Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics 15x bino vs spotter

Wow.

How about some 25/40 X 100 Zeiss...

or some 25/62's.....

they misspelled über

Be there in 2 months!!!

Where's there?

Not "there" but above 11k feet...

If anyone's interested I'm selling some Minox bigeyes in the classifieds...
http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/10123874#Post10123874

Great suggestions on popular subject.
I find 12 x 50s more comfortable than
15X binos for long durations. But my
12 x 50 are german glass and 15x US
glass? Less eye fatigue and lighter
weight makes for easy 12 x 50 choice
when going light and only one piece
of glass goes in the pack.

OK, so glass is important, and support is also important.

I'm looking at 15x binos with a tripod and window mount.

About how much should I be looking at spending on support compared to glass? I'm probably looking at Minox 15 x 56. I have seen Vortex, Outdoorsman, and Manfrotto tripods recommended. I don't have a handle on what could be a good match between quality and capacity between the bino and the supprt. Cost is obviously pretty variable among those three. I'm not set on any of those, so offer others if you want.

I hunt elk, mule deer, and pronghorn. Judging trophy size to any level of precision is not that important. Finding and viewing game, and deciding if is decent enough to go after is more where I am at. I hunt mostly on foot a few miles from the truck. I'm not sure how much the setup will get carried and how much it will be used close to the truck until I try it. I use 10x or 8x handheld glass now and spend an hour or two a day behind it.

So, what do you guys recommend? Where do I get the best bang for the buck?

Slik sprint pro, about a hundred bucks, I run a velbon 157q head for another 50.00, the slik head would work.

Kent

I found using my Zeiss 10x Bino's worked better when supported by my shooting sticks and instead of holding them free hand.

I second the Slik sprint pro for an ultralight compact tripod. Obviously it's a little more wobbly in the wind compared to a heavier tripod, but a good option.

The biggest attribute to a glassing tripod is adjustable leg angles so you can sit under it. Stay away from a tripod that has the leg brace. From there there are all kinds of choices to be made. Carbon or aluminum? 3 leg sections or four? You can go as expensive as you like. For the most part, tripods branded by optics companies are more expensive than the exact same model made by the tripod company. Swarovski and Manfrotto for example. You don't have to buy a $500 tripod to be effective. Sunpak makes a carbon fiber tripod with a pistol grip head for approx $100. $150 at Bestbuy. The cheaper tripods might not stay as tight or last as long but if you're on a budget you can definitely get by with one. Sportsmans has a good selection or go to a decent photography shop and check different brands out then go online and find a good deal.

Here is a somewhat shameless plug:

If any one is interested in some nice 12x50's, I have a nice one listed in classifieds:

Cabelas ( Meopta) Instinct Euro HD 12x50

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/10300282#Post10300282

I use a nice pair of 10x42s for an overview, then a compact spotter on a monopod for the details. Love the monopod, light weight with scope mounted, easy to carry, doubles as a walking stick when needed, dead steady. I even use it in the truck when collapsed, I could never get used to the window brackets for a spotter.

Don't know much about them, but the compact Swarovski spotters look very interesting.

I ended up with the Slik Sprint Pro and Minox 15x56. Took it out yesterday and it worked great.

Now I'm thinking I need a window mount setup. Any recommendations?

Bog Pod Bino Rest on my Leupold window mount.

The bog pod rest is great. I use one too. I do like window mounts that take the same adaptors as my tripod does though, and that's the only reason I don't own that Leupy window mount. It is very solid.

JG: That rest looks nice, and does it mount to a regular
1/4" Tripod screw?