Swarovski EL 10x50 vs 10x42

[couesjunky]

The time has come to upgrade the glass. Got rid of my Vortex Razor HD 10x50 and im looking to get a set of EL SV's. I have looked through a set of the older (pre 2010) 10x42 EL's without the Swarovision and they were great, but didn't compare to the EL's with Swarovision. For me at least. Really incredible edge clarity.
Id like some input on whose running what and what y'all prefer. Are the 10x50's worth the extra weight? How significant is the increase in light transmission and FOV?

 

[shoeshineman]

I currently have older Zeiss 8x30 and current model EL 8.5x42 SV. Last year, I had the Leica Geovid HD B 10x42. This is what my opinion is based on.


I believe that the EL 10x50 SV is the finest piece of glass available. The view is absolutely stunning.. The downside is the weight of the 50mm glass. I hauled my 42mm glass up and down hills last year and I was pretty close to leaving it at camp by about day 4. The weight of 42mm glass in a chest harness simply wore me down after several days.

If you can handle the 50mm weight, I believe that the 10x50 is the finest available (for a 1 pair of binos quiver). I felt like it had noticeably better low light ability than 10x42 and better FOV than 12x50 and 15x56. Also, I think some people can hand hold the 10x reasonably well. There is no way in hell I personally can hand hold the 12x or greater mag and actually study anything (I personally can't hand hold a 10x and actually study my view) .

 

[Jagger0502]

I am in the same boat upgrading my glass and have done a ton of research and am going with 10x42 slc. I would do ELs but don’t have the money. A few reasons why I am going with the 10x42, I am from the East and do west trips but the weight savings with the 10x42 to the 10x50s is the main factors. I haven’t read anyones comments that has much more performance on the 50s over the 42s Which would likely only shine in extremely low light. So maybe 15 minutes in the morning and last 15 minutes in the PM isn’t worth the extra weight to me. In the East we don’t have many areas good for “glassing” and 8x is probably the best size, but doing trips out west the 10x will be a good trade off for both uses and when we are forking our 1-2 grand I only plan to buy one size.
If you plan to do a lot of hiking with them I would recommend you stay with the 10x42. If you’re on a horse or quad or truck hunting then no issue with the 50s.

 

[couesjunky]

I currently have older Zeiss 8x30 and current model EL 8.5x42 SV. Last year, I had the Leica Geovid HD B 10x42. This is what my opinion is based on.


I believe that the EL 10x50 SV is the finest piece of glass available. The view is absolutely stunning.. The downside is the weight of the 50mm glass. I hauled my 42mm glass up and down hills last year and I was pretty close to leaving it at camp by about day 4. The weight of 42mm glass in a chest harness simply wore me down after several days.

If you can handle the 50mm weight, I believe that the 10x50 is the finest available (for a 1 pair of binos quiver). I felt like it had noticeably better low light ability than 10x42 and better FOV than 12x50 and 15x56. Also, I think some people can hand hold the 10x reasonably well. There is no way in hell I personally can hand hold the 12x or greater mag and actually study anything (I personally can't hand hold a 10x and actually study my view) .

Thanks for the reply ShoeShine. My glass is either in my bino harness or on its tripod. I don't bother trying to hold up the glass free hand.
Seems like I cant go wrong with either choice. But i'm leaning towards the 42's because I do a lot of hiking.
Id also like to look through both during low light. The 10x42 EL's are much brighter than my 10x50 Razors.

 

[Hatchet Jack]

If you’re a coues junky get the 12x50 ELs

 

[YBPS]

The 10x50’s EL are only 5-6 oz more than the 10x42’s. I like the 10x50’s. It was an easy transition as I carried 12x50 for a full year which are basically the same size as the 10x50. The 12’s where just a little much in the timber and I just felt I could scan better/faster with the 10’s. I also carry a spotter though.
My 15x56 SLC’s don’t get used very much at all. Sometimes I put them in my wife’s backpack when she’s not looking... but they are nice to have on a tri pod when the sun is at your back first am.

 

[tdot]

If you're willing to pack the weight of a 10x50, I wouldnt hesitate to upgrade to the 12xEL. Otherwise the 10x42 are sufficient.

 

[JGRaider]

I'm with shoeshine.....I believe the 10x50SV is the finest hunting binocular on the planet. To my 59 year old eyes the view is just spectacular, besting the 8.5x and 10x SV's, in which I tried both before buying the 10x50's. Putting them on a tripod makes them even better, if that is possible.

 

[WRO]

I'm with shoeshine.....I believe the 10x50SV is the finest hunting binocular on the planet. To my 59 year old eyes the view is just spectacular, besting the 8.5x and 10x SV's, in which I tried both before buying the 10x50's. Putting them on a tripod makes them even better, if that is possible.

The reason that the EL's in the 50mm are better than the 42 is that bigger objective lenses are provide better resolution than smaller lenses all things equal. The 50's ave 15% more surface area.