GPO Passion HD 15x50 thoughts?

[rookieforever33]

Right off the bat I am impressed. Nice color and definition edge to edge compared to other 15s I have looked through. Looking forward to checking them out in lower light situations.

 

[bojangles808]

Let us know your thoughts when you recieve them. I am liking mine.

any new thoughts @Firehawk @rookieforever33
10oz lighter than most everything else in the same category (SLCs, b5s, meoptas, UHD 18s) makes them intriguing

 

[Firehawk]

So far, I am impressed enough. I really like the lighter weight and the smaller form factor. Due to projects around the house, I haven't taken the opportunity to really "wring them out" on a true mountain side or ridge yet. Aside from my initial comparisons anyway.

I did go out in the Great Salt Lake Marsh and look at waterfowl with them. They performed great. But I look forward to getting away next weekend and really putting them to the test in the mountains.

FH

 

[hereinaz]

any new thoughts @Firehawk @rookieforever33
10oz lighter than most everything else in the same category (SLCs, b5s, meoptas, UHD 18s) makes them intriguing

That’s why I jumped on a pair that is in transit right now. I decided to give them a try after looking through some other GPO binos.

I will let you know.

 

[Firehawk]

That’s why I jumped on a pair that is in transit right now. I decided to give them a try after looking through some other GPO binos.

I will let you know.

Hope you like them.

I am excited to learn that I drew a muzzleloader Mule Deer tag for an area I haven't hunted in for this fall. Means I will need to plan to spend many weekends in the mountains getting to know my new area and try to find the diamonds in the rough. My GPOs and other optics will get a good workout this year.

 

[hereinaz]

Hope you like them.

I am excited to learn that I drew a muzzleloader Mule Deer tag for an area I haven't hunted in for this fall. Means I will need to plan to spend many weekends in the mountains getting to know my new area and try to find the diamonds in the rough. My GPOs and other optics will get a good workout this year.

I’ll give it a good try. I’ve used a lot, from Vortex 18x Kaibab to Swaro 14 NL pure. Hard to say without direct comparison, but whenever I go to less than Alpha glass I can feel it in my bones, lol.

You can either see into the shadows and make out individual branches or you can’t. I am curious about literal first and last light, cause that is where we make our money in AZ…

 

[Firehawk]

I’ll give it a good try. I’ve used a lot, from Vortex 18x Kaibab to Swaro 14 NL pure. Hard to say without direct comparison, but whenever I go to less than Alpha glass I can feel it in my bones, lol.

You can either see into the shadows and make out individual branches or you can’t. I am curious about literal first and last light, cause that is where we make our money in AZ…

I picked up one of those Sky Rover Banner Cloud 12x50 binos recently. They remind me of my ELs. Wide FOV and clear to the edge. Excited to put some time behind them. But never owning an NL, makes it easier for me to think my ELs are good enough.

 

[hereinaz]

Had them out after dark on the street and at the range today. Had my buddies 14 NL Pures next to them. The GPO were surprisingly close. I could obviously see differences, but they would be expected based on the specs like FOV, objective size, etc.

They are a solid pair of binos so far. There wasn’t anything that made me want to send them back. The image was better than the Virtex Kaibab, meaning it didn’t have the noticeable lack of quality

It was bright today at the range. I looked into shadows, but not enough to judge overall.

I need some solid time glassing all day to get a better idea.

 

[bojangles808]

Had them out after dark on the street and at the range today. Had my buddies 14 NL Pures next to them. The GPO were surprisingly close. I could obviously see differences, but they would be expected based on the specs like FOV, objective size, etc.

They are a solid pair of binos so far. There wasn’t anything that made me want to send them back. The image was better than the Virtex Kaibab, meaning it didn’t have the noticeable lack of quality

It was bright today at the range. I looked into shadows, but not enough to judge overall.

I need some solid time glassing all day to get a better idea.

Thanks for the report. Haven't you tried the vortex uhd 18s? Curious how they would compare to these passion hd 15s. I can't make the jump to NL pures but used uhd 18s could be possible

 

[hereinaz]

Thanks for the report. Haven't you tried the vortex uhd 18s? Curious how they would compare to these passion hd 15s. I can't make the jump to NL pures but used uhd 18s could be possible

I think the overall comparison is same value, but difference is in the features and how their individual cost/benefit.

I ran the 18 UHD and they rivaled the SLC in the center “sweet spot”. That is one area where the GPO on first blush appear to have better edge to edge.

I need to sit with them for a day to see how the eyes deal with them. That’s where I start to get a feel for them.

I eventually sold the 18 UHD because I could borrow 15 SLC on my hunts. When glassing for Coues, catching movement out of the corner of your eye is part of my method. So edge to edge clarity is important. That’s mostly why I gave up the Razor UHD. If I didn’t have other options, I would have used them until I could upgrade.

 

[bojangles808]

I think the overall comparison is same value, but difference is in the features and how their individual cost/benefit.

I ran the 18 UHD and they rivaled the SLC in the center “sweet spot”. That is one area where the GPO on first blush appear to have better edge to edge.

I need to sit with them for a day to see how the eyes deal with them. That’s where I start to get a feel for them.

I eventually sold the 18 UHD because I could borrow 15 SLC on my hunts. When glassing for Coues, catching movement out of the corner of your eye is part of my method. So edge to edge clarity is important. That’s mostly why I gave up the Razor UHD. If I didn’t have other options, I would have used them until I could upgrade.

Thank you. Hopefully these have good enough glass that they are something you can sit behind all day.

 

[nm.otter]

tried the vortex uhd 18s?

I found them fussy to get behind -- that teeny-tiny exit pupil is just difficult to overcome.

 

[Firehawk]

Thank you. Hopefully these have good enough glass that they are something you can sit behind all day.

When I was comparing my GPOs to my Meoptas, I decided I needed an unbiased opinion and spent the evening with my friend who happened to have his cousins 12x50 NLs with him as well. I tried really hard not to explain my thoughts, rather let him come to his own conclusions. We had set up several tripods and put the Meoptas, GPOs, NLs and our favorite 8.5x42 ELs on tripods and spent a couple of hours from a spot that provides good contrast, lines and color to judge.

When all was said and done, nothing bested the NLs. They are flat out amazing. ELs are amazing too. But the GPOs offered better contrast than the Meoptas. The Meoptas were slightly brighter (56mm objective vs 50mm objective) but also seemed a bit "washed out" vs the GPOs. Images were quite similar and sharp to the edge, particularly if the eye cups were screwed all the way in, and I could definitely look through them for long periods of time. Wasn't worried about eye fatigue etc. with the GPOs. Ultimately, I chose them over the Meopta due to the weight savings, which was quite noticable, and the much smaller and easier to work with form factor.

My friend, who is not a fan of 15x binos, actually stated the same things I was seeing, which made me feel much more justified in my thought processes.

FH