Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics How many of you actually use 15x

I really want a set of 15x bino's but I am afraid after carrying them around a day or two they will get left in the truck.

How many of you actually pack 15x when hunting the west? Would anyone carry a older pair of 10x to have the best 15x?

I have a couple pair of older Swaro 10x and can't decide should I buy a new pair of 10x's or finally get me a pair of 15x's.

Thanks
Dink

I have 10X for carry and 15X for the tripod.

Split it and go 12x.....hard to keep 15x steady....

I use 15's almost exclusively, unless I am in heavy timber. I have the Swaro HD's and mounted on a tripod, they are a game changer. I always pack mine.

15x on a tripod with a pistol grip head is the best game finding setup I have ever used.

I bought a pair of 15x56HD SLCs this year, and used them for coues and mule deer. I started off by packing my 10x42 trinovids and the SLCs. By the end of the season I was down to carrying only the SLCs (with a tripod of course). There were times I wished for the 10's, when I wanted to scan a close hillside, but the 15's were worth the trade off. I didn't much enjoy using my 15x56 Minox, but these new SLCs are unreal. I'm going to be packing a tripod regardless of which binocular, but after using the SLCs, my trinovids get left behind in open country.

To answer your question more specifically, yes, I would carry an older set of 10's in order to afford a really nice set of 15's.

Haven't used a good 12, so i cant speak there.

I use 12x50's on a tripod almost exclusively. I have a set of 10's that I like and a spotter but use the 12's most. I don't know if the 15 vs 12 would be much different but higher mag binos on a tripod for longer sits are invaluable. Sounds like you have a good quality pair of 10s so maybe add the 15s or go with the 12s and have a more versatile option for out west and to use back home.

I love 15s for hunting. they go in my pack mostly tho unless I am on a stalk. I carry a littl pair of 6.5x32s or 8x42s when im hiking. take them off when I pull out my 15s or in this case this year my 12s. then when I bail off to do a stalk I usually stick with the bigger pair around my neck.
For hunting in arizona for coues or mule deer, a pair of 12 or 15s on a tripod are hard to beat.

270jrk

Which Minox did you have? I have the 8x56 HG and the are the most comfortable view I've ever seen through a binocular. I've wondered how the view through the 15x56 HG is.

I want a pair of QUALITY 15's- They're not in my budget right now.

I use a pair of Vortex 10's.

Last fall while hunting whitetails here in AZ with Dennisinaz, I found out just how VALUABLE a high quality glass is. It can make ALL the difference.

They might be heavy to pack around in your back pack, but it may mean the difference of harvesting or getting skunked. Always buy the best that you can afford. Even if that means saving for a little while.

Just my .02 cents worth.

I'm disinclined to mess with Mr. Inbetween. That is I find a pair of 15X useful and a pair of 6X30 handy. I'd go with good 15X and compromise on 10X rather than compromise on the 15X.

Kingston, I believe they were the 15x56BL model. They weren't bad, we found a couple Coues bucks with them that we ended up killing. I didn't use them much, because I could see better detail with my Trinovids, so I couldn't justify both. The new SLC however, I'm not sure how it could get any better.

I have a pair of the original Vortex 15x56 Kaibab HD binocular that I purchased new that is in pristine condition because I simply can't see packing it in with me when I have a spotter that's as light with more power. I mean, the 15 power binocular is a great tool when mounted on a tripod and you don't get the eye fatigue of a spotter, but I haven't been able to cull the spotter from my pack in order to justify carrying the bino so it goes unused.

I will likely end up selling the Kaibab for this very reason.

My original plan was to buy the Swarovski 12x50's but I can't hand hold them. I figure if I have to put them on a tripod I might as well get the 15's.

Anyone ever compare the new Zeiss 15x56's against the older non-had Swarovski 15x56's?

There is some really good prices on the Zeiss out there. I am not sure I can go the $2300 for new Swaro's 15's but I might buy them anyway..grin.

Dink

I run 12x50els both hand held and on a tripod, there is nothing else that is better imho for western hunting.

I have 12x50 HD swaros and carry them everywhere. If I am going to glass for a long time I use my primos mono pod as a rest. Works great.

This.

It's not which, it's both. Tripod glass and neck glass. I use an 8 x 32 for the neck glass.

It's not an upgrade. It is a whole new thing.

I had 10X Swaros and the big Zeiss 15x60s for years, bought the 12x50 ELs when they first came out and sold the 15s a couple of years later. The 12s hand held and tripod plus a spotter are my current open country setup, with hand held 8x30s for the timber.

10X around my neck

12-40x60 in my pack

I do the exact same, 8x32 around the neck for quick scans out to 400 yards or so around me. I simply couldn't imagine leaving my 15's unless I was going on a high country backback hunt and even then I would be looking hard at other gear that I could leave behind instead.