12x50 or 15x56 for Finding Bedded Deer

[OK_hunter]

I am looking to add larger binoculars to my arsenal and I would like some opinions regarding the Swarovski 12x50 EL with swarovision vs the 15x56 SLC. I currently carry 10x42's and an 80 mm spotter. This combo works well most of the time but I find the 10x doesn't do it for me when searching for bedded bucks in tall grass or thick brush and the spotter works well on low power but it is not as comfortable as binoculars and doesn't have much FoV.

I would like to know if anyone has compared the 12x50 EL and 15x56 SLC in the field looking for bedded deer in moderate to heavy cover and what your opinions are (distances of 200 to 1000 yards). I have looked through both in a store but I don't have an opportunity to test them in the field so I want to here some opinions regarding the choice.

Thanks!

 

[bates]

Are you cool with carrying your 10's plus another set or looking to consolidate to just 1?


since you already own 10's i would lean towards the 15's. I run el 8x32 and 12's myself, i like the 12's b/c i can just carry them as i my set rifle hunting, and use the 8's more for bowhunting and here at home.

i just get more use out of the 12's so i went that route and i also live in the South. i can handhold the 12's in a treestand and do, i wouldn't want to do that with the 15's. i am sure if i got out more or lived out west i would no doubt run 15's.

i have found i love the color of the 12's and they shine in picking apart stuff 200 to 800 ish, past that the 15's would be better in bigger country for sure.

 

[OK_hunter]

Bates,
Thanks for the response. I am fine carrying both and the spotting scope. I just moved to Alabama so I know I won't be using these down here but plan to make several trips back to Oklahoma next fall and also at least one mule deer hunt out west depending on how the drawings go. In Oklahoma about a 1000 yards is all I could ever realistically see and try to pick apart. There I mostly hunt in Western OK in an area with deep canyons with Junipers on top and mesquite flats in the bottoms. I also hunt in flat wide open parries with tall grass/weeds. I just need more magnification to pick out the deer bedded in the weeds and didn't know if the 12's would offer the advantage I was looking for or if I would need the 15's.

 

[Akicita]

Bates,
Thanks for the response. I am fine carrying both and the spotting scope. I just moved to Alabama so I know I won't be using these down here but plan to make several trips back to Oklahoma next fall and also at least one mule deer hunt out west depending on how the drawings go. In Oklahoma about a 1000 yards is all I could ever realistically see and try to pick apart. There I mostly hunt in Western OK in an area with deep canyons with Junipers on top and mesquite flats in the bottoms. I also hunt in flat wide open parries with tall grass/weeds. I just need more magnification to pick out the deer bedded in the weeds and didn't know if the 12's would offer the advantage I was looking for or if I would need the 15's.

Given the two options my pick would be the larger exit pupil of the 12x50 EL for better sight picture contrast in tall grass, junipers and other vegetation.

 

[MattB]

Since you already have 10's, I'd go 15's.

 

[elkguide]

^^^^ What has been said. Since you're already carrying the 10's and a spotter, the in between would be the 15's.

 

[ckleeves]

I got tired of carrying a spotter, 10's and 15's on hunts that required a lot of glassing. I sold my 15's and got a pair of SV 12x50's and only pack them now for most everything.

I do sometimes miss the 15's if I'm going to be behind them all day on a tripod. What I don't miss is the weight and size of the slc 15's.

10x and 12x is kinda redundant, I bet you only end up using the 12's if that's the route you decide to go. That being said there isn't much I have found that the 12's can't do very well.

 

[wasatchcomm]

I got tired of carrying a spotter, 10's and 15's on hunts that required a lot of glassing. I sold my 15's and got a pair of SV 12x50's and only pack them now for most everything.

I do sometimes miss the 15's if I'm going to be behind them all day on a tripod. What I don't miss is the weight and size of the slc 15's.

10x and 12x is kinda redundant, I bet you only end up using the 12's if that's the route you decide to go. That being said there isn't much I have found that the 12's can't do very well.

good post
i have carried the 10x's and the 15x's all year and have wondered if i am missing something by just going with a really good set of 12x's
my only concern is how well i can freehand the 12x's when needed, consolidating to one glass would be a great way to give my pack a diet...
i used a set in arizona my brother in law had(cabelas euro 12x's) awesome binos.

 

[Hatchet Jack]

This is always a fun debate. I recently moved to AZ and caught the coues bug. Because of this, I think I will always own a good pair of 15x. Those buggers are small and hard to locate. I would one day like to get a high end set of 12x for muley and elk hunts where I don't want to pack 2 pairs of binos. The EL 12 on a tripod would be deadly.
I think the important thing to remember is each set of glass has it's own use and does not completely replace any of the others. 15x does not replace a good spotting scope. 12x is a good compromise, but you're not getting quite the range of a 15 nor the FOV/hand holding effectiveness of a 10 or 8. One day I'd like to own all of them and mix and match depending on the hunt. Until then i'll lug around 10s 15s and a 65 spotter.
To the OP, if you go 15x get the HD. I feel there are better non-swaro options than the SLC NEU for less money.

 

[R_burg]

This is always a fun debate. I recently moved to AZ and caught the coues bug. Because of this, I think I will always own a good pair of 15x. Those buggers are small and hard to locate. I would one day like to get a high end set of 12x for muley and elk hunts where I don't want to pack 2 pairs of binos. The EL 12 on a tripod would be deadly.
I think the important thing to remember is each set of glass has it's own use and does not completely replace any of the others. 15x does not replace a good spotting scope. 12x is a good compromise, but you're not getting quite the range of a 15 nor the FOV/hand holding effectiveness of a 10 or 8. One day I'd like to own all of them and mix and match depending on the hunt. Until then i'll lug around 10s 15s and a 65 spotter.
To the OP, if you go 15x get the HD. I feel there are better non-swaro options than the SLC NEU for less money.

I think its going to be down the road a little bit for me, but what non-swaro options do you prefer? I looked through the Kaibabs and was very unimpressed.

I know they would help me a lot down here, (I am also in AZ) when trying to find coues and muleys bedded... but I am trying to hold off to save the wallet some pain, lol.

 

[boom]

i think my 10's on a tripod is a needle (in a haystack) finding combo.

i love the wide FOV, and just being rock steady, i can catch the tiniest movement..then i move in with a spotter. last week, i caught an ear flicker of a couse..it was hidden in gray dead trees. its the movement that saves me and lets me home in on them..

for me steady trumps magnification.

 

[WRO]

I've ran both the 15's and the 12's (new versions) a bunch on several hunts over the last 3 years. The 15's are great, the 12's are just a little better. They do colors and details better enough, that they do not lose out over the 15s as far as the power deficiency goes IMHO, plus you can hand hold them well enough, that you only need to carry one piece of glass.

 

[coues32]

12x50 els will run with any of the non HD 15x swaros even at the same distancesize because of the clarity and brightness. You can free hand them not like 8s but doable. They are the best glass out there in my opinion for the west. The 12xs won't crowd you as much as the 15s in closer stuff also.

New Swarovski 15 hds are great glass and you can notice the 3x power compared to the 12 els.

That said my 12s are ran 90% of the time.

 

[sbcff15]

I recently had to address this same issue. I have noticed in the last year that I have been having a harder timer focusing with my spotter, so I went with the 15x56 meopta's. I'm not very concerned with inches, just finding a legal buck. I've been really happy with the 15's so far and will probably be listing an 80 mm swaro hd spotter very soon. Damn, I hate getting older and unable to focus like I use to.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[OK_hunter]

Thanks everyone for your opinions. It sounds like the 12's with the swarovision are just as capable as the 15's but with larger field of view. I also like the potential to just carry the 12's only for certain hunts. I liked the 12's better in the store and given what has been said here I think I will go with them. Thanks again for the advice.

 

[Fireguy]

I strongly disagree. I've hunted coues with my Swaro HD 15's while my buddy have the Swaro 12's. I was consistently finding more game, and not just deer. We both agreed that the 15's had a noticeable advantage. For me the 12's aren't enough of a "good thing" to justify the cost over a pair of 10's. For me, the deadly combo has become 8x32 "scanners" around my neck for quick scans out below me to about 400 yards, 15's on a tripod and a good 80 mm spotter for dissecting the smallest bush and shadow. Take your time with this combo and get surgical and you will find game that will amaze you.

In fact I'm worried it will make me fat as it has seriously cut down the amount of walking/hiking I do. The 15's will take you FAR out there, like 2 miles.

 

[coues32]

You can find them used for around 1900 to 2000, only difference between them and new model is the way the strap connects.
Also would have the Outdoorsman stud installed and use their adapter, get a extra stud for your 10s also.

 

[couesarizona]

I live in Arizona as well and hunt coues and elk..etc. I feel like if you know how to glass and you have your binos on a tripod you can't go wrong. I started out with 15 Kiababs then went to 10 power Swarovski on a tripod. I could glass very well with the much improved clarity over the vortex. I sold the 10s and went to the new 15 swaos. I use those 99% of the time. Also off hand them every now and then. Practice makes perfect and learning how to glass makes a world of difference and it doesn't matter to much on the power. In my opinion!