Talk me out of Swaro

[cmahoney]

I’m sort of in the same boat, looking for a significant upgrade to optics over what I have and I’m eyeballing the Swaros... I understand if someone simply doesn’t have the money for it... but I know plenty of guys driving 60k trucks and going on multiple out of state hunting trips a year that say they can’t “afford” it.

What’s an extra $1k-$2k over the lifetime of a purchase?

Obviously optics will last multiple lifetimes given they’re taken care of and no accidents happen.. but let’s say you get 20yrs of service out of them...

20yrs = 7,300 days
$2,000 / 7,300 days = Only ~$0.27 per day... what’s the big deal

Exactly, towing a $20,000 side by side with that truck too.


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[Hatchet Jack]

Another way to ask this question is what would you rather have, a pair of Swaros, or a pair of Viper HD's or Leupy BX-4's AND a $1K custom rifle. Because that's what we're talking price difference wise.

I’d rather have one pair of swaros and a $200 gun with a $300 scope. Hard to kill what you can’t find.

 

[JohnJohnson]

I’d rather have one pair of swaros and a $200 gun with a $300 scope. Hard to kill what you can’t find.

100% this. I can't attest to the quality of the SLC binos but my 10x50 ELs are going to stay with me for a long time.

 

[Newtosavage]

I don't understand why some guys get so upset when people say they don't want or need Swaros. LOL

 

[LandYacht]

Two words: Zeiss HT

If you’re going to pick new glass you might as well look through a bunch. You don’t know what your eyes are going to prefer until you look through them. Swaros are fine, but those Zeiss stand out from them. This forum has made me want to love Swaros, but no matter how many times I try they just aren’t the best glass for my eye.

Check for yourself, then let your eye balls do the convincing.


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[Hatchet Jack]

Far from upset... more guys packing Leupold Binos means more deer for me

Those Zeiss are sweet. I prefer the sf but I wish they made either of them in 12x50 and I’d consider them as my go to.

 

[Kevin Dill]

Two words: Zeiss HT

If you’re going to pick new glass you might as well look through a bunch. You don’t know what your eyes are going to prefer until you look through them.

Gospel.

And I compared Zeiss HT to the other major and semi-major makes of glass. I wanted to like the other brands better, but settled on the Zeiss because my eyes thought the HT glass with Lotu-Tec coating was superior for edge clarity and light transmission in the size I preferred. I also vastly preferred the Zeiss rubber armoring and general ergonomics over the others. The skeletal style (EL and Noctivids) models are easier for one-handed views, but I don't like them for extended two-hand use....it's just a personal preference thing of course.

At the time I bought my Zeiss glass I saved about $400+ over the Swaro top model and $250 over Leica. The money is less important to me. Getting the right and best optics for my eyes and my uses....that is the critical thing. I've always been the guy who had to see the proof...not buy solely on highest price or largest ad budget.

 

[gjs4]

How many guys are hellbent on these who don’t hunt “out west”?

I hunt open enough areas of the Midwest and NOrthEast to use 10x, and believe enough in good glass to have my scopes cost as much or more than my rifles... am I missing out “just” using my SigSauer Zulu7s?


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[stevewes2004]

How many guys are hellbent on these who don’t hunt “out west”?

I hunt open enough areas of the Midwest and NOrthEast to use 10x, and believe enough in good glass to have my scopes cost as much or more than my rifles... am I missing out “just” using my SigSauer Zulu7s?


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IMO top end glass is a waste for still/stand hunting. Even in open terrain. You are hunting stands that you’ve scouted and set waiting for the deer to come to you. You’re not trying to locate game at long distances and go after them...

 

[Brian Fahs]

IMO top end glass is a waste for still/stand hunting. Even in open terrain. You are hunting stands that you’ve scouted and set waiting for the deer to come to you. You’re not trying to locate game at long distances and go after them...

I respectfully disagree with this.

I stand hunt for white tails in the midwest and northeast. I enjoy glassing and a lot of my stands are in hilly semi open farm country.

I am a very aggressive bowhunter and move my setups based on what I am seeing. Especially at distance. Sometimes great distances. I want to know how good of a deer I am looking at especially a long ways off in low light. I adjust based on movement and am extremely successful at it.

 

[Felix40]

How many guys are hellbent on these who don’t hunt “out west”?

I hunt open enough areas of the Midwest and NOrthEast to use 10x, and believe enough in good glass to have my scopes cost as much or more than my rifles... am I missing out “just” using my SigSauer Zulu7s?


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Having looked through sigs and swaros side by side I dont think you are missing much if anything. I certainly didnt feel any need to upgrade after playing with my buddy’s swaros. With that said, when I bought a spotter I went with a swaro 65 because I felt the higher power would show the benefit of better glass. Looking through that next to a razor 85 in the field the smaller objective swaro isnt good enough to be brighter than the big razor in low light. More crisp...yeah a little but like I said before, they arent magic. We are talking about maybe a few % better performance at the cost of several hundred dollars, only the guy spending his money can decide if its worth it.

 

[fasteddie]

Get the Swaros.
I got a pair of 10x SLCs a couple of years ago, and got my wife a pair of Razors at the same time...
After a week of side by side I sent the Razors back and got her SLCs.
I wish I could go back and redo all my hunts from 1998-2015 with the Swaros: I probably missed a bunch of animals with the Nikons and Leupolds .
Get em. You won't regret it.

 

[Cody_W]

I respectfully disagree with this.

I stand hunt for white tails in the midwest and northeast. I enjoy glassing and a lot of my stands are in hilly semi open farm country.

I am a very aggressive bowhunter and move my setups based on what I am seeing. Especially at distance. Sometimes great distances. I want to know how good of a deer I am looking at especially a long ways off in low light. I adjust based on movement and am extremely successful at it.

I feel the same way. I spend a lot of time hunting south Texas bucks and you see the monsters a whole lot less coming to a feeder. Having a good spotter and Binos will help you pick apart slopes from a half mile away before deciding where to setup or start a stalk. If you’re happy not going after the biggest buck in an area, then you don’t need Swarovski optics, but if someone really wants to get a good clear view at distance you will have to pay to play. The razor line of optics is a GREAT product for its price range, but it still doesn’t hold a candle to Swarovski at low light and glassing clarity at distance. There is a clear difference when trying to score an animal at 500+ between swaro and vortex. But again, depends on your budget and hunting style. They’re sure aren’t for everyone.

 

[Newtosavage]

Gospel.

And I compared Zeiss HT to the other major and semi-major makes of glass. I wanted to like the other brands better, but settled on the Zeiss because my eyes thought the HT glass with Lotu-Tec coating was superior for edge clarity and light transmission in the size I preferred. I also vastly preferred the Zeiss rubber armoring and general ergonomics over the others. The skeletal style (EL and Noctivids) models are easier for one-handed views, but I don't like them for extended two-hand use....it's just a personal preference thing of course.

At the time I bought my Zeiss glass I saved about $400+ over the Swaro top model and $250 over Leica. The money is less important to me. Getting the right and best optics for my eyes and my uses....that is the critical thing. I've always been the guy who had to see the proof...not buy solely on highest price or largest ad budget.

On the bird forums, it is pretty universally accepted that the top Zeiss optics best the Swaros. But you don't hear much about them here.

 

[JohnJohnson]

On the bird forums, it is pretty universally accepted that the top Zeiss optics best the Swaros. But you don't hear much about them here.

It's not universally accepted, since many/most avid birders still use Swarovski EL 8.5x42 as their binocular of choice. I have Swarovski EL 10x50s and I also have a pair of Zeiss Victory SF 8x42 binos. I'll be selling the Zeiss as I consolidate down to one pair of binos, and not because of the magnification.

 

[Newtosavage]

Far from upset... more guys packing Leupold Binos means more deer for me

Those Zeiss are sweet. I prefer the sf but I wish they made either of them in 12x50 and I’d consider them as my go to.

LOL

I like how some folks act like you can only see game with swaros and everything else is equivalent to looking through a coke bottle.

It's not universally accepted, since many/most avid birders still use Swarovski EL 8.5x42 as their binocular of choice. I have Swarovski EL 10x50s and I also have a pair of Zeiss Victory SF 8x42 binos. I'll be selling the Zeiss as I consolidate down to one pair of binos, and not because of the magnification.

We must spend time on different forums then.

All the gushing and fanboy love for Swaros is nearly enough reason alone for me not to use them. I wouldn't want to be mistaken for an operator you know. LOL They are good, but I don't consider them a great value anymore. When you could get a pair of SLC's used for under $1K (I bought both my pairs of SLC's for under $900 actually) they were a decent value. Now they are just overpriced. Particularly since there are so many models within a breath of the Swaros that cost 1/2 as much.

 

[Tyglick]

In my opinion. Optics is the most important part of hunting. If you can’t see it. You can’t hunt it. Swaros all the way. You won’t regret it. I had leicas for plenty of years and liked them. But made the switch to swaros last year I don’t regret it one bit. Pull the trigger!

 

[Kevin Dill]

For the record, I personally have no brand loyalty in optics, or other hunting gear. I'll buy what works best for me, based on my evaluation. Period.

 

[ljalberta]

I like how some folks act like you can only see game with swaros and everything else is equivalent to looking through a coke bottle.

I was thinking the same thing. Huge fan of Swaro and user of SLCs the past 3 seasons, but I think the glass is often overstated here, although many have noted Alpha glass is a game of diminishing returns. I personally don't think I've killed any game with the SLCs that I wouldn't have with a pair of Razors or Vipers, or $200 Bushnell's. I also don't think they would have lead to me killing any more game had I owned them the prior decade either. That being said, for me personally they make the experience more enjoyable as I have less eye strain and no headaches at the end of long days of glassing. I also notice a difference when staring into the finest details of say the branches on tree, or feathers of a bird, or in the very first few minutes or last few minutes of the day. Spotting a 200lb+ creature though is quite doable with much lesser equipment. Heck, I'm sure most of us know a few fellows with their 15+ year old binos worth probably 200$ that still manage to be more successful than 95% of hunters.

I'd still purchase them again if I ever lost them, but they're not magic by any means.

 

[stevewes2004]

I respectfully disagree with this.

I stand hunt for white tails in the midwest and northeast. I enjoy glassing and a lot of my stands are in hilly semi open farm country.

I am a very aggressive bowhunter and move my setups based on what I am seeing. Especially at distance. Sometimes great distances. I want to know how good of a deer I am looking at especially a long ways off in low light. I adjust based on movement and am extremely successful at it.

In those situations I’d agree that spending a lot on the best glass could help you.... many times it’s not necessary tho.