Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Meopta Meostar 12x50 vs Swaro SLC 15x56

This afternoon we compared the two for a few hours over a 22 acre green field with 40+ deer. Swaro's are mine so there is some bias, the Meoptas are a friend's. The Meoptas were better in every aspect. Yes I have the latest HD version of the Swaros. For even money I'd buy the Meopta. But wait, they're half the price!

I appreciate this. I was just wondering how Meostars compared with the Swarovskis. I just missed a great price on some B1.1 10x42 Meostars, but they sold out before I could snag them.

Good to know bama, I'm a meopta fan as you know. How we're the 12's in hand? They need a tripod?

Thanks for posting that. I've wondered about the higher X Meostars. I've been very pleased with 7x42 Meostar's over the past few years and recently started using a pair of 8x32 HD Meostars that I really like.

Thanks. I would assume the 15x Swaros wouldn’t start to shine until you got to longer distances. Thats only speculation though. I’ve been considering some binos for glassing to supplement my 8x I use while stalking. Will definitely look into the Meoptas. How would the 15x Meoptas compare to the 12x Meoptas?

Yeah Clint, thanks for the post. I’ve also been curious about the higher X Meoptas. Have a couple pairs of the Meostar 10x42s and they’ve been stellar....

If you put the Meostar 15x56 on a tripod next to a Swaro 15x56 they will be EXTREMELY close in quality.

We just got in another shipment of the Meostar 15x56's so if you're looking please give us a call, 516-217-1000, to discuss yours

Happy Thanksgiving

So will the 10x42 versions. Good stuff Clint, thanks for the report.

Great timing on that post for me, ctsmith, thanks. I'm about to be in the market for a 12x binoc and am considering the Meostar (as well as the Tract Toric). During our antelope hunt in WY last month, I used my buddy's 15x SLCs and honestly didn't think they were much better optically than my Minox HGs in 10x52. At any rate, your input may have just helped me seal the decision. Now if I could find them on a special Black Friday deal, that would be even sweeter....

I have the Meopta 10x42s. I find them to be a good all around kit. Good field of view and low light capability for hunting, but I have also used them for spotting impacts to 1k yds in PRS competitions.

Have both binoculars and and agree the Meopta 12’s are pretty nice. Found myself using them more than the 15’s this year.

How do they do without a tripod slm?

I’ve got 8-32, 10-42 meopta hd’s and 15 Swarovski, love the meoptas, especially the little 8’s

For a quick look they are ok, but I couldn’t use them much without a tripod.

Carry 8’s on my chest for quick scans.

Copy that

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I'm not a glass aficionado, I just know which picture looks the sharpest, most crisp, best color, to my eye. Out to 600 yards (the range in our green field), the Meoptas were just better. My friend said it immediately. It was a little more difficult for me to accept. After going back and forth between binos I finally had to agree. We were counting button bucks. The only advantage the Swaro 15s had over the Meopta 12s were seeing the buttons at the back of the field (600 yards), but that is solely due to more magnification.

Now I'm interested in the 15 Meostars. I will never hand hold the 12s or 15s and weight/size is not an issue.

As for hand holding, I'm probably not the guy to ask. I complain that 6/32's arent available because I want less shake than with 8s. The 12's are definitely more serviceable than the 15's but as SLM said, I'd only hand hold in a pinch.

I looked through Greg's 15 meoptas a couple times, they're damn nice

Are Gregs 15s or 12s? I was thinking 12. I never looked through them.

Not saying the Meoptas aren't extremely nice, especially when factoring in the price, nor that knowing how 12x50 compares to 15x56 in field use isn't helpful, but a 12x50 vs 15x56 optics comparison is apples to oranges due to the different specs. (not saying that was the OP's intent, either). Just that optical comparisons are tricky and need to be well-controlled.

BTW, I have the Swarovski EL 8.5x42 and the Meopta 15x56. The Meoptas are super nice and I am very happy with them. The image is great. They are quite usable for short periods of time when braced against a support like a tree trunk, rock, etc. Long glassing sessions would need a tripod, though. No way would I spring for the steep increase in price for the Swaro 15x56 after using the Meoptas.

However, the Swaro 8.5x42 is a whole 'nother world. It is like you have magically "climbed into the image," and the binos fall away from your awareness. You go from "great image quality" of the Meoptas to "standing next the animal" of the Swaros.

JMHO

15's he was talking about the 12's too