Maven B.5 15x56 the best 15 powered binos?

[gr8fuldoug]

For price and quality don't overlook the GPO 15x50 Passion HD

 

[P.Bearda]

For price and quality don't overlook the GPO 15x50 Passion HD

How have you liked those? They have a killer FOV on specs … are they pretty good optically?

 

[gr8fuldoug]

How have you liked those? They have a killer FOV on specs … are they pretty good optically?

As good as a Meopta and darn close to an SLC

 

[LeonWang]

I have had a Swarovski SLC 15x56 HD for some time, but recently acquired a Skyrover Banner Cloud 15x56. I am surprised that no one has mentioned the Skyrover. Actually I will be selling the Swarovski because the Skyrover is nearly as good for 1/3 of the price.

 

[Hollywood_139]

It sounds to me that the Maven B5 15x56 and the Meopota Meostars 15x56 are the best bang for you buck in "alpha glass" quality and price. Does anyone know which would be better? Any experience with these two?

 

[TripleJ]

I've never looked through the Mavens, but I own the Meoptas and they are pretty awesome.

 

[Bugger]

I have had a Swarovski SLC 15x56 HD for some time, but recently acquired a Skyrover Banner Cloud 15x56. I am surprised that no one has mentioned the Skyrover. Actually I will be selling the Swarovski because the Skyrover is nearly as good for 1/3 of the price.

I’ve heard good reviews about the brand from pretty reputable reviewers but I doubt they would ever take off here because of the reputation and politics of Chinese trade. It’s one thing to have a known manufacturer outsource to China, but Chinese based companies are famous for terrible/no customer service, terrible/no quality control, internet bots boosting their own reviews, and conveniently going out of business just to rebrand to a new goofy name and start over leaving customers high and dry. If they’re as good as people say I’m sure they’ll eventually wear an American company’s logo to replace their mid-priced line.

 

[LeonWang]

I’ve heard good reviews about the brand from pretty reputable reviewers but I doubt they would ever take off here because of the reputation and politics of Chinese trade. It’s one thing to have a known manufacturer outsource to China, but Chinese based companies are famous for terrible/no customer service, terrible/no quality control, internet bots boosting their own reviews, and conveniently going out of business just to rebrand to a new goofy name and start over leaving customers high and dry. If they’re as good as people say I’m sure they’ll eventually wear an American company’s logo to replace their mid-priced line.

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I actually realized something similar after I made my previous post .

 

[wind gypsy]

28 posts about "the best" 15s and I don't see any mention of the NLs? I was of the impression that functionally they seemed to have as much zoom as the SLCs? Looked through them for the first time today. That was a mistake. My EL 12x50s might be on borrowed time but damn are those NLs expensive..

 

[Tim Steinmetz]

It sounds weird but the "Best" 15's....are 18x. No kidding. That extra 3x is a difference maker.

I liked the Meopta 15x over the others inc Swaro....but I really like the 18x UHD Vortex. The 18x Mavens are close.

I like 15s because, though not ideal, I can still use them handheld as a chest bino. If I am backpack hunting, I'm not going to carry 10x42 chest binos, 15x56 spotting binos, and a spotting scope, so I prefer to just grab the middle ground 15x56 and use them for everything.

 

[Tx270WT]

Until this past season I would have told you to go with the maven b5, won’t be disappointed. I have the 18x and the glass is great. I love spotting with them.
However, the outer skin on mine started to separate from the body which has been annoying. I’m going to eventually send them back to maven to get fixed but you really shouldn’t have to deal with something like this in this price category.
This happened about the time I was going to get a new 10x, long story short, I have swaros for my 10x and couldn’t be happier after a season of use.
An aside, I have several maven 2.5-10x scopes and really like them. Zero issues to date.

 

[Tim Steinmetz]

I see lots of comparisons between Maven B.5 and Swaro SLC. Is it worth mentioning that Maven has the better warranty? Maven has the same unconditional forever warranty as Vortex. Swarovski's warranty is not as good, and definitely more obscure (see image). I've never had to use a warranty for an optic, but it definitely gives me peace of mind knowing I'm covered if anything happens. I run mostly Vortex for that reason.

I would think about warranty even more if I were buying a used optic. If you buy those Maven B.5's off the classifieds for $1k and start having a problem with them, Maven should make it right. Swaro . . . who knows.

 

[cuerro viejo]

I see lots of comparisons between Maven B.5 and Swaro SLC. Is it worth mentioning that Maven has the better warranty? Maven has the same unconditional forever warranty as Vortex. Swarovski's warranty is not as good, and definitely more obscure (see image). I've never had to use a warranty for an optic, but it definitely gives me peace of mind knowing I'm covered if anything happens. I run mostly Vortex for that reason.

I would think about warranty even more if I were buying a used optic. If you buy those Maven B.5's off the classifieds for $1k and start having a problem with them, Maven should make it right. Swaro . . . who knows.

View attachment 895679

I’ve used both warranties 2x each.
Both are good, with Maven being much faster, that’s assuming they don’t have to send it to Cali facility. If it has to go to Cali it’s going to be a little bit, think I’m on month 2. Both Swaro scopes two 2-3 months

Swaro will support everything except certain Habicht models.

Both Swaro were rifle scopes both maven’s where 11x45’s. Maven Replaced them first time and back in my hands <10 days with new pair, second time they went cliff jumping, they decided to have them fixed at Cali facility. There is only one standalone bino I would buy over a maven at any power, and that’s NL pure.

Maven needs to bless the world with a 11x45 Rangefinding unit.
Maven

Dear Maven, I will product test for you. I promise not to leave them attached to tripod on edge of a windy cliff, unattended

 

[cq0302]

I’m a huge maven guy, I love my 15x b5. However when side by side with the 14x nl pure you can absolutely tell a difference. Is it worth the 2k extra to me? No, if I had the cash to throw around I guess I would

 

[LeonWang]

I’ve heard good reviews about the brand from pretty reputable reviewers but I doubt they would ever take off here because of the reputation and politics of Chinese trade. It’s one thing to have a known manufacturer outsource to China, but Chinese based companies are famous for terrible/no customer service, terrible/no quality control, internet bots boosting their own reviews, and conveniently going out of business just to rebrand to a new goofy name and start over leaving customers high and dry. If they’re as good as people say I’m sure they’ll eventually wear an American company’s logo to replace their mid-priced line.

I know people probably are not interested, but actually I ended up returning my SRBC 15x56 and keep my Swarovski 15x56. After comparing them for a couple of weeks, I find that it is much easier to get a sharp view using the Swarovski. The SRBC seems to be very picky at the positioning of the eyes, and even a slightly different angle could blur the view. The Swarovski on the other hand is always tack sharp no mater how I place my eyes. I had missed quite a few critical moments due to having to search for the sweet spot with the SRBC. This only makes me loving my Swarovski even more.

 

[OFam02Ex]

Maven sounds like a solid choice, this is helping me make a final decision. Thanks guys!

 

[mkonzen]

I picked up the previous version B.4 15x56 for a great price and I can't beleive the clarity. I'm sold on quality glass now. I'm curious what people feel their effective range is. I've been playing around with them at home and I'd say pretty good out to about 1.75-2 miles. Certainly can see further but haven't used in a hunting scenario yet.

 

[VirginiaBeach]

One of my hunting buddies has the 15 Mavens, another has the 18 mavens and I have the 15 Meoptas. I wouldn’t hesitate to use the Mavens but I can see more detail, contrast and have more edge to edge clarity with the Meoptas. I have warrantied the Meoptas and it took about a month if I remember correctly. So there’s some trade offs there.