Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Big Eyes or a Spotter?

The trouble with that comparision is it has only so much image clarity due to the limits of the internet posted picture. I'd bet real money that, in the field, the image clarity differences wouldn't be that great.
In the field, at long range, the sharpest binocular will show you the most provided the magnification differences aren't extreme and the image shake between the two aren't much different.
Try reading about the 12X50 Leica Ultravid vs. the 15X58 Swaro SLC on the home page. E

Then how come I had to show Rick those deer thru my tripod mounted bins in order for him to make them out and see them? With his little bins I think they were Zeiss he couldn't see them or make them out.
The computer may limit image clarity, but I think it's a reliable comparision based on what we seen in the field when those pics were taken. I think I glassed up over 50 deer that day from the same point at different ranges with the tripod set up. Rick maybe found a handful, but not at the distances I did even when he tried a rest.

I'd wager you're wrong, especially when the poster I was responding to was asking how much difference one would notice between 8x and 15x. Please show me a better illustration of that than the pictures Rick Bin posted in the thread I linked to.

I've read the "Big Eyes" article several times, and to me, 12x is neither fish nor fowl as one of the testers said. Also, if you've read the article, you read the part where it talked about "looking way out there" with the 12x50 Ultravid and one tester asked if Leica made a 15x? Wonder why that was? You'll also notice the 12x50 Ultravid received four stars as "Big Eyes", whereas the 15x56 Swarovski received five. What do you make of that?

Magnification makes a significant difference is what we found, and that was clearly related in the article in quoting reviewer comments in comparing 12x to 15x.

I personally, directly compared a Swaro 15x and a Leica 12x. Stacked 'em myself on a tripod on Kodiak Island, head-to-head.

The Swaro was better at resolving detail at the two extremes of fading light and extreme distance, both judged independently and in tandem. As in, in fading light, the Swaro was better (which is where I thought the Leica would be better due to the slightly larger exit pupil, but the Swaro's extra mag nullified the Leica's brightness, and then some). At extreme distance, the Swaro was better. At extreme distance in fading light, the Swaro was even "mo' betta."

It just was. If the 12X Leica was a better tripod-mounted bino, I'd own it instead of the Swaro.

For tripod-mounted "Big Eyes" work, make mine 15x, and at the moment, my head-to-head research shows the 15x Swaro rules the pack.

rb

Just like Rick said in his above post. In fading light, the extra magnification of the Swaro allowed him to see further. Which is to be expected until the Swaro quits due to lack of light. After that, The Leica will still work a bit longer due to it's larger exit pupil.
The Swaro sees more detail at extreme ranges. But how about at the shorter ranges ? I'll bet the difference is extremely small.
Anybody want to explain why Enrique thinks the 13X58 Minox is sharper than the 15X58 Swaro ? I'm not surprised. Binoculars with lower magnifications and the same size objectives often are.
No, I don't have anything that I can post that shows the differences more accurately.
I'd just point out that comparing an 8X to a 15X is pointless. E

It's NOT pointless at all E. The reason hunters pack binos is for spotting game. Every hunter has his own priorities and theories on what makes the "best" pair for their style of hunting. Comparing them (power, brand, and method of use) is the only logical means of sorting out what works "best" for finding game.

Enrique
I to have heared of several people put together a pair of spotting scopes and using them as big eyes. Mostly they were the Bushnell's spacemasters variables 15-45, these ones are 20xw fixed model.
[img]http://6mmbr.websitetoolbox.com/file?id=601755[/img]

Well, yall've just about made my mind up. I think I'll get much more use out of the binos and I'll prolly go that way.

I'm doing some carpentry work on the side and will hopefully be done right before my trip north, so the money ought to be available just in time.

Thanks again for all the help.

I have followed this topic with great interest. And while I am by no means any type of expert on hunting or optics, I just can't seem to wrap my mind and experience around the assertion that 15x binoculars are better than a good spotting scope. I currently use a pair of 10x42 SLC binoculars and a 65mm ATS with 20-60x eye piece. I have been out on one scouting trip and one bow hunt, both for mules in Utah up high, while this thread has been going on. I simply cannot see where a pair of 15x binoculars would have been of greater benifit than my spotter for my particular type and style of hunting. In fact, everytime I had to crank the scope up to 40x or 60x to see if that root or branch was a horn, I considered it my good fortune to have that ability. A 15x binocular simply could not have made that distinction.

One talking point I will partially concede is the eye strain when using a scope. I say partially because having used my scope on average once a week for the last 4 months I suffer no noticeable eye strain, even when glassing for hours at a time. Due to my practice I am able to leave both eyes open with my dominant eye on the scope.

For my type and style of hunting, I'll stick with the scope.

All of this discussion has provided some excellent information. "Big Eyes" aren't my cup of tea but I find the discussion extremely interesting. The closest I would probably get to what you gentlemen are referring to would be a 10x50 or an 8x56. Not true "big eyes" but what I would probably prefer.

On the other hand I have been contemplating a different approach to some of my earlier comments on spotting scopes vs. "Big Eyes".

What do you gentlemen know of binoviewers?

You can google it if you like but basically it is taking a spotting scope and putting a rather unique "splitter" on the eyepiece end so you can actually place two eyepieces side by side to create a "binocular" viewing experience out of a spotting scope. That would pretty much eliminate the argument about having a more relaxed image from a binocular because you use both eyes. You use both eyes with the binoviewer...just one objective.

This is just my thinking out loud. I have only done some cursory reading on the subject but it would prove an interesting avenue to explore.

I think your last point (concession) hit the nail on the head. Based on what others have already stated, you've GOT to be comfortable while glassing, and prepared to do it for HOURS. Even with an eye patch to relax your non-scope eye, fatigue will set in faster with a spotter than with binos-------assuming equal quality optics.

Unless I'm way off base, the love of the Swaro 15s is a result of their optical quality, and the fact that Swarovski doesn't make something bigger.

I went out last night with my 10x42ELs, my 82ED Fieldscope, a cheap pair of 20X Pentax binos, and a Leupy 12-40x60 GR. I glassed from 7-8pm to compare low-light performance. I wanted to stay 'til dark but after the third dozen mosquito bite I got impatient and quit caring about optics.

What I learned in a nutshell was that even a 10X pair of binos WILL benefit from a tripod, magnification doesn't substitute for quality (knew that already), and that I could glass in complete comfort with the binos, but not the spotter. Due to the wider field of view I was also able to spot a lot more wildlife (deer and eagles) with the 10X binos than the 25-75 spotter. No doubt the spotter made things bigger, and I can still see a reason for using one, but I also got a small taste of the bino/tripod experience, and can only imagine what an extra 5X would do to the equation. Since Big Eyes ride in a backpack, I'd even go for a pair of 20X80 Swaros if they made 'em.

Right now I'm strongly considering cashing in my long-saved Cabelas points.

I spent the weekend with a friend scouting for an upcoming elk hunt, his optics are Swaro. 10x and a Leupold spotting scope, my optics are Leica 8x and Swaro. 15x. The area we are hunting is ideal country to glass, I have been curious why everybody likes the 10x so I used his for 1/2 a day, I like my 8x way better than the 10s, the 8x gives me a more "stable" view when not supported. I have never had a high end spotting scope because I bought the Swaro. 15xs as soon as they came out and never felt I needed them. We watched a few bulls with the 15x and the spotter the better part of Sat.the bulls were about 1/2 mile away, the 15xs didn't give up anything to the Leupold HD spotter, if it was cooler maybe the spotter would of got the nod but with mirage and wind we both agreed that the 15xs were better that day. I don't think either one is right for everybody but I can't imagine not having my 15s

I knew that there was a reason why I carry 7x42 SLC's and my 15's...

Dober

15X Swaro's are utterly fantabulous!

They make little dots across the canyon into bucks with big antlers.....any open country hunter who does not own them is severely deprived.They should create an Obama Entitlement Program so that everyone has a pair.

What kills me is my wife bought me the 15's for our first Christmas, and I thought they were too impractical at the time to be my only great glass, so I swapped 'em for the 10 ELs. If I'd ONLY KNOWN!!

Starting from scratch I'd go with the big 15's and the new 8x32ELs.

One of the things that a set of Big eyes will do is give you more contrast/depth, the ability to see fine details more easily than a comparable spotter. I think it was Barsness who commented once that due to the fact that you are using two eyes instead of one, the spotter has to be at least a 20X, maybe even a 25X to do better than a quality 12X50. A 15X58, used on a tripod would do better, I'm sure.
I also suspect that one would not have the problems of mirage tha the user of a 30X plus spotter would have.
Lots to consider. E

I guess I'm a black sheep here. I've tried big eyes (Swaro 15X56) on a tripod vs. my 10X42 SLCs and a spotting scope and found no reason at all to switch over to a set of big eyes.

Why? A couple reasons:

1)First many of the animals I hunt up here have antler requirements in order to be legal. I'm not a trophy hunting per say as I'll take the bigger of two animals standing side by side. But unlike most deer hunting, just having antlers or horns isn't enough to make most animals up here in AK legal. Being able to look over antler configuration at distances is often required even as a meat hunter.

For Example: Moose often have to have 3 or 4 brow tines on one side to be legal. Often times even at 15X on my Ziess Diascope 65mm I can't tell until I crank up the power and then really began to count tines up to 2 miles away. Which is VERY helpful rather than having to trudge threw 2 miles of swamp and alders and hope the moose is still around to get a better look.

Sheep hunting. Its gotta be full curl on one side. There is a sheep 2 miles away or so. You can't tell me that you could accurately guessimate sheep at that range with a pair of 15X big eyes. 60X spotter is VERY nice in this instance as well. Especially when you are sitting at 5,000 ft and there is a valley down to 2,000 feet, then 2 miles of hiking and then you gotta get back up to 5,000 ft again just cause you gotta get a closer look cause all you have is 15X binos? The added weight of a spotter and bino combo is worth it in these cases.

2) I will admit that free hand glassing my 10X42 swaro binos gets tiresome after just a few minutes. However, when I am glassing rarely am I standing. Rather sitting down with my forearms on my knees and my back up against a hill, tree, or rock. Its comfy as hell and I glass like that for hours. Much more comfy I thought than sitting in front of a tripod looking through either a spotter or the pair of big eyes. Yes not as steady, but the ability of comfortably sit there and glass in a relaxed position for an extended period of time is a great plus. Still see game just fine despite using my binos sans tripod. Binos on my knees its pretty steady. Also the FOV with regular binos vs. a pair of big eyes is more as well.

To each their own. Just sharing my experince after comparing a set of big eyes to a regular bino/spotter combo for my style hunting. Best to go with works best for you.

Good hunting everyone.

Big eyes are not for everyone and or for all kinds of country that's for sure.

But, for some critters in some terrain they're incredibly tough to beat until we need to micro mgt G1's and such.


Dober

These new optics are leagues ahead of my first binoculars, some WWII surplus Zeiss 20x50s, but those did the job for me hunting mountain goat, bears, mule deer and auodad. I would like to try a set of Minox or Swaro 15x binos for a week or two, along with one of the ED scopes, like a Pentax 80, for comparison.

I thought i would revive this thread as the discussion is excellent. It 2 years old so the brand names might have changed but the basis princpals still apply.

Trevor