Swarovski 14x52 NLs vs 12x42 NLs

[Sako300]

With a lot of scouting and even archery season upon us for mule deer, has anyone compared these 2 binoculars in the field together?

 

[Block]

I’m sure they are badd to the bone,,, but I can’t see them being THAT much better at picking out animals at distance than the 12x which you can rock in the bino harness…too close in power to wana carry both IMO,,, some 20x woulda been a better way to entise us to buy both,,.

 

[Nate D]

I have the same question. With 8x on the chest would I be better served with the 12x or 14x on a tripod.

 

[nphunter]

I went with 14’s. My hunting partner has 12’s and there have been several times that my Meostar 15’s outperformed the NL’s. The 3x just added enough more zoom it was helpful, essentially we were able to see a branch bull with the NL’s and could tell how big he was with the 15’s.

There have been several times I wished I had the 12’s over my 15’s due to a variety of reasons, one of the biggest was the NL’s depth of field and FOV. I carry 10’s on my chest but am really considering going with the 8.5’s for the better FOV.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Yes. @huntnful and I both have significant time behind both the 12 and 14 NLs. We’ve also both gone back and forth on which unit to use as our primary tripod glassing unit.

Here in AZ and being a coues deer hunter, I’ve gone back to the 14s from the 12s. If I didn’t scout and hunt coues deer in big open AZ country I’d stick with the 12s.

I believe @huntnful went from 12s to 14s and is going back to 12s.

With your application being mule deer as mentioned in your original post, I’d go with 12s personally.

 

[huntnful]

So many good uses for each bino! It’s legitimately tough to choose!

I could find several reasons for each bino.

The 14’s are PHENOMENAL to look through. But I ended up back at 12’s only because the 10X Revic binos aren’t great for glassing, so to me they’re just a rangefinder. Which leaves the 12’s as my main bino

 

[Tahoe1305]

My 2 cents. The ~2x zoom isn’t going to help out a tone IF you already plan to carry a spotter (even a compact spotter). I haven’t found a set of binos that can replicate the detail a spotter can break out (even a 18x set).

For me the size/weight is the bigger issue (again if I have a spotter already). I’d rather have wider FOV, lighter and smaller on my chest.

If you are trying to carry just one set and no spotter I think the argument for 14s is stronger.

Said another way, I’m going to be able to see animal movement likely with either set at realistic hunting ranges (inside a few miles). What the 14s will give me is a bit more detail (counting tines) inside of 1000yds or so that the 12x may struggle a bit with depending on conditions. For me, if I’m trophy hunting I have a spotter.

 

[HuntHarder]

I have always been a bigger field of view guy. I went from 10x42 HD el's to 12 x 42 NL's. I now have a few years behind the 12's and have spent enough time behind the 14 NL's to know there is no reason for me to upgrade to the 14's. It is really personal preference, but I routinely find more animals than guys with higher magnification Bino's. Actual glassing technique is very important when scanning for animals. FWIW, I usually use my 12x42's and also have a spotting scope to accurately field judge.

 

[willfrye027]

I’ve had both side by side and by themselves. You cannot go wrong, both are incredible and the difference is starting to split hairs.

It comes down the whole kit.

For several years it was 12x NLs plus handheld RF, plus/minus big eyes depending on the hunt and terrain.

Going forward it’s 8x32 RF binos plus 14s. In some cases just the 8x32 and the big eyes, depending on the terrain and how much I’ll be moving.

The difference for me is that 12s can be handheld/standalone, but I strongly prefer 8s handheld and in tighter/brushy country, which for my style ends up being pretty important on many hunts.

14s do have a little more reach than 12s, plus I can field judge a bit better with them, allowing me to leave the big eyes in the truck and not bring a spotting scope when I carry the 14s. With just the 12s I often wanted a little better look before deciding to stalk..the 14s I feel I can see well enough what the frame is unless it’s several miles away.

 

[Nate D]

So many good uses for each bino! It’s legitimately tough to choose!

I could find several reasons for each bino.

The 14’s are PHENOMENAL to look through. But I ended up back at 12’s only because the 10X Revic binos aren’t great for glassing, so to me they’re just a rangefinder. Which leaves the 12’s as my main bino

Do you think there is enough magnification between the 8x and the 12x to make both useful enough to carry. I tend to shake a bit while handholding so the 12s would be used mainly on the tripod . I do a lot of still hunting and I hunt in the dark woods of PNW so the 8s are a must. I just keep rolling around the 12 or 14 dilemma. Although it is a nice dilemma to have.

 

[huntnful]

Do you think there is enough magnification between the 8x and the 12x to make both useful enough to carry. I tend to shake a bit while handholding so the 12s would be used mainly on the tripod . I do a lot of still hunting and I hunt in the dark woods of PNW so the 8s are a must. I just keep rolling around the 12 or 14 dilemma. Although it is a nice dilemma to have.

I think 12’s would absolutely beneficial over 8’s in big country.

You can see anything running across a hillside with most binos in general. But the higher magnification absolutely helps finding stationary animals in bigger country.

If you only hunt dense timber, or open mountains, and are always going to carry the 8’s on your chest no matter what… but want a higher mag bino for bigger country, I’d just go with the 14’s though.

The 12’s are more of a “do all” single carry bino. If you’re carrying 2 binos regardless, I’d do 8’s and 14’s for sure.

If you only want to carry one bino when you hunt bigger country, I’d go with 12’s.

 

[Tahoe1305]

I think 12’s would absolutely beneficial over 8’s in big country.

You can see anything running across a hillside with most binos in general. But the higher magnification absolutely helps finding stationary animals in bigger country.

If you only hunt dense timber, or open mountains, and are always going to carry the 8’s on your chest no matter what… but want a higher mag bino for bigger country, I’d just go with the 14’s though.

The 12’s are more of a “do all” single carry bino. If you’re carrying 2 binos regardless, I’d do 8’s and 14’s for sure.

If you only want to carry one bino when you hunt bigger country, I’d go with 12’s.

I’d argue 8s and an ATC or the like can do a decent job all around if you don’t mind a compact spotter too.

You’ll see a good amount with the 8s, just not a ton of far detail. They will be better in woods too.

 

[willfrye027]

I think 12’s would absolutely beneficial over 8’s in big country.

You can see anything running across a hillside with most binos in general. But the higher magnification absolutely helps finding stationary animals in bigger country.

If you only hunt dense timber, or open mountains, and are always going to carry the 8’s on your chest no matter what… but want a higher mag bino for bigger country, I’d just go with the 14’s though.

The 12’s are more of a “do all” single carry bino. If you’re carrying 2 binos regardless, I’d do 8’s and 14’s for sure.

If you only want to carry one bino when you hunt bigger country, I’d go with 12’s.

I would agree with this strongly. 8 plus 14/15 is a great combo. 8s plus compact spotter is also a good combo. 12s alone or with spotter are also great.

8 plus 12 might leave you wanting a little more magnification for field judging or glassing farther.

 

[Nate D]

I have always been a bigger field of view guy. I went from 10x42 HD el's to 12 x 42 NL's. I now have a few years behind the 12's and have spent enough time behind the 14 NL's to know there is no reason for me to upgrade to the 14's. It is really personal preference, but I routinely find more animals than guys with higher magnification Bino's. Actual glassing technique is very important when scanning for animals. FWIW, I usually use my 12x42's and also have a spotting scope to accurately field judge.

With hand shake issues I’m thinking of a 3 piece kit. 8x and 12x pures with a compact spotter. Total weight would be (not including tripod and head) roughly 84oz. Which is right at what a pair of 12s and a 65 spotter come in at. It might be a bit heavy but I enjoy having the glass.

 

[180ls1]

With hand shake issues I’m thinking of a 3 piece kit. 8x and 12x pures with a compact spotter. Total weight would be (not including tripod and head) roughly 84oz. Which is right at what a pair of 12s and a 65 spotter come in at. It might be a bit heavy but I enjoy having the glass.

Sounds like you have a generous budget and hate hand shake, if that is the case, its absolutely worth looking at the Zulu6 HDX in 10x30 as well. They are very light too, just don't expect superior glass quality or big fov.

 

[Nate D]

Sounds like you have a generous budget and hate hand shake, if that is the case, its absolutely worth looking at the Zulu6 HDX in 10x30 as well. They are very light too, just don't expect superior glass quality or big fov.

Appreciate the suggestion but superior glass and FOV are the 2 things I’m not gong to compromise on. Unfortunately my budget is not as generous as my wants. Finding a great deal on a mid-level compact spotter helped.