Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Binos 15x56 or larger

Looking for a good set for glassing longer distances and intended for tripod use vs using a spotting scope. What would you recommend. 2500.00 or less budget.

I have a pair of the Tract 15X56 and like them very much.

I am now using the Vortex 18x56, and I found them to be excellent on a recent hunt. I will be taking them on my next Coues deer hunt as well.

The 18x is a twist that I thought would affect low-light performance, and even though physics is physics, low-light performance was nevertheless stellar. The 18x was a welcome bump in magnification that pays dividends in big country.

There is lots to like about this bino.

Awesome, buddy has a pair of Vortex and likes them alot!

Swarovski is king of the 15s. Next I would rank Meopta and then Maven. All are better than the Vortex and it isn't that close. These are one's I personally own or have owned the last 3 years. Btx is King

I have spent the past 40 years looking through big eyes. I have tried almost everything except some of the recent boutique brands. I think the BTX suck balls. There's a guy in Tucson who will make you a jig to pair two Kowa spotting scopes that is far better than the light- robbing BTX.
I spent a week looking side- by- side with my Swarovski 15x56 and the 18 x Vortex razors. At closer distances the Razors were about as good as the Swarovski. The focus was better on the 15x56 at distance but the 18s were very good.

I know a lot of coues and sheep guides that have sold their BTXs and gone to the twin spotters...

I agree. The BTX from a performance perspective and for me personally a practical perspective is hard to find a place for.

I still think the Meopta 15x56 is phenomenal after all these years, low light it's there with the best. I have not changed my glass in 5 years now I think.

The Swaro's are very fragile glass....

I actually like the Cabelas version of the Meoptas better. They don't have those bumpy thingy's in the armor, and have a knurled focus wheel instead of rubber coated.....

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I own the Meopta 15 x 56 HD and I thoroughly researched all of the big eyes before purchase and for the money the Meopta's in my opinion were by far the best glass for the money out there. YMMV

If I had $2500 to spend on 15's, there's no way I'd buy anything else but the swaros.

I got a set of Maven 18x56s this summer and like them better than I did my Swaro 15x56.

I don't see any down side for the 18X in these types of binos.

Meopta for value….at shotshow it was a tie with the swaros

Nothing in that price range will beat the Swaros. Was out in New Mexico looking 2-6 kilometers out glassing two weeks ago and both guides I spoke with carried 15x Swaros for long distance glassing.

What other glass have you compared?

Do you have the Swaros or just the 2 guides with whom you spoke?

I'm doing the same thing at the same place, right now. Such a firm opinion. Lol

Guides are biased and rarely compare glass.

One major thing that I'm benefitting from right now, Meoptas to my eyes have significantly less glare than the Swaros do when sunlight is involved. And when you are glassing shade, which should be most of the time, this is kind of a big deal....

Those top end Mavens are pretty damn good....

Thanks all

Go Swarovski. You can find barely used 15s throughout the year for $2-2200k. They sell fast so be ready to jump.

Leica Geovid 15X56 R are $2K at Euro Optics right now, Cameraland show OOS. Older design optics, great glass and you have a built in rangefinder. I don't own any Leica but I've around them enough that the 10X42 Geovids will be with me next hunting season.