Swaro ATC/STC vs 15x binos

[TimberHunter]

For guys that mainly hunt deer in western states, which do you prefer and why? Do you carry all 3 (chest, 15x, spotter)




Currently have zeiss SF 10x32 chest binos. I’ve had 15’s SLCs in the past but didn’t like carrying a spotter, 15s and chest so I sold the 15s. Currently have razor gen 1 85mm and the new razor 56mm mini spotter. Neither I’m super happy with at longer distances (1+ miles)

Now I’m wanting to upgrade but not just for the sake of upgrading. I want to try to be more precise with my $ and spend it on items that will correlate to seeing/hunting more animals


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

This is my viewpoint based upon my personal experience and observations of other hunters while in the field.

Most folks are not effective at glassing with a spotting scope despite what their egos say. They'd be better served with binoculars on a tripod. I have a friend who finally made the switch this past year and he's the first to admit that he should switched over to binoculars for glassing a long time ago.

You sold the gold standard for glassing and expected a full size Gen 1 B Tier spotting scope and a mini Gen 2 B Tier spotting scope to meet or exceed it for glassing. Would you expect a pair of Vipers to be comparable or better optically than the SLCs? Would you expect to be more effective at finding game with a single eye compared to using both eyes? An ATC/STC is just going to be a $2200 bandaid that will leave you disappointed.

Here is my advice for you...
1) Be honest with yourself.
2) Put your 10s on a tripod and beef up your glassing skills. The biggest bang for the $$$ is practice.
3) Have a come to Jesus moment and seriously contemplate if you better at glassing with binoculars or a spotting scope. Don't forget #1.
4) Revisit your thought process on what value each items offers. How much value does the 42.3 ounces of SLC 15s bring to the table when it comes to finding game? How much value does the 65.7 ounces of the Gen 1 Razor 85mm bring to the table when it comes to finding game?
5) Set realistic expectations on what optics can do.
6) Figure out an optics approach for glassing that makes sense for you.

In classic desert mule deer and Coues county, the only binoculars I bring are my SLC 15s. I can use my 7x RF for a quick look. Easy to stabilize the 15s for a few seconds. In under 60 seconds I can be fully setup for glassing and in the same amount of time packed up and on my way; I do practice that stuff.

 

[TimberHunter]

This is my viewpoint based upon my personal experience and observations of other hunters while in the field.

Most folks are not effective at glassing with a spotting scope despite what their egos say. They'd be better served with binoculars on a tripod. I have a friend who finally made the switch this past year and he's the first to admit that he should switched over to binoculars for glassing a long time ago.

You sold the gold standard for glassing and expected a full size Gen 1 B Tier spotting scope and a mini Gen 2 B Tier spotting scope to meet or exceed it for glassing. Would you expect a pair of Vipers to be comparable or better optically than the SLCs? Would you expect to be more effective at finding game with a single eye compared to using both eyes? An ATC/STC is just going to be a $2200 bandaid that will leave you disappointed.

Here is my advice for you...
1) Be honest with yourself.
2) Put your 10s on a tripod and beef up your glassing skills. The biggest bang for the $$$ is practice.
3) Have a come to Jesus moment and seriously contemplate if you better at glassing with binoculars or a spotting scope. Don't forget #1.
4) Revisit your thought process on what value each items offers. How much value does the 42.3 ounces of SLC 15s bring to the table when it comes to finding game? How much value does the 65.7 ounces of the Gen 1 Razor 85mm bring to the table when it comes to finding game?
5) Set realistic expectations on what optics can do.
6) Figure out an optics approach for glassing that makes sense for you.

In classic desert mule deer and Coues county, the only binoculars I bring are my SLC 15s. I can use my 7x RF for a quick look. Easy to stabilize the 15s for a few seconds. In under 60 seconds I can be fully setup for glassing and in the same amount of time packed up and on my way; I do practice that stuff.

Thanks for the info!

I forgot to include that I already use my zeiss SF’s 10x32 on a tripod. By far the best way to pick up game. But the spotter comes out pretty quick after I locate it with the binos, binos just doesn’t allow me to analyze the animal unless it’s close range


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[180ls1]

Generally speaking, seeing more animals means a two bino setup. Analyzing animals means having a spotter as well. Sounds like you "need" all 3.

Maybe just 12x NL pures and a small premium spotter would get you by but there will always be a tradeoff.

 

[TimberHunter]

Generally speaking, seeing more animals means a two bino setup. Analyzing animals means having a spotter as well. Sounds like you "need" all 3.

Maybe just 12x NL pures and a small premium spotter would get you by but there will always be a tradeoff.

Yup, all this “need” for me to wind up shooting an avg 150” mule deer lol

I am trying to get to the next level of finding and shooting bigger deer. Spending a lot more days scouting this year


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ajsomp]

Debating this myself. I’m likely going to pick up a pair of swaro 12, 14, 15s etc. depending on what I decide is the best for my requirements. My RF 10x42s are for all in one glassing/ranging/shooting solution. And I understand their limitations optically. A compact spotter sounds great but I like binos better honestly after carrying a compact spotter in the past. But it also was a razor compact spotter - so the glass wasn’t that great and could have influenced my decision

 

[WeiserBucks]

I use NL 14s and a Kowa 55, works great for the areas I hunt but many would disagree.

 

[180ls1]

Yup, all this “need” for me to wind up shooting an avg 150” mule deer lol

I am trying to get to the next level of finding and shooting bigger deer. Spending a lot more days scouting this year


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Its worth trying a 3 bino setup. I'd keep the 10x and 13-39. Ditch the 85 to help fund the ~15x binos.

 

[TimberHunter]

Debating this myself. I’m likely going to pick up a pair of swaro 12, 14, 15s etc. depending on what I decide is the best for my requirements. My RF 10x42s are for all in one glassing/ranging/shooting solution. And I understand their limitations optically. A compact spotter sounds great but I like binos better honestly after carrying a compact spotter in the past. But it also was a razor compact spotter - so the glass wasn’t that great and could have influenced my decision

Give a look at Swaros new compact spotter or Kowas new compact spotter. Hell the new compact razor isn’t horrible, the original razor compact was pretty bad though


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TimberHunter]

Its worth trying a 3 bino setup. I'd keep the 10x and 13-39. Ditch the 85 to help fund the ~15x binos.

That is likely a good route to go. Only thing holding me back is when glass from the truck or short hikes, I like the 85mm better than the mini razor 56


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[schmidty3]

For what it's worth..

I had a much easier time spotting mule deer with my maven b2 11x's over my stc.

The extra zoom helped a "lil" at judging size. But I missed the crab claws on the buck I killed that year. Legitimately thought he was a 2x2. Ended up being a "5x5" (small points). Watched him for 3 days at 1.2-1.5 miles.

Above 30x it sucked honestly.

I ditched it and went to a kowa 77 to get more differentiation in my capability.

I think the stc probably thrives in a 1200 yards-1 mile digging intot he shadows context.

 

[Browninglover1]

You have to decide are you spotting or evaluating? 12-15x binos on a tripod are freaking sweet for spotting, but they don't hold a candle to a big spotter when it comes to evaluating game.

I have played around with 8x, 10x, 12x, and 15x binos as well as a 60mm Nikon Fielscope, various Razor Spotters, a Meopta S2, and a few Swaro spotters.

For what I do, I'm taking my 12x NL Pure or my 15x SLC to do the heavy lifting. Then I'm absolutely bringing a big spotter, in my case a Meopta S2, for evaluation. The 80+mm premium spotters just do better than anything else at seeing the fine detail you are looking for and long ranges

I want to add an ATC to my setup, but I'm pretty sure it won't go with me very often because optically it just can't compete at longer distances compared to the big full size spotters.

 

[Kurts86]

I carry 10x, 15x and an ATC fairly often. The 10x are for finding things on the move or without a tripod, 15x are the super animal finder 5000 off a tripod and the ATC is for taking a close look. I use the ATC because it’s the only spotting scope I’ve owned that goes with me almost all the time instead of being the first thing left behind. If I’m going ultra light the 15x often get left behind before the ATC because they are 1 lb heavier than the ATC.

The ATC and the 15x56 SLC’s both at 15x really tell the story. Binocular vision and fov is better with the binoculars but the ATC obviously comes into its own zoomed in for closer inspection. In my mind 15x56 binoculars are much more valuable most of the time finding game than a spotting scope would be.

The ATC will out do a 65mm Razor at half the weight. I had 10x, 15x and a 65mm razor and the razor spotter could not hold up against 15x alpha glass. I sold the razor spotter and just used the 10/15x combo for a few years before getting the ATC.

 

[cuerro viejo]

In a perfect world-

The pack
10x rangefinder combo
14x NL pure
ATC

The truck
Kowa/swaro 85