Planning out my optics

[j_mcrane]

Ok, I need your help and collective wisdom.

Here’s the play: many of us are hampered by what we had or what we got along the way for various reasons. But i’m starting over. I know I’ll never afford swowarski but I can plan and chip away at quality.

I’ll Live and play in Calgary Alberta Canada

Binoculars:
Small for general critter elimination and outdoor fun time. The are light and quality for price.
Maven c2 7x28

Large (try to eliminate the need for a spotter when I can)
Maven c3 12x50 with lightweight tripod)

Spotting scope
Kowa compact 501 (because if I did need a spotting scope, I would be dealing with some serious elevation changes.)

That’s my hope. I’ll take feedback and suggestions. Like are the 12x50 too big?





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[slatty]

Hi there,
I'm familiar with the terrain you are in although I don't know of course what you're using your optics for mostly.
Take my advice for what it is, i'm 5 years in to my own experience but am really interested in this stuff and have my own experience and lots of reading about it.
The 7x28 I think are not very useful, but as you mention they're for general just having around, which is fine. In my opinion your 12x and small scope are interchangeable, depending on how you want to use them. So you could save money and just get one. You could consider just 10x binoculars and a scope.
Can't go wrong with what you have picked out though although I don't have personal experience with any of the optics you listed.

 

[Legend]

There really is no reason to buy binos with a 28 objective as they really arent`t useful for spending anytime glassing. At one point in my life I was a biologist and did mostly bird work. I had the chance to use all of the best glass and all different sizes. I threw down on leica 8x42 for my personal binos. If you have good glass, and that does not mean expensive, you don`t need high power. I have watched a squirel run on a log at over 2 miles with my 8x42.....the secret is a tripod!

Slatty is right on the 12 and the scope...kind of the same thing.

For what it is worth I run my 8x42 and a 20-60x65 scope. Both have a tripod adapter. Did I mention the tripod.

 

[Napperm4]

Fellow Calgarian and optics addict here.

Sounds like you know what you’re after but here’s my opinion.

I hunt Mule deer and white tail in 108,

Elk in 400,402,404, 302 & 304

Moose in the 300’s, 400’s,500’s and 600’s

Sheep in the 400’s

So the typical mix of wide open prairie, foothills, mountains and swamp that is Alberta.

At minimum I don’t bother with anything under 10x. We have some huge country around here and anything less has always left me wanting more magnification. I started my hunting career with a 7x28, nowhere near the quality of today’s optics mind you, but they were the first thing I ever upgraded.

I have a pair of 10x30’s now but they dim out in the witching hours moreso than my 10x42.

The binos that get more use than anything are my 10x42’s. I can hold them steady and always pack a tripod or window mount for serious glassing sessions.

I use a pair of 15’s for the prairie units down south.

My spotter never leaves my side.

Long way of saying I wouldn’t even consider the 7x. Sure you get a wide FOV but for me after 26 years of hunting this area it just doesn’t work for me.

The 12x50 is a pretty popular trend right now. A lot of guys (not me) can hand hold them and I’m sure they do wonders when mounted.

I’d skip the 7’s and put the money into a better tripod / head or spotter.

As for the spotter choice, seems like a decent little scope. I had a 664 and 884 at one time. The 66 doesn’t have the prominar fluorite glass but was still an awesome scope. Similar idea though, I got rid of my 50mm spotters because they just didn’t gather enough light. I used to have a 15-30 leupold and that thing was awesome for what it is. Again though, the 30x max though clear just wasn’t enough for me a lot of the time so I went to a higher mag and larger objectives. I’d suggest keeping an eye out for a used vanguard endeavour 65 in the classifieds. About the same price point as the kowa, a little bigger and heavier but the light gathering and extra mag comes in very very handy. Lifetime warranty and I’ve found they beat the razors in side by side comparison.

Optics are going to be very subjective. Every person sees something different and your areas might be different than mine even in the same zones because they’re massive.

If you’re looking into a budget tripod that you’re not paying shipping and duties on, check out vistek in the beltline. They have some nice carbon options there (benro slim) and the s2 head. Neither are top of the line but I set one of my brothers up with that and it’s very workable.

The camera store (that’s the actual name) also has some decent options for tripods and glass last time I ventured down that way. Also in the beltline.

With what you listed and making some assumptions on your budget I’d get the 12x50 with the tripod I mentioned. Spend the money on the Outdoorsmans mount and stud for them. Then the vanguard spotter and you’d have a pretty decent all round southern Alberta optics package.

 

[Block]

I use SWarO 10s,, 15s,, and a 65mm spotter...(BEST money I ever spent!) don’t always bring all 3,,, but it’s pretty hard to not bring the 15s.., they are awesome. Suck it up and buy better glass than those Mavens or you will just be buying again in a year or 2... “I know I’ll never afford Swarovski” is like saying you don’t have time to scout... make time for what you want.. save money if you want the best glass.. a tank of gas in the truck is almost $100 these days,,, $1000 for a like new pair of SwaRO 10x42s and you will have them forever...

 

[Blue72]

I have never owned 7x28 binoculars. But I do own 7x20 and a pair of 7x35. I think 7x binoculars are excellent. You can still get a steady view when your heart rate is up or the wind is blowing you around. The 7x20 are reserved for traveling when I want a binocular in my pocket, not really the best for hunting. But the 7x35 go neck and neck with 8x42 I have, but with much much wider field of view (9.3 degrees). I can’t speak for 7x28 but they look like they split the difference on the binoculars I own and supposedly the FOV are wider then specifications claim. 10x are great but at long distance the details with extra handshake just makes me want to mount them. If I’m mounting binoculars I’m stepping up to 15/16x or more.

Regarding 12x, the image scale is to close to 10x. Big views start at 15/16x and can replace your spotting scope until you need magnification levels of 30x or more and that’s if mirages allows you to do so.the only time I would want 12x is to have the maximum magnification I can handhold in a relaxing braced position. Mounted, I’m craving 15x or higher

 

[Hatchet Jack]

I switched to Swarovski 12x50 last year and I’m loving them. You can wear them in harness and hand hold them for shorter sessions or throw them on the tripod and do some serious glassing. The difference in detail between 12s and 15s is not as noticeable as you’d think and I love the big view of the ELs. I think 12s and aspotter is tough to beat.

 

[Myronman3]

I have been exploring the swarovski glass lately. No stores near, and no one i know has them. My only option is to buy to try. I bought a used pair this spring. Decided to try something else. Sold them for what i paid. Bought another pair of a different configuration. I think i over did the magnifcation, so i have a third pair on the way. Going to compare them side by side....keep the ones that are going to work best for me in the applications that i need. The other pair? Going to sell them and recoup my cash.

Now i bet it sounds like i am rolling in it. Quite the opposite. I’ve been bent over backwards for the last 15 years by divorce and child support (non of which am i complaining about). I’ve had to be smart with what i had, making the most of every spending decision i have made.

I will wager i will never lose a dime on the swaro glass. Now imagine i bought brand X,Y,or Z. Would i be able to try them and then make my decision, and sell the ones i wanted to and recoup my cash? We all know this answer.

There are deals to be had on used swaro glass. Take advantage of it, and you’ll be able to use tier 1 glass, and you’ll save money over the long run. I read someone’s comment the other day....”you’ll regret spending the cash on tier 1 binos right up until the check clears.” And after that, you forget all about it. And more importantly....should you want to, you can resell and recoup your money.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I’m convinced that out of all the optics in your arsenal, the one to really drop the $$$ on is the one you use the most, for me that’s an 8x42.

I’m going through my optics as well, I live and hunt in AK, sheep, goat, black tails, caribou, moose.

My set up is basically:

8x42

15x50

Spotter

I’m trying to get a better spotting scope now, I have a leupold that’s like 10 years old so pretty much anything is an upgrade. My 15x50 are also old so I’ll be replacing them probably with the Athlons or maaaaasybe some SLCs. My 8x42 are Zeiss conquests which I got used here, love those.