Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics leica duovid 10-15x50 or swaro 15x56???

looking for additional magnification. i currently have the leica 10x42 trinovids but like the idea of more power for long days of glassing in open country. any thoughts on the above choices?

jds

If you havent read this article yet, you might find it very helpful it's on the home page titled "Big Eyes".

Gives a good binocular comparison and honest opinions of the different "big eye" glass quality that is available.

Hope this helps.

jds-I've yet to work with the 10-50 Duo but from my time with the smaller duo i am not a big fan of it. Perhaps some out there do like it though.

I am absolutely in love with my 15 Swaro's add to that the fact that you can put a couple of doublers on it and this is one fine outfit IMO.

I've been using mine now for about 6 years or so and it is one super piece of glass.

Mark D

I use a 12X50 Leica BN for that. What I do is use a basic 8X, either a light 8X32 or an 8X42 for the general glassing and then use the big 12X to redo those areas that I'm not satisfied with. Try reading Barsness's article on the Home Page, "Looking Long".
In spite of the opinions on the Big Eyes article, I've found the big 12X bino to be quite useful from a solid sitting position. It is not, however, anything you want to use from standing at all.
Barsness also discusses the 8+12X42 as a much more useful tool than the 10X. He says that it, on 12X, will outperform any 10X, and he's probably tried them all.
The Big Eyes article also said that the 12X50 Leica Ultravid will "run right along with" the 15X Swaro until it starts to get really dark. I believe that means it will show you just as much, just smaller.
The biggest drawback to the big Swaro is that it, like any 15X, it really needs to be used from a tripod. For that reason, I don't think you be able to use the 15X setting on the Duovid much unless you put the whole binocular on a tripod or use some sort of improvised rest to do the same thing. However, I'd also add that the 10+15 Duovid on 10X will be easier on the eyes than the 10X42 you use now simply because of it's larger exit pupil and more weight.
So, to my mind, you have several options which you can select based on your projected use of the binocular.
If you just want a binocular that will show you more than a 10X, then maybe the 8+12X42 Duovid. More performance in a small and not too heavy package. No tripod required. The 8X, I've found, is much more useful/easier to use from standing than a 10X if that's what you do much of.
You can simply go to a 12X and leave the 10X home. But you'd have a hard time seeing much or for long from standing.
You can go to the 10+15, and plan on having to provide a solid, improvised rest when you needed the 15X setting.
Or, you can use the 10X42 for general use and buy the 15X Swaro for some really long range/twilight situations where you must have all the performance that any binocular can reasonably give.
Not knowing just where and how you hunt, I can't really say what will work best.
Fortunately, we have a guy named Doug over at Cameraland who will sell you either or both so you may try them out. If you decide one is better than the other, you can return the one that doesn't suit you for a full refund. In your shoes, that's what I'd do. E

Mark-
Let me get this straight-do you use two doublers on your Swaro? I am starting to believe in the Big Eyes concept, but for me it is an either/or concept in regards to a spotter vs the big Swaro. I have one doubler, which works so-so at best. Two, however, ya might have something there... I have heard there are collimation issues when you use two doublers-is this optics urban legend?

Yup I am.

I've been told as well,,,,,,,I never believe what I am told however.


Mark D

Have to agree with Mark, go with the SLC 15x56. I carry a set of 8x SLC's on a bino strap for quick access. I use the 15's on a tripod and carry them in my pack. Been known to carry a spotting scope too when needed. A friend has the Leica 10-15X50 Duovids and swears by them but swears at the tripod mount! I'll keep what I have. It works for me anyway.

I carry 7x42 SLC's and the 15's most days. A good head (I use one of Jim Whites) and a good tripod I use a Slick 444 and one is ready to rock.

My 2 pieces of Swaro glass would be the last of my stuff to go. I'd hunt with a junker big time b4 letting these guys go.

Mark D

I bet those Leica also do your washing and ironing too! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I am with Mark on this one. The 15x Swaro's all the way. I love the SLCnew.
I will never own a Lieca bino. My cousin has owned two pairs and they turned out to be junk. Never droped them or anything and they went wacked. Lieca charged him for the repair of the Duo's and I think are trying to charge him for the other pair to be fixed also.
Swaro on the otherhand when his glasses went bad, fixed them and more for nothing.
Nope Lieca is on my --it list. Going to be buying a rangefinder in a week or so from Doug. I was thinking of the Lieca, now I think I may choose a different brand.

In any event, which ever bino you go with, talk to Doug at cameraland. He'll take good care of you.

Kique

Enrique,

I can say that Swarovski UK also give excellent customer service.

A few years back, I was talking to one of their reps at a game fair, and he said that their aim was to out do Leupold in the customer service department..Quite who is best, doesn't really matter, but this competition is great for us consumers. Just lately I've started to hear very good things about Zeiss when previously they had always nickle and dimed people on repairs.. Hopefully Leica will wise up and change their attitude as well...

Regards,

Pete

thanks for the replies. i typically backpack hunt out west and although have gotten along ok with the 10x42 i looked though some 15's on this last hunt and thought they might make a good addition. i have already ordered the 10-15x50 duovids from doug and intend to us them as an all purpose binocular. 10 power in the thick stuff or just scanning while using the 15 setting on a tripod for long day's of glassing. may add a spotting scope later but right now this seems to be the best compromise when you start to factor in added weight of two binos with a possiblity of a spotter.

thanks again,
jason

I've worked with Swaro twice so far in terms of repairs. In my opinion they must of silently helped Carl Sewell write the book "Customers For Life".

Both times I dealt with them they were sterling, Dawn from there is on the All Star team when it comes to customer service.

A quick story.

Fall of 01 I was guiding in Wyoming, Montana and Sonora.

I started my season off in Wyo and had one of those freak things happen to my glass via a stoopid move on my part. I had to get them sent in, it was early Sept and I was nervous abou getting them back in time to take em to Sonora with me in late November. I had not at this time ever worked with Swaro on fix em up things.

I called and got Dawn on the phone, it was a Monday morn and I told her my plight. She said no issues and asked if I had a Fed Ex around. Well low and behold the pubic sized town I was calling from had one. I said please please get em back to me. She said no worries that she would make it happen, and asked if I would like her to overnight me a loaner pair till mine come in.

Can you believe it that in this day and age a company would volunteer to over night you a 1K piece of glass and they had no clue who I was, they didn't even have my glass yet.

I declined as I had a spair pair of Zeiss 10x42 classics to borrow from the boss. I had worked with these b4 and never thought much about them but I wanted to spend a bit more time with them to give em a real fair and proper shake.

Well low and behold come Friday Fed Ex dropped my glass back to the Outfitters house. They took a total of 5 days to get them turned around and back to me! They looked like new and if you consider how they looked when I sent them in that says a lot. My binos are not safe queens!

This means that they went out Monday, they got them sometime Tuesday. They worked on em Wednesday and overnighted em back to me on Thursday and in mu pawz on Friday!

That my friends is the kind of customer service that is WOWSA in my mind!

On a side note I now know for sure that I am not going to hell as I've already been there. 5 days of using the Zeiss Classic (which is to my eyes) the most over rated glass ever took care of my time in hell!

Never so glad to have my green's back in my pawz!

Obviously I am a Swaro fan and for darn good reason. I spent roughly 180 days in the field that year and all but 5 of em were a true joy (that of course being the 5 with the Classics).

Mark D

i have always heard good things about swarovski customer service but enrique's tales from Leica are the first time I have ever read about a Leica "needing" service on any of the forums that I frequent...
I have read alot about swarovski and leupold and probably because they have alot of customers out there....
My father-in-law was on a guided elk hunt this year and the guide's EL's fogged up so bad the ywere useless

+1

I once heard someone say Glass Is Subjective........

A sample size of one, is a tough way to make a judgement.

I do love my Geovids though, despite not having used any other than mine.

Dave I've spent a bit of time with Zeiss 10's glued to the running lights... there's a LOT of better options out there these days.

Not gonna bash someone's glass if that's what they use tho...

You just don't know how to focus them properly......

Could be.

Course the chief proponant of them from your neck of the woods admit's to needing lasik surgery... (grins).

I have been very happy with my EL 10x42s, using them for 4 years now, with no problems. However, they are the only "high dollar" binos I have ever owned.
Would not mind trying out a set of Leica's one of these days...