Swarovski EL 12x50 - Anyone using without tripod?

[eltaco]

I’m interested in picking up a pair of ELs and undecided on power between 10 and 12x. I’m currently running Maven B2 11x45 and hunt whitetail, mule deer, and elk... looking for one great Bino to do all things. That said, my binos see most use on my body in a harness, and will see some use off a tripod.

I don’t believe I have issues with the 11s, currently, but don’t have any field experience with 12s. I’m curious how many people are running 12s out of a harness and if you have any real world pros and cons as compared to the 10s. I’m mainly focused on optical comparisons, I’m willing to accept the size and weight differences.

I’ve looked through both in the store, but don’t find it to be a very good environment for evaluation.

 

[ahlgringo]

El 12x50's are the only bino's I still have- work great out of a harness free hand- even better (much better) off a tripod

 

[jspradley]

I run them without a tripod... at least until they get back from Outdoorsmans for the bino stud install.

They are entirely doable without a tripod but you'll want the option to mount them too.

 

[Brian Fahs]

I run 10x42 els and 15x56 slcs.

I used to think I could really hold my 10x 42 freehand until I discovered outdoorsmans adapters and quality tripods. I can get by hand holding the 10's but they are much less effective than when tripod mounted. I never owned 12s but forget hand holding the 15s, it sucks

 

[eltaco]

Thanks for the feedback, guys.

I believe there’s obvious benefit in the 12s when steadied by tripod, but I’m really curious if the improved resolution benefit is completely negated by added shakiness when offhand using them compared to the 10s.

Really liking the 50mm objective over the 42s, so just comes down to power for me now.

 

[Don Qui Puncher]

I have leupold 12’s and I can’t hand hold them for the life of me

 

[Mer19]

Sorry to get a little off topic, but in your opinion would you recommend the Maven 11x for the style of hunting you described?

 

[eltaco]

Sorry to get a little off topic, but in your opinion would you recommend the Maven 11x for the style of hunting you described?

No problem. I actually think the Maven 11s work really well for everything I described. I prefer them to the Vortex Razor 10x42s I had before them. That said, the Swaro ELs are a step up (as they should be, for the price) and I’m getting tired of swapping to new optics when I know the ELs are what I want to have.

On that note, I’ll be putting my Mavens up for sale as soon as I make a Swaro purchase. I really do find them to be a fantastic set of optics at the pricepoint.

 

[Mer19]

Very good. Thank you for the response.
As a new member so hopefully I will meet the requirements to participate on the Classifieds by the time you put them up for sale, should you do so.

 

[AkMtnRunner]

I find the state that I am in, active or rested, makes all the difference. Moving with a heavy pack, I want my 8x’s. Rested and calm and even standing, I can see more detail with my 15x’s than my 10x’s.

 

[Blue72]

I find 12x is still doable handheld. It’s not relaxing like 7/8x but it doesn’t start to shake like 15/16x either

While I normally endorse the saying that “big views start at 15/16x”

I do agree that 12x might be an option if you do more handholding, especially standing and they tend to be more compact

 

[eltaco]

Thanks guys. I’m living in the Midwest now, so much of my glassing will be from a tree stand, where I’m definitely not exhausted, haha!

That said, I’ll be on at least on Western hunt a year where primary use will be on the move. I’ll have the tripod for glassing but definitely want to be able to pull binos out of the harness and lock on for quick glances.

Appreciate the info so far. I’m hearing that 12s are a personal preference.. expecting each of us encounter different levels of “shakiness”.

 

[WRO]

I run them both hand held and on a tripod, they work great.

I replaced my 8's and 15's with just this set.

 

[Brian Fahs]

Thanks guys. I’m living in the Midwest now, so much of my glassing will be from a tree stand, where I’m definitely not exhausted, haha!

That said, I’ll be on at least on Western hunt a year where primary use will be on the move. I’ll have the tripod for glassing but definitely want to be able to pull binos out of the harness and lock on for quick glances.

Appreciate the info so far. I’m hearing that 12s are a personal preference.. expecting each of us encounter different levels of “shakiness”.

If the majority of your hunting is from a treestand with no tripod the 10x 42 is a no brainer.
Those same 10's on a tripod will find you a ton of game

 

[eltaco]

Thanks guys. After looking thru all of them and listening to comments here, I opted for the 10x50. I think the perceived brightness with larger exit pupil and larger FOV won me over. Due to the mixed comments on 12s, I have enough concern for using them offhand that 10s just seem like the best decision for my uses. Looking forward to getting them in the field!

Really appreciate the input.

 

[hayesplow]

Get a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod and a lightweight ball-head and you're set. I tried a spotting scope without a tripod once; figured I could set it up on my backpack. No joy. Not using a tripod eliminates any advantage a spotter has over binoculars, in my opinion.

 

[njdoxie]

I use my hiking sticks to steady my 12x leupplds, even a lightweight tripod is just too much weight for me


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[hayesplow]

I use my hiking sticks to steady my 12x leupplds, even a lightweight tripod is just too much weight for me


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same with me, while packing for a hunt i consider weights of all gears and i exclude my tripod for reduction of weight.

 

[NoWiser]

I think you made a good choice. Your hunting sounds much the same as mine and I gave up on 10X for 8X so I could hold them steadier. I don’t feel like I’m missing anything.

 

[eltaco]

Received the 10x50s and they are absolutely amazing. I still wish I had the resources to test against the 12x50 in the field to make a more informed choice, but I am blown away by how good the 10x50s are at clarity during VERY low light. Happy with the choice I made. I plan to enjoy these for a long time.