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?

Maven has an excellent 18 x 56. I haven’t checked them out, but the reviews are good.

we pack them, my personal set has a titanium bracket, really cuts down on the weight, but cost alot more than aluminum

Realize that all Pa l/r hunting is done from a fixed location.
Wether you hike to a location, or drive a vehicle to it, once there you remain there till for whatever reason you decide to leave. If you move to another location, same thing applies, you stay till its time to leave.
As for the Twin spotters, pretty much all Pa hunters are using them.
The weight can vary considerably based upon the scopes used and the design of the bracket.
I personally have 6 different sets of them from 50 mm to 77 mm objective size.
You cant compare even the very best large hand helds with them for all day glassing.
And we have compared them side by side on the same day looking at the same things.
Having the ability to change eyepiece power is in itself a big plus for them
I will put a set of my older 50 mm spotters next to a set of 15x56 Swaros and really enjoy watching the sweat roll off the Swaro owners brow over the massive cost difference.
And what do you do if they should happen to get knocked over while on a hunt?

Pick them up.

The sheep guide I used to work for had Doctor bino's that were similar to a twin spotter but the glass was not as good as his true twin spotters. We tried the Swaro BTX and it is fantastic, but has a big down side........it only comes in angled. If Swarovski were to make a straight BTX it might make twin spotters obsolete

I put a link on my first post on this thread if you want to check them out

I agree, there no hand that will compare to twin spotters for all day glassing I take my spacemaster 9 out of 10 times

Elkrazy,

Am in the middle of a coues wt hunt. Two friends joined us to help glass yesterday. Both of them have the Swaro NL pure12x42 you mentioned. They both sold their older 15X swaros for these. I looked through them and man what resolution! I must add they both have tandem Swarovski spotting scope setups with a custom bracket they own too. With those pairs of optics they have no need for 15X.

I still glass with my 15X and not considering any changes.

I am reading this thread with enthusiasm, as I am contemplating getting some 12X glass.

A few times this past week I left my 15X56 Meoptas at camp and took my 10X40 Zeiss instead, just playing around to see how big of a difference it would make while deer and elk hunting. Lately I have been leaving my spotter behind since I don't need to count points or determine full curl, ect. for legality. Three separate times in the last week with my 10Xs I was wishing for my 15Xs as I just could not 100% tell if I was looking at something with antlers or not at the ranges I was glassing---but my buddy with his 15X56 SLC could easily tell.

The more I hunt even moderately open country with my 15Xs the more everything else gets left behind, but I am curious if a good pair of 12X would work for me as well.

I have a pair of 12.5 Tract binoculars and they are excellent, for me they do not replace my 15s which I use the most

I've owned and used both. Both worked well, but a few times at long range I was wishing for more power than the 12's. I've never felt that way with the 15's. Yes the 12's were useful with a monopod where the 15's not really, but I use a tripod with either so its a moot point for me. YMMV

Bill

I have 12x and 15x and employ in different scenarios.

The 12X on the neck harness when I am backpacking in the back-40 and a compact-ish spotter in the bag both used on a lighter weight carbon tripod.

The 15x and a bigger spotter on a heavier tripod when I am covering ground from one vantage point to another.

But as MD said, the Duovid is an intriguing option which I have thought about for some time, however, Leica after-sales support seems hit or miss which prevents me from
jumping on the Duovid.

-D

I guess im from the old school. I believe 15x60 will always be better than 15x56, but that option sadly has gone away unless you buy the oldies but goodies lol.
I also believe 12x50 or better when it comes to 12x, i think 12x42 would lose early morning and late evening glassing light minutes. I could be wrong especially with the newer coatings and such.
This weekend i spent some time glassing a unit i havent been in. Gotta tell you, i found glassing more comfortable with the 12x50 than the 15x56s. However, i had to switch over to the 15s on occassion to identify what i was looking at when i glassing beyond the distance i should have lol.
All in all ive never said i wish i had less power but i have said dang i wish i had a little more magnification. Even at 300 yards my 15s suck with the narrow fov, but im ok moving my binos a little more compared to my 12s.
Cant go wrong with either if you are chasing big deer, big racks will be visible with either. If you are a meat hunter, seeing spikes might be an issue at long range tho.


Kique

I have a set of 20 year old Burris glasses that are 12x50s. They are the American made "signature series". They have been exceptional. I have actually never felt the need for another set of binos in the "all around" category. I bought my dad a set of Swarovski 10x about 12 years ago or so and in comparing them in the field, there are times when the Burris12x have just a slight edge.

If I could find another set of American made Burris binos I would snatch them up just for backups if the price was reasonable.

I'm a little different than you. I'm wanting to go from 10x to 12x. I older I get the more power I want in scopes and binoculars.