Bino Decision One pair of 10x42 ELs or two pairs of Meoptas

[IslandBoi]

Optics noob going with the buy once cry once can't decide between getting exclusively the EL 10x42mm for $1811 or the Meopta Meopro Air HDED+ 8x42 and Meopta Meostar 15x56 HD B1 PLUS combo for a combined cost of $2431. I will be spending a decent amount of time looking for black tails in thick dark timber and glassing 300yards-1.8 miles for black bear and black tail in clear cuts and on the edges of timber. I will be glassing often around first and last light.

Not sure if I would fair better off with the ELs alone for $1811 or the meopta combo for $2431

What would some of you guys with a lot of experience using binos for hunting in this situation prefer?

 

[Wrench]

If those are on par or better than the previous meopta offerings.....you'll be covering all of the bases with them. I keep a pair of the older meopta 10x42's around for truck bins and they never disappoint.

 

[Brian Fahs]

I have no experience with the meopro glass but own the 10x42 els and have owned the meostar 15x56.

I currently run the 10x42 el and slc15x56hd combo. Both are outstanding.

Personally I recommend the 10x42 els and get a good tripod and head to mount them on. Without a solid mount you will never experience the game finding potential of alpha glass. If you feel you need more horsepower in your system by all means get the 15s.

 

[IslandBoi]

I have no experience with the meopro glass but own the 10x42 els and have owned the meostar 15x56.

I currently run the 10x42 el and slc15x56hd combo. Both are outstanding.

Personally I recommend the 10x42 els and get a good tripod and head to mount them on. Without a solid mount you will never experience the game finding potential of alpha glass. If you feel you need more horsepower in your system by all means get the 15s.

could you spot deer 1.5 miles away with the 10x ELs in most situations with a tripod??

 

[Brian Fahs]

could you spot deer 1.5 miles away with the 10x ELs in most situations with a tripod??

Absolutely yes.

 

[TBarron]

You can probably find a good deal on some 12x50 ELs. That would cover the need for the 15s better and can still use them without a tripod


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[Brian Fahs]

The beauty of tripod mounted alpha glass is edge to edge clarity of your field of view. When your optic is rock solid mounted any slight movement in your field of view jumps out at you.

15x glass on a pod is awesome for finding game but unless you get good alpha class 15s your edge to edge clarity will suffer greatly. I guess my point is greater magnification does not always mean better resolution.

 

[IslandBoi]

The beauty of tripod mounted alpha glass is edge to edge clarity of your field of view. When your optic is rock solid mounted any slight movement in your field of view jumps out at you.

15x glass on a pod is awesome for finding game but unless you get good alpha class 15s your edge to edge clarity will suffer greatly. I guess my point is greater magnification does not always mean better resolution.

TY I think I will go with the 10x42 ELs and get a 15x optic later if I feel it necessary. Were you impressed with the 15x56 meoptas?

 

[IslandBoi]

You can probably find a good deal on some 12x50 ELs. That would cover the need for the 15s better and can still use them without a tripod


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I can't find any of them at a great price here in Canada, those seem like another great choice though

 

[Brian Fahs]

TY I think I will go with the 10x42 ELs and get a 15x optic later if I feel it necessary. Were you impressed with the 15x56 meoptas?

The meostar 15s are fantastic. On par with the slc hds. Ive owned several pairs of each going back and forth trying to make up my mind. It came down to ergonomics for me. View is pretty similar between the 2

 

[vminthntr]

Optics noob going with the buy once cry once can't decide between getting exclusively the EL 10x42mm for $1811 or the Meopta Meopro Air HDED+ 8x42 and Meopta Meostar 15x56 HD B1 PLUS combo for a combined cost of $2431. I will be spending a decent amount of time looking for black tails in thick dark timber and glassing 300yards-1.8 miles for black bear and black tail in clear cuts and on the edges of timber. I will be glassing often around first and last light.

Not sure if I would fair better off with the ELs alone for $1811 or the meopta combo for $2431

What would some of you guys with a lot of experience using binos for hunting in this situation prefer?

I can vouch for the EL's, my first taste of alpha glass. Was glassing across a canyon (2+ miles, eastern WA state) and noticed some dark spots against dried yellow grass. Put my spotter on them, turned out to be 34 elk. With my previous binos (Bushnell Legend M-Series) I would probably have not pucked them up.

Below, Brian recommends mounting your binos on a tripod, and I very much agree. If my EL's were not so mounted, I would have missed those spots.

And, I would add that most Swaro binos (at least my EL's) do NOT have a convenient method of attaching to a tripod (ie a threaded hole in the hinge). I had to buy a ring that clamps to the barrel. Shame on the maker of the most expensive binos on the market for overlooking this important feature

 

[IslandBoi]

The meostar 15s are fantastic. On par with the slc hds. Ive owned several pairs of each going back and forth trying to make up my mind. It came down to ergonomics for me. View is pretty similar between the 2

appreciate all the info, thx.

 

[Bluumoon]

Put ranging Binos as 1st priority, they are a game changer. Geovid R ranging binoculars are a good option at around $1200. Find used pair of Meoptas 15x and still it you price mark.

 

[IslandBoi]

Put ranging Binos as 1st priority, they are a game changer. Geovid R ranging binoculars are a good option at around $1200. Find used pair of Meoptas 15x and still it you price mark.

I only shoot out to 300 yards and the area I hunt deer are notoriously hard to see, most of the time they hide in thick timber until dusk and dawn. In a situation like that would you still take binos with ranging over better glass?

 

[180ls1]

I only shoot out to 300 yards and the area I hunt deer are notoriously hard to see, most of the time they hide in thick timber until dusk and dawn. In a situation like that would you still take binos with ranging over better glass?

FOV and the ability to hand hold matters A LOT also.

I'd take 8x over 10x ALL DAY if that's the stuff you hunt. Anything with a big FOV. I'd also consider the stabilized Sig 10x.

 

[TBarron]

I can't find any of them at a great price here in Canada, those seem like another great choice though

Swarovski EL 12x50

WTS - Swarovski EL 12x50

Up for sale is a gently used pair of 2021 Swarovski EL 12x50's. They come with the original box, carrying case, Aziak Mount, and Swarovski Binocular Mount. Let me know if you have any questions. $2000 TYD.

r.tapatalk.com

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[Mojave]

I am a Swarovski snob, and if I was doing it again and the Meoptas had enough eye relief for me I'd do that. Except I'd do 8x42 and the 15x56 Meopta.

 

[IslandBoi]

FOV and the ability to hand hold matters A LOT also.

I'd take 8x over 10x ALL DAY if that's the stuff you hunt. Anything with a big FOV. I'd also consider the stabilized Sig 10x.

https://www.amazon.ca/Waterproof-Fog-Proof-Binocular-Stabilization-SOZ6WP10/dp/B0C5MKWHGQ?th=1 like this one?

 

[180ls1]

https://www.amazon.ca/Waterproof-Fog-Proof-Binocular-Stabilization-SOZ6WP10/dp/B0C5MKWHGQ?th=1 like this one?

Yes. Not sure about Canada but they are routinely found in the $800 range here.

 

[Bluumoon]

I only shoot out to 300 yards and the area I hunt deer are notoriously hard to see, most of the time they hide in thick timber until dusk and dawn. In a situation like that would you still take binos with ranging over better glass?

If you range animals for shots yes I would. I use 10x binos in timber, but every thing is a compromise. It cuts a lot of time off of the shot process, plus you said bears at longer distance.