Switching to 12x instead of 10x?

[Elite]

Has anyone made this switch and regretted it? I do a lot of sheep hunting and open country hunting and use a tripod often when spotting so I would think a 12x would work better, but I also do free hand binos often when tree stand hunting and stalking in on a animal, Would like to know what everyone else is using


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[Blue72]

Big images start at 15x. If your going to mount binoculars, start there

12x is very close to 10x rather then being the mid point between 15x. I think 12x have their place for those who want the maximum magnification for handholding .

For me, I prefer super wide and steady views of 7x for handholding and 15/16x for mounted

 

[brandon.andersen]

I made the switch, but don't regret it at all. I can hand hold the 12 well. If I'm unsteady, I hook my fingers on my hat brim, or stay against a tree, or rest them on my bow. Although I went from some inexpensive 10x to razor hd 12x. I love them and use them for everything from hiking, to 3d, desert hunting, to mountain hunting

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[Ryan Avery]

Big images start at 15x. If your going to mount binoculars, start there

12x is very close to 10x rather then being the mid point between 15x. I think 12x have their place for those who want the maximum magnification for handholding .

For me, I prefer super wide and steady views of 7x for handholding and 15/16x for mounted

I totaly disagree. Quality 15s rarley do anything quality 12s can't do, plus with the 12s you have a bigger FOV, lighter and you can hand hold them.

 

[Blue72]

I totaly disagree. Quality 15s rarley do anything quality 12s can't do, plus with the 12s you have a bigger FOV, lighter and you can hand hold them.

I guess it depends what your looking to do. I notice the difference two miles out and 12x doesn’t cut it for me. Plus I also like astronomy. The rings of Saturn and the nebula of many deep space objects start to appear at 15x not 12x.

The best thing the original poster can do is buy both and see which works best for him

 

[jmav58]

I made the switch, but don't regret it at all. I can hand hold the 12 well. If I'm unsteady, I hook my fingers on my hat brim, or stay against a tree, or rest them on my bow. Although I went from some inexpensive 10x to razor hd 12x. I love them and use them for everything from hiking, to 3d, desert hunting, to mountain hunting

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This ^. I much prefer my 12's over the 10's. You can hand hold them well enough to double check on an animal or location but they're awesome off of a tripod.

 

[icebreaker12]

I’ve been running 12s over 10s and love the change.

 

[willfrye027]

Personally I was not a fan of 12x vs 10x. To my eyes the image was too similar between them and hand holding was harder with 12x. My chest binos are now 8x, with 10-15x duovids on the tripod. I like my glass to be very steady whether handholding or on a tripod, so 8x gets the nod for chest glass to me.

 

[icebreaker12]

Personally I was not a fan of 12x vs 10x. To my eyes the image was too similar between them and hand holding was harder with 12x. My chest binos are now 8x, with 10-15x duovids on the tripod. I like my glass to be very steady whether handholding or on a tripod, so 8x gets the nod for chest glass to me.

Honestly, I think this is the point in all of this. It really comes down to preference and I think you’ll have to try all of the above to really know where you stand.

 

[Hatchet Jack]

12x50 ELs on a tripod are incredible but also can be free handed. Maybe the best all around bino for hunting the west

 

[Elite]

I guess it depends what your looking to do. I notice the difference two miles out and 12x doesn’t cut it for me. Plus I also like astronomy. The rings of Saturn and the nebula of many deep space objects start to appear at 15x not 12x.

The best thing the original poster can do is buy both and see which works best for him

I mainly plan to use them on a tripod for sheep hunting and mule deer in open country but I do free hand some also when tree stand and when there isn’t enough time to set up the tripod, (when just quickly glassing ahead of you) and weight is a concern for me as every sheep hunt I wish I wasn’t packing so much weight! So with a Kowa 883 spotting scope in my pack already I would like to at least keep the binos light


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[deerkiller]

IF Leica would make a 12x Geovid I'd have one for sure

 

[Beendare]

Depends on personal preference and the type of hunting you do. I went the other way from 10x preferring 8x for most of my hunts.

My buddy that guides open country N Arizona says the 12x Swaro is the best all around bino made, bar none; Different strokes.

His 12x50's are fairly large and heavy...and not as quick or steady when hand holding....but in big country they are fantastic.

 

[Txhunter85]

Personally I was not a fan of 12x vs 10x. To my eyes the image was too similar between them and hand holding was harder with 12x. My chest binos are now 8x, with 10-15x duovids on the tripod. I like my glass to be very steady whether handholding or on a tripod, so 8x gets the nod for chest glass to me.

This was my experience/preference as well. Bought some 12’s wanting a little more than my 10’s had but didn’t care for them much at all. I like the field of view better out of my 10’s and have also thought of going down to 8’s. I

 

[FlyGuy]

I used 10X exclusively for hunting up until 2013 when I went to 12X. I prefer 12X. That said I recently sold my 12X50 ELs and going back to 10X land....I don't think it'll hold me back at all honestly as I NEVER have mounted my binos on a tripod so that advantage of the 12X was lost on me anyways.

Curious why you are making the switch?




You can’t cheat the mountain

 

[Wapiti]

For those with 12x binos, does anything come close to the Swaro 12x50 ELs (e.g. Maven B4 12x56)? I have 8x Mavens, but am looking to get a larger bino for an open-country mule deer hunt that I should draw next year.

 

[Trial153]

12x els are the best pure game finding glass I sat behind. I moved my 15s as I didnt gain anything but weight.
I just wish I could freehand the 12's, I cant. I most times pair them up with 8x32 els for when I am stalking into bow range.

 

[Torrey in Tahoe]

I'm still using 10x. I worried about unsteadiness of 12x.

 

[Adammn]

I switched from 10x to 12x last season. I really like the extra magnification when glassing off a tripod which is the majority of my bino use. I can still handhold 12x but 10x is obviously easier. My hunting partner can barely hold 10x steady though, so it varies.

As other guys have said, I think it depends on how you use them. If you mainly use them off of a tripod, go 12x. If you mainly handhold, go 10x.

One advantage of 10x is the used alpha market is bigger. There are only a few options in 12x but just about every bino model is made in 10x42. In any case, I would try to buy a higher end bino used than a lower end bino new.

 

[cski100]

I made the switch 3 years ago. Went from 10x42 EL’s to 12x50 EL’s. Took a little getting use to and they are definitely harder to hold still and quite a bit heavier than the 10’s. Ran the 12’s preseason and switched back to 10’s a week before season only then did I realize that I preferred the 12’s after all. Like previous posts, off a tripod the 12’s are they way to go.