Sky Rover Banner Cloud 10x42 binocular review

[mash4077]

Spent a couple of days in the hills last week. Got a chance to play with the SRBC 12x50 at end of the day and again the next morning. Love the field of view, good color rendition, and definitely reminded that I have to use a tripod to glass for details. I just won't be able to "hand hold" a bino at that power level and expect a great experience. But that is a "me" issue. Binos are very good.

I wish you were closer so I could try those out.

 

[ianpadron]

Bachelor bulls at roughly 1500 yards. Just phone held up to ocular so far from perfect representation but still obvious what we're working with.

Sat behind the 15s all day yesterday, they are legit.

Hard to explain but the brightness and gigantic FOV made the apparent FOV seem better than my 10x42 Meopta Range Finders I was using handheld.

Sounds crazy but it's true. On a tripod the 15s are insane.

 

[Coleredding00]

Bachelor bulls at roughly 1500 yards. Just phone held up to ocular so far from perfect representation but still obvious what we're working with.

Sat behind the 15s all day yesterday, they are legit.

Hard to explain but the brightness and gigantic FOV made the apparent FOV seem better than my 10x42 Meopta Range Finders I was using handheld.

Sounds crazy but it's true. On a tripod the 15s are insane.
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You aren’t helping my financial responsibility right now…. I want the 15s so bad

 

[ianpadron]

You aren’t helping my financial responsibility right now…. I want the 15s so bad

They're really, really good.

Build quality would be my only knock, not that they're even remotely bad, just a different tier than a Swaro or Zeiss flagship model.

Small blems in armor, eye cups that aren't as nice....glass-wise though, insane, and not just "for the money", legitimate alpha glass.

 

[Coleredding00]

They're really, really good.

Build quality would be my only knock, not that they're even remotely bad, just a different tier than a Swaro or Zeiss flagship model.

Small blems in armor, eye cups that aren't as nice....glass-wise though, insane, and not just "for the money", legitimate alpha glass.

I would imagine the cost savings have to come from somewhere, but I’m glad they focused on the glass

I’ve never been around many alpha glass products, but my 8x42 sky rovers seem well put together to my untrained eye. I don’t love supporting china, but these are some seriously good products.

 

[UncleDim]

I would buy them again and am still very happy with them after this year's Coues hunt. I don't think you can beat the value right now, and it doesn't feel like a value option when in use.

If I were gifted cash to buy NL Pure 12x42 or my choice of 12x binocular, and could spend the remainder on hunting gear or ammo, the only hesitation would be to calculate the price difference per ounce between the two--I would still buy the SRBC again.

Overall, bright, crisp image, huge FOV, good edge to edge clarity, and you still have that nice 3D pop with a field-flattened binocular.

This direct comparison between the NL 12x42 and the SRBC 12x50 linked below matches what I recall in comparison to the 12x42 I previously owned:

• FOV feels about the same
• SRBC has slightly more chromatic aberration
• SRBC experiences less glare (huge when Coues hunting morning and nights)
• SRBC has slightly less edge to edge clarity

https://www.birdforum.net/threads/brief-comparisons-between-skyrover-banner-cloud-12x50-vs-swarovski-nl-pure-12x42.462414/

You know i researched on the Sightron site the SV WA binoculars theyve come out with because they look just like the SRBC , chatgpt said they were built in Japan. After comparing the specs closer i didnt think that may be correct. On Gemini in a PRO seach said that Sightron is having their new SV WA built by the same company as SRBC. Whats odd is some sources say the SRBC has SP prisms and some Sightron sources say they have AK prisms but Gemini says thats not true. The only reason to buy the Sightron model would be because they have a lifetime warranty that covers manufacturer defects. The Sightron sales at $899 vs the $559 my SRBC 8X42 cost me to my door. I know so far these are fantastic, but i havent really done any heavy digiscopeing with them yet. Im very satisfied with my purchase so far.

 

[UncleDim]

I would imagine the cost savings have to come from somewhere, but I’m glad they focused on the glass

I’ve never been around many alpha glass products, but my 8x42 sky rovers seem well put together to my untrained eye. I don’t love supporting china, but these are some seriously good products.

I also got the 8x42s, very satisfied. I saw someone had brought up the fact that SRBC were almost identical to the Sightron SV WA 8x42. My first research said that the Sightron Flagship SVWA were made in Japan. Confirmed by chatgpt. After having the SRBC for 2 weeks , i couldnt get past the identical stats for both, so i did a pro search on Gemini. The site first said the page couldnt be loaded. Then after the 2nd attempt it said that the SRBC and the Sightron were the exact same platform both models built side by side in the same factory. That the Japanese company Sightron had contracted the construction of the SV line of binoculars from the same Chinese company that builds the SRBC.. Gemini said (quote) that i basically had the Sightron SV WA binoculars. There a $350 price difference. Sightron does have a lifetime manufacturer defects warranty. Thought everyone may find this interesting and informative.