Best 12x50 binoculars under $500. I have a Kowa SV50 12x50 but I'm thinking about upgrading.

Do you use a tripod?

A 10x would be an upgrade for handheld use.

Tract has the 12x50 on sale for $594
https://tractoptics.com/all-products/12-5x50-binoculars

Take a look at the Athlon Midas G2 12x50 UHD Binocular

I have the Tracts and have used them on a tripod and also without (as long as you can brace against a tree or something) and IMHO they are outstanding.
It would be very interesting to compare them to the Athlons and you could return which ever one doesn't meet your needs.

I also have the Kowa 12x50 SVs, from Doug, and wanted to upgrade for a Colorado elk hunt this past fall. I went with the tracts 12.5x50s because I was concerned that the Althlon Midas were not enough of an upgrade from the Kowa's. I have not looked through the Althon Midas' to give an opinion, but I can tell you that I am very happy with my Tracts and others at camp who looked through them were also very impressed, especially at the price point. Good luck with your search.

I have the tract 12.5, bought a couple years ago for under 600 bucks. They are ok for that price point. Bought them for the range and for the grandkids to bang around when they start hunting/glassing.

They are not outstanding in the world of bigeye glassing. I've said this before here on this subject... 12s are an odd duck in the budget binos... they don't have the clarity of 10s or the magnification of 15s, the strength of each of those puts them on equal basis. The budget12s are mediocre at clarity and magnification, and mediocre overall.

Kent

What's the country of origin for those, Doug?

These are highly regarded. ED glass. Dielectric phase prism coatings. Magnesium alloy. Relatively wide 5.9 degree true field of view.
A definite upgrade over the non-ED polycarbonate Kowa.

Snypex 10x50 Knight D-ED Binoculars $499
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1275102-REG/snypex_9050d_ed_10x50_knight_d_ed_binocular.html

Come on man.....seriously? Always amazed people can give a rec on something they've never owned/used.

Not Doug but......... CHINA

My son bought these and I used them off and on for a couple weeks during the deer hunt
Highly recommend, worth $94 over your budget IMO

Well my Leupold and Pentax 42’s are over budget. And under aperture.

I just figured anything less than ED glass and metal body was a lateral move. And I’ve heard other people that were happy with the Snypex D-ED. And under $500, just barely.

Besides that, how many recommending something lesser have actually compared them to the Howa SV?
So you could make that same comment to just about everyone here.
There probably wouldn’t be any comments at all if all qualifications were met. Just trying to point out an option that I would assume the OP might want to investigate.

China