anyone have experience with the Swaro SLC 15x56 or Maven B5 15x56? The ~$1k price difference is appealing toward the Maven.

I have some 10x42 SLC's and love them, but not sure if that would translate exactly to the 15x. Also interested in the Vortex Razor UHD 12x50, but unsure how much more I would get out of those vs my current 10x42 SLC's.

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IMO there is a huge difference between 10x mounted on a tripod and a 15x mounted on a tripod. So whether or not you have any experience behind a mounted 10x42, I don't think it matters. And too, using two eyes to glass is less fatiguing that using one eye through a traditional spotting scope, and that is where a good 15x really shines.

The Mavens are good binos, but between the two 15x's, the SLC easily wins. And even though they are good binos, IMO the Mavens are over-priced for what they are. I've never recommended one of them to anyone. Definitely get the SLC if at all possible. It is the best 15x bino out there. Makes for an excellent astronomical bino too, should you ever develop that interest.

I do like the Vortex UHD, but they are noticeably heavy. Personally, I wouldn't get a 12x50 UHD since you already have a good 10x42. I just don't think the 20% increase in magnification is worth the cost, especially if you are considering a good 15x.

hth,
Canadian*


*evidently, I've been re-named......

I've got some Vortex 15x I've been planning to sell. Binos are fine, well used but good shape, just want to move to something with a reticle. I'll have to double check, but think they're Vultures, so the other end of your budget lol. I'd sell them for $300 shipped if you've got any interest.

Also happen to have a 30% off cert for Maven, I'd sell for $150 if you wanna go the B5 route.

FWIW we glass off tripods to 3000 yards no problem with 10x42s and 10x50s. The 10x50s stay in the truck but I carry the 10x42s in a bino harness and pack a tripod thats middle of the road cost and stability yet easily packable.

That said we spent money on good glass and I think the tripod was 4-500.

Once were on an animal we get behind the gun w 18-25X good scopes.

Caladan,

You've sent me the dealer that you typically purchase from in the past, but I can't seem to find it anywhere. Would you mind sending again please? Thank you!

I used another hunter's SLC 15s on my moose hunt last year. They are an incredible game finding tool. I picked up a used pair on Rokslide for this season and plan to use them instead of a spotter on nearly every western hunt moving forward. I'd still bring the spotter for sheep and high country trophy mule deer.

Swaro's version is a beautiful use of AK prisms. Highly recommend for big country. Much less fatiguing using two eyes.

I've had the Vortex Razor HD 12x50 binos for a few years now and really like them. I got them on sale for just below $1,000. I don't know Caladan's opinion on them at that pricing point, but I'll just say they have been a good set that I enjoy looking through. No quality issues.

mt3950 said:

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Caladan,

You've sent me the dealer that you typically purchase from in the past, but I can't seem to find it anywhere. Would you mind sending again please? Thank you!

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No problem, but for which brand? And where shall I send the info to?

I think I found it in an old thread actually a couple of minutes ago. Still do business with honey creek for swaro?

txaggie02 said:

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I've had the Vortex Razor HD 12x50 binos for a few years now and really like them. I got them on sale for just below $1,000. I don't know Caladan's opinion on them at that pricing point, but I'll just say they have been a good set that I enjoy looking through. No quality issues.

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I really like the Razors a lot. In fact, the Japanese-made 10x is my favorite ~$1k 10x42 binocular. Or at least they should have been in the $1k area. The only problem I have with them was that they were priced about 20% more than what they should have been. Vortex then switched to a Chinese manufacturer, so although the prices are a bit lower, you're now getting an MIC bino. As long as someone doesn't mind that fact, the Razor is still a very good choice. I wouldn't pay normal retail for one, but as you can now get a 12x Razor for under $950, it is IMO the best buy for a 12x in the ~$1k range.

C

Not for a while, but they would be the first place I would go to.

C

Thanks! Any other Recs besides them? Noticed they don't open until tomorrow, and was actually hoping to potentially make a purchase today. Feel free to post here, or text me directly if easier. Two eight 1 7 9 7 fortyfive eighty

I also like Eurooptic.com. They have a pretty decent discount program for veterans/first responders, if by chance that happens to be useful to you. At any rate, they will sometimes do a better on price if you call them up and ask them what they can do for an immediate purchase.

C

Thanks!

Ok last question from me on this thread…if you had to pick between the 12x50 EL and the 12x42 NL Pure for primarily hunting (low light) which would you pick? Price point between the two is fairly negligible with neither being on sale.

mt3950 said:

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Ok last question from me on this thread…if you had to pick between the 12x50 EL and the 12x42 NL Pure for primarily hunting (low light) which would you pick? Price point between the two is fairly negligible with neither being on sale.

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I would (and did) pick the NL, but I do not place importance on low light abilities. FOV and weight are more important to me, and the NL has more and less. But in your case, as you specifically mention low light ability, then I would go with the EL. The reason is that I do not consider any binocular that has an ER of less than 5 to be a "low light" binocular. Since you will most likely be using a harness, the extra weight (5.5oz.) shouldn't be an issue. And don't worry about any difference in overall optical quality between the two. IMO there isn't enough difference between the two to make a choice based strictly on that. I would say buy the EL, and take the money you saved and put it towards a good range-finder.

C(anadian)

What do you think about the Leupold Pro Guide series Caladan?

This seems like a decent deal. Sportsmans warehouse has huge deals on all Leupold stuff right now.

I haven't used the 12x PG HD, but I can say that the Pro Guides I have used have all performed extremely well. IMO their 8x42 and 10x42 are about the best in the ~$500 area, albeit by a small margin. I would think that the 12x would not be any different. That is a great price you found. If I were in the market for a 12x50, I would snatch that up in a heartbeat.

C

Looks like the Sportsman's sale is over, but cabelas has them on sale now.

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/leupold-bx-4-pro-guide-hd-binoculars?ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=Cabelas%7CShopping%7CPMax%7CCatchAll%7CGeneral%7CNAud%7CHigh%7CNMT&&&&&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw7oeqBhBwEiwALyHLM26M2CaSLk0_v-2r0CHCikiIZhcZVRDpVJ68We5JHam5zNDp1fa58hoC8s0QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I am debating between the 10x42's and the 10x50's.

Do you think they extra hundred bucks is worth the larger objective?

Maximus Johnson said:

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I am debating between the 10x42's and the 10x50's.

Do you think they extra hundred bucks is worth the larger objective?

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Only if you need it. It kinda depends on for what activity you want them. I wouldn't pay more for less FOV and increased weight*. However, my preferences are not everyone's preferences. If you can really make use of the extra aperture, then it probably is worth the extra money.

C

*the 50mm does weigh about a quarter-pound more than the 42mm, but as 50mm's go, it's not bad.

I ended up getting the 50's. Hopefully I can make some of those bush deer go away just before sunrise

https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/swarovski-slc-15x56.332383/

SLC 15s.

These won't last long if they're the latest model with AK prisms. They appear to be.