Advice Request: New 18x56 binos or spotter

[Shortdraw]

I'm thinking about new glass. I currently have both a pair of 15x56 Minox (regular, not HD) and 10x42 Minox HD. I'd sure appreciate some thoughts on the following options.

1. Sell the 15x58 and purchase either some Vortex Razor 18x56 or Maven B2 18x56.
2. Keep the Minox 15x56 and purchase a Razor 22-48x65 spotting scope. I really don't want to carry both the big binos AND a spotter so on any given day it's one or the other. Probably would just bring the 10x42 as the hand held pair.
3. Some other spotting scope with about a 65 objective lens diameter

Thank you in advance!

 

[hereinaz]

Buy the Razor 18s or used Swaro 15 SLCs.

 

[jimh406]

If you are planning to judge the antlers, I think the spotter is probably better.

But, how far are you wanting to see? Why do you think you need to make a change?

 

[Shortdraw]

If you are planning to judge the antlers, I think the spotter is probably better.

But, how far are you wanting to see? Why do you think you need to make a change?

Excellent Qs. While I am not the best judge of long distance, I'd say I'd like to see up to a mile. I'm not a big numbers guy but I'd like to see if a buck looks decent, how many other sets of eyes are in his vicinity, etc. And sometimes I like to just get out into the high country and look for sheep, etc. My current 15x56s seem to max out at these ranges. If the lighting is right, the animals jump out but if there is no contrast I find them hard to see (unless the sheep have their butts to me!). Does that help?

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Are you any good with a spotter for extended durations? Personally it strains my eye and I use a spotter infrequently and only for verification purposes, others find it easy to glass with a spotter.

 

[hereinaz]

Clear glass will make animals pop that do not with bad glass.

Having a mediocre spotting scope won’t help you find animals you can’t see with bad 15s. And, higher magnification with heat waves makes the higher powers nearly useless with a spotter.

And, stereo vision makes a huge difference in finding animals. If you can’t find them you can’t judge them.

There is a reason why it makes sense to pay three times as much, you can see stuff.

You can glass to a mile with 12x EL because of clarity. Get some good 15s first, then save to buy a spotter.

That’s my advice based on glassing with many people for Coues deer in AZ, and then glassing for elk in CO…

 

[Shortdraw]

Are you any good with a spotter for extended durations? Personally it strains my eye and I use a spotter infrequently and only for verification purposes, others find it easy to glass with a spotter.

Good point. Every time I have looked thru spotters, including my sheep guide's Swaros, I find them just hard to look through. Certainly hard for an extended time. I end up going back to my mediocre 15x56 binos. Maybe I should just go for the Razor 18x56 or the Mavens. Anyone have an opinion between those two?

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Good point. Every time I have looked thru spotters, including my sheep guide's Swaros, I find them just hard to look through. Certainly hard for an extended time. I end up going back to my mediocre 15x56 binos. Maybe I should just go for the Razor 18x56 or the Mavens. Anyone have an opinion between those two?

If buying new buy both and return the ones that you don’t want.

I previously had the zeiss 15x56 but they felt off to my eyes, I bought the swaro 15x56 and maven 18x56. I ended up keeping the swaro, returning the maven and selling the zeiss.

My eyes didn’t like the maven as much and I preferred the depth of field/focus on the swaro more which felt like focus adjustment to look near and farther was more forgiving and easier to dial in.

My buddy has the 18x56 razors but I haven’t put time behind them to be honest.