8.5 EL’s or 10x NL’s?

[Jacob Chapman]

saving up my $ for a do all pair of bino’s. I hunt whitetail a ton, and will use the bino’s off a tripod when I go out West and to Alaska.

Was finally able to look through a pair of NL’s (Scheels wouldn’t let me take them outside so not much of a view), haven’t gotten to mess with the 8.5’s before.

It is going to take me at least a full year longer to save for the NL’s, and I do have a hunt in Wyoming this fall, but I have a pair of 8x32 Leicas that I’ll bring if I don’t end up renting some bino’s.

Just wondering who has used both, pros/cons?

 

[Eastonsgrandpa]

I sold my EL to get NL. But I promise you that you will never feel cheated by the EL. I would have carried them to the grave had I never met the NL line.

 

[Steve O]

Same. But I went from 10 EL to 12 NL. You can’t go wrong with the EL but once you go to the NL you won’t go back to the EL; they feel like a clumsy brick in comparison.

 

[sako4me]

I have both, and exactly what your asking about. The NLs are only a hair folical better. The ELs are still fantastic. If money is a consideration. Get the 8.5 ELs , I really can’t justify the additional cost of the NLs. The slight magnification difference is barely discernible between the two. The clarity are equal, the brightness are about equal and the 8.5s hold steadier. Any other questions you have you can message me.

 

[Myronman3]

8.5 ELs all day long. if you are sitting on a mountain of money, then go with the pures. but if you need to wait another year for the NL, you aint sitting on that money mountain.

this is a no-brainer. get the 8.5's NOW.

 

[roosiebull]

saving up my $ for a do all pair of bino’s. I hunt whitetail a ton, and will use the bino’s off a tripod when I go out West and to Alaska.

Was finally able to look through a pair of NL’s (Scheels wouldn’t let me take them outside so not much of a view), haven’t gotten to mess with the 8.5’s before.

It is going to take me at least a full year longer to save for the NL’s, and I do have a hunt in Wyoming this fall, but I have a pair of 8x32 Leicas that I’ll bring if I don’t end up renting some bino’s.

Just wondering who has used both, pros/cons?

I feel like the NL is the way to go, but those 8.5X el’s are an amazing optic in their own right… my favorite of EL line

 

[holzphoto]

Why not the 8x42 NL's?

 

[JakeSCH]

Last year I bought a pair of 10x42 NL's to compare to my 8.5x42 EL...and while i liked the extra 1.5x power to me it wasn't worth the extra $1200...So I sold off the the 10x42's NL's. Part of this was because I often carried 15x56's and really didn't need the extra 1.5x.

I later on bought a pair of 12x42 NL's to test out and ended up keeping those and selling my 8.5x42 and now my 15's spend a lot more time in my safe.

Both are fantastic options.

 

[Jacob Chapman]

Why not the 8x42 NL's?

Affordability is the main issue

 

[tdhanses]

Affordability is the main issue

Personally I think you would be very happy with the 8.5 EL.

 

[jaredg]

I own both. I "took on for the team" and bought a pair of 8X32 NL's to beta test against mine and my friends 8X32 EL's. Here is my advice on the EL vs NL debate...

If you are in the market for Alpha glass and want the best, go with the NL line. If you are already heavily invested in the EL line and are wondering if the juice is worth the squeeze to upgrade, don't. I have not seen enough upgrade to recommend selling the EL's and buying the NL's. This is coming from someone who currently owns both.

Right now the EL is an awesome value!