Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics "Big Eyes" 15x vs 12x

I have an older Vortex 15x Kaibab that I have used hunting Mule Deer and I love the ability it provides over a spotting scope. I am considering upgrading to a Swaro 15x56

What I am wondering is how a 12X, say I went all the way and bought a Swaro NL 12x42 instead. A lot of money for the NL but it looks like a great pair of binoculars and I wondering if the great quality would make up for the magnification enough to make it worth it.

Has anybody had experience in comparing 12x vs 15x in high grade optics in what I am wanting to do? Lots of glassing in open country for Mule Deer.

That is a tough question. I have heard that some guys are opting for the 12X binos you mention and leaving their older 15x at home or selling them. More reading is in order I suppose.

You could give Outdoorsman's a call they sell Swarovski line and are quite knowledgeable about glassing. I have met many of the guys including the father/son team that publish the Western Hunter magazine. They should be able to answer your questions.

1-800-291-8065

Just my own experience.... I sold my 15X older Swaros and got a Tract 12.5X. For glassing I wanted a little more FOV and since I carry a 15-60 spotter anyway, thought the trade off justified a slightly lower power. Have not been disappointed.
Hopefully some of the AZ guides will chime in as coues hunting is all about the glass.

I have both 12.5 and 15's both from Tract I like the 15's a lot.

15's all day. The Athlon Cronus 15's are a friggin steal

15X for sure. No comparison when both have good glass.

15X if you are generally glassing longer distances. Swaro 15X hd's are excellent but there are other good choices too. I wish Swaro would introduce 12X56 SLC's, I'd get in line to own a set.

I’d like to try the 15x’s.

Zero fly's on 12x of quality. More FOV negates the 3X for me. You'll need a spotter regardless for the details. Combine with lighter weight and less length and you can use them as chest binos in a pinch...

For some years I thought I had the ideal set up for sheep hunting (desert and rocky), 10x42EL's around my neck, 15x56 SLC's on a tripod and my spotter, always thought a 12 or 12.5 was a tweener..............enter the

18x56, I have not used one but seems a better idea than a 12x Maven 18x56

would like to give one a try

I used 15’s for years and started using 12’s a couple years ago and don’t feel like I’ve gave up much at all.

I like the combo of 8’s on my chest and 12’s. Not sure I’d go 12’s if 10’s were my chest glass.

SLM,

If you like the combination of 8x and 12x, you'd probably love an 8+12x42 Leica Duovid. I made the switch from two binoculars to one years ago, and have never regretted it.

Have always wanted to use the Duovids to see what they are like. Seems when I looked into them last time, the only tripod option I could find was the strap type mount? One binocular would be nice.

Have kind of got spoiled with the 12 EL’s, the most “relaxed” view I’ve found, until I used the NL’s once.

I have a pair of Leica 12 x 50 and I was glassing for a week with a guy who had Swarovski 15 x 56 for blacktail. We swapped glasses and compared the two. We both agreed that at extreme distances the 15 x 56 Swarovski had an advantage, but not close or at medium distances, there was nothing in it. Why I like the 12 x 50 is that you can stabilize it using a monopod, your rifle barrel or your elbows on your knees when seated, against a car or tree and at a pinch use them off-hand. The 15x you can't really do this, you need a tripod all the time. Used off-hand the 12 x 50s were no better than my Swarovski 8 x 30. 12 power is too much off-hand, 10x is about maximum...no benefit is obtained after 10x when not stabilised.

If you cannot connect a stud to center of binoculars Outdoorsman's has a clamp that fit on the occular. It comes in three sizes. I have been using it for over 15 years on my Leica 10 x 42 rangefinder binoculars.

https://outdoorsmans.com/collections/studs-adapters/products/outdoorsmans-ring-adapter-42mm

Leica make a rubber clamp which I use.

20 or 22 wide angle, I prefer 20

Are you using twin spotters Gemby?
Depending upon the eyepiece, a straight power is usually clearer than a wide angle.
Same goes for most zoom eyepieces, fixed power being clearer.

yes I used to build and sell them, built the frames and used bushnells spacemasters, I think the 20x is better the 22x, you only lose about 3 feet of view out at 1000 yards. not worth trying to find 22x when 20x was alot easier to find. I have 3 personal sets that I let other use when out long range hunting, won't let them touch my Leica's.

Looked at a twin spotter set up once and couldn’t imagine packing that thing around.


Gemby, do you guys pack them around, or how do you utilize them mostly?

Have you compared a twin spotter set up to a BTX?