Swarovski 15’s or 12x50’s

[ianpadron]

When I look thru my Swarovski older slc 10x42 i think " I wish I had a little bit more"
When I carry my Minox 15x58ed i think "these are heavy but pretty amazing glass for the cost"
When I look thru my Meopta Meostar 12x50 B1 HD I think " these are the best value for the money for sure till i can get a pair of Swarovski El 12x50 Swarovison"
When I look thru my buddies Swarovski EL Swarovision 12x50 i think" These are the hands down best all around binos money could buy"
If you are looking at only Swarovski.
The SLC 10x42 HD are light and a great option.
The SLC 15x56 HD are going to be great and going to be a bit large for all around use but they absolutely give you an edge when stretching binos to the max.
The El 12x50 Swarovision are to me the ultimate bino if you could only have one.
1-you will see more than you will with the SLC 10x42 HD
2-you will give up very little to the slc 15x56 hd but you will be giving.
3-you will have a bino that you will have with you all the time your "Go To" Bino rather than grabbing the 15's from the back seat because you dont want them around your neck, might as well have a spotting scope.
I would prefer to carry 10x42.
I would prefer the magnification of the 15x56
The 12x50 is the ultimate do all in Swarovski, they give you more than the 10x42 and give up little to the 15x56 in a bino that you can have with you all day everday. That being said the Meopta Meostar 12x50 B1 HD is going to be as close as you will get for an affordable price at least for me, but they are not Swarovski Swarovisions! and you cannot compare binos by grabbing them hand held and saying that looks great, you must set them up on a tripod in field conditions.
IMO Swarovski Swarovision is amazing and there is no comparision and is what I will eventually get, but the Meoptas actually have better CA control but limited depth of view and no where near the edge to edge clarity of the swarovisions.
Hope this helps.

I agree with every word.

Only bino I'd trade my 12x50 Meoptas for are the 12x50 ELs.

Sent from my LG-H872 using Tapatalk

 

[Desert Dan]

This is exactly what I’ve been looking for. You guys provided no BS answers to questions based on experience and comparisons of similar models. Thank you.

 

[idig4au]

I have both and I will agree 12x50s off a tripod is a great combination. My 15x56s didn’t leave the safe last year.

 

[SoDaky]

For me it's Leica 10s due to needed rangefinder,then Swaro 15s in pack.No spotter.

 

[PowellSixO]

I think it depends on the terrain, the distance glassing, and the critter you're glassing. I've owned Swarovski 10's and liked them. I sold them for the new 15 SLC HD's and LOVE them. I got to use the 12 EL's and liked them a lot, but not as much as the 15's. If it weren't for coues deer, I'd pick the EL's. The EL's are better glass for sure, but just don't have the magnification for coues deer. I can't stand looking through a spotter all day, so 15 SLC HD's for me. It's hard to beat a good tripod, and some 15's.

 

[1shotgear]

Throwing around the idea of selling my 15’s and 10’s for the EL 12x50’s to lessen the amount of optics I’m carrying around. I splurged this year (after a whole lot of overtime) and bought myself brand new swaro slc 10x42’s and 15’s. I love the 15’s for reaching out there but found it was a hassle packing them with a spotter and my 10’s around my neck, so the stayed home or in the truck a lot. So my question is has anyone made the switch to just 12’s and find them sufficient enough for reaching out when you need the extra power or should I stick with the current setup? Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I can tell you this much you wouldn't regret getting the El 12x50's. I was able to play around with the 12's and 15's. Hands down the 12's blew the 15's out of the water. I already have a pair of 10x42's, but have the 12x50;s make a world of difference. I sometimes don't even bring my 10's with just so I don't have to carry the weight. I probably eventually with either give the 10's to a friend or just sell them and stick to using the 12's. The simply are amazing to have/use

 

[PredatorX]

What do you mean they blew the 15's out of the water? At what range?

A few people have reported that the view from a swarovision lacks the 3D type of view you get from a bino without the lens flatteners. I know what they are referring to as I have had both side by side and tend to agree with that statement.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[RosinBag]

I would also agree, the 12’s are better than the 15’s. I used them both side by side for a week and the 12’s were superior edge to edge, clarity and even at distance seemed to find more game because of the above. I could hardly tell the 15’s were more magnified

 

[CAhunter]

Has anyone running the 12x50’s think they are overkill for everyday/general use? I’m using 10x42’s now and often wish I had just a little more but packing two pairs of binoculars isn’t going to happen.

 

[RosinBag]

That’s what I use and would never go back.

 

[Steven C]

Haven’t used my Swaro 10’s one time since I got the 12’s.

 

[CAhunter]

Thanks for the replies, that’s the info I was looking for

 

[PredatorX]

I've looked at 12's hard, still do....but at this point I feel they are just a tweener...not as good as 8's in timber and handholding, and not as good on a tripod in terms of magnification as 15's. Where they do win though is weight savings. I may end up with them someday butt lots of people still have issues handholding them.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[coues32]

12x50 els are the best all around western glass, have 8x32 els, 15xHDs, sold 10x42 els, they only get used when someone else goes with me.
No problem hand holding. I ve owned 15x56 Swarovski since they hit the market.

 

[PredatorX]

Man, I see image shake with 10's, and that is without being at 10K feet and hiking up a mountain. I don't know how you guys hold these 12's so steady. Especially when pulling up for a quick glance.I went from 10's to 8's and the image firmed up and clarified significantly.

 

[luke moffat]

Been using 12x for 5+ years now and I wouldn’t go back. For the country I hunt I find the extra magnification nice while not too much to induce gitters.

 

[WRO]

I've looked at 12's hard, still do....but at this point I feel they are just a tweener...not as good as 8's in timber and handholding, and not as good on a tripod in terms of magnification as 15's. Where they do win though is weight savings. I may end up with them someday butt lots of people still have issues handholding them.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

They're a compromise, but I disagree on the them not keeping up with the 15s. Having ran both extensively, I'd take the 12s on a tripod over the 15s any day of the week. That being said, there's nothing that beats the 8x32s in the timber.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[RosinBag]

I agree a 100% with WRO, I think they are better than the 15’s all around, even on a tripod when compared side by side.