Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Your favorite Big Eyes 12x50 or 15x56

I am thinking of giving the Leica Ultravid 12x50 HD a try instead of the Swarovski 15x56 WB SLC I used in Colorado hunting last year.

So Big Eye hunters will I be short changing myself with the 12x's?

Either can be found for around the same $$ and I am ready to buy.

In big country I use my 15's more than any other optics I own

From what I have read, the new 12x Swarovski EL binoculars are supposed to change the game BIG TIME. I know several people who have sold other top tier binos (swaro 15x, Leica Duovids etc) to get the 12x Swaros.

Me, I have Leica Duovids and I have not been disappointed once in the 4 or so years I have had them. Worth their weight in gold! Of course, I am a walking Leica billboard... Leica binos, rangefinder, spotter etc.

I recently checked out the Leica Trinovid Binoculars 8x42 and liked them enough to consider selling my Zeiss Classic's and trading up. That is why I am thinnking of the Leica Ultravid 12x50 HD 12x50.

Which Douvids are you using?

The 12x for sure if your budget allows it. The 10oz difference was enough for me to make my decision.

I've used a 12X50 Leica BN for several years now. They are heavy enough to use very effectively hand held.
I can see a little better with my Nikon ED spotting scope, but only if I turn up the magnification to 25X.
To my way of thinking, if I going to carry a tripod, then I'll carry a spotting scope as well. E

I have the 10-15x50 Duovids.

firstcoueswas80,

Since you have both a 12X and a 15X in your binos, which magnification would you go with?

I have nothing like the same quality - Big Eyes are Minox from Doug and 12x50 are Bushnell Fusion - but I don't think 12X50 are big eyes and I don't think any monocular spotting scope is enough for Big Eye hunting folks who want to see things before they walk and do all their hunting before they shoot. That said it is entirely a matter of taste and there is no logical answer - my favorite line from Star Trek is It seemed the logical thing to do at the time.

This thread got me thinking........I have 2 bino's a 10x42 EL Swaro and a 15x56 SLC Swaro and I love them both but the 10-15x50 Duovids sound like a great idea, I am going to check them out.
One thing I dont like about the 12x50 is that it is a tweener, not as good as a 10x at some things and not as good as a 15x at others so it forces you to buy another bino.