Big eyes (Swaro)for sale in Classifieds, with tripod adaptor and doubler

A lot of people had issues with the Swaro's IPD. I don't know why, but this was true with eye glass wearers.
From what I have heard, the Kaibab bins close tighter as do the Minox bins.

Should we start a chant for 340?
BIG EYES TIM! BIG EYES TIM!

Kique

Yes, the A does mean angled. I prefer angled to straight because at 6'4" I have a hard time finding lightweight, stable, moderately priced tripods that would work for me.

GreatWaputi/Enrique,

Thank you for the clarification. I had been wondering about this issue. It is funny though that the Vortex/Swaro minimum IPDs are 60/59 respectively and yet the Vortex goes down closer.

I had also been researching the highly acclaimed 13x56 Minox (and found it a few places for as low as $700) but could not find what the listed IPD for it was.

Maybe I would be better suited for something like a 12x50?

I use 10x Leica's as my primary binocular, so for me, it's 15x or bust.

I just spent another evening glassing with the Minox 15's, looking at a some drainages a few miles away. I was easily spotting elk and deer as they moved through the open pockets. These bins continue to impress me, the only drawback to them being a slight haziness around the very edges. As Mark pointed out, micromanagement of antler is the domain of the spotter...being a meat hunter myself, it's not much of a concern, but would be nice to have along as well. I think the next thing I need is a sherpa to carry all my stuff (g).

Been trying to convince my wife that a llama living in the garage wouldn't be so bad...

My uncle, who was a successful guide in the Kaibab and all over Arizona for Duwane Adams, actually guided with his 10x50 bushnell customs mounted on a tripod.
He did the same thing I had mentioned about getting closer after finding something. But at the same time, if he's big, you can tell.
He guided the likes of Boddington and Ludo Wurfbain just to name a couple with only a 10x50 bino mounted on a tripod. He's even in one of Ludo's books holding a big coues.
So yes 12x50's would work, just put them on a tripod. And yes big eyes with out a spotter or bins without a spotter do work. You just have to be willing to get a little closer if you are trophy hunting.

The bino is just part of the equation. The most important thing I feel is the tripod.
What it does is:
1. it eliminates the shakes when viewing.
2. it allows you to look thru the bins a lot longer and not tire your arms out.
3. if you find something you can lock your tripod and you don't need to try finding it again because your arms got tired and you put the bins down.
4. glassing is all about comfort, not holding the bins while you glass and sitiing down to me is comfort.

What the binocular does is:
1. it allows you to cover more ground than say walking.
2. it allows you to find and see game in their natural surroundings with out being spooked.
3. it allows you to find game, have them be calm and you not have to shoot at something running.
4. It allows you to make judgment if its something you want to take.
5. allows you to use both eyes.

In conclusion, it doesn't matter if you have 10x42's, 12x50's or 15x60's, all that matters is that you have them on your tripod and you are hunting smart. Obviously the bigger the glass you have the closer you can see and the better you can pick apart vegetation, but if you are limited on funds, buy as big and as good as you can afford and put them on a tripod.

Kique

I can always count on you fellows to help me make the 'right' decision...

Just to clarify, it's not really a haziness. More like a very thin line that seems brighter right at the very edge. In no way does it compromise the very sharp image through these bins.

Actually, one of Greenhorn's sherpettes would truly be the way to go