High end binos

[Retterath]

im really thinking hard about buying new binos, but have a few questions about a few. Right now i have a pair on nikon monarchs which are ok but seem like glass isnt very good anymore, but it could probally be my eyes getting worse, but i hope not cause im only 31. i am looking at three different brands and im sure you guys will pick the swaros but here is my question? Im choosing between vortex razor 10x42, swaros 10x42 with the new rangefinder built in or the leica geovids hd with rangefinder also built in. Has anyone tryed out these three or had the chance to compare.

Has anyone had a pair of razors and went to swaros and said there is no way they would go back to the razors.

Has anyone had a pair of swaro and decided to try out the razors and thinks they are great and how great do they compare to the swaros or leica's.

I hunt in sd mule deer whitetail, but will be going to alaska in sept and the following year be hunting elk in wyoming and other states through out the years, so thats what i will be using them for. since they all have lifetime warranty do i need to spend the extra money on swaros or leica's or since i have never had high end bino's would i be just fine with the vortex, but all my scopes on my rifles are nightforce,leupold mark 4 and have had 2-3k dollor rifle scopes, so im surprised i havent bought hi end binos.I do have the money to buy anyone of these but want to get some comparison ideas.

By the way right now i have a lecia 1200 rangefinder and would probally keep it for bow hunting but thought it would be nice to have the range finder in the binos so i dont have to be carring two things around for rifle hunting.
Thanks inadvance for your help

 

[OregonJim]

What a problem to have......

I could tell you to go with the swarovskis but you really have to mess around with both yourself.
If I were making that choice I would get the guy at Cabelas or Sportsmans's (or wherever) to walk outside with you about 30 minutes after sunset and see what your gut tells you.
I agree that having to carry both a RF and Binos is a pain but I carry three different binos in the field depending season and animal.
I alway carry my RF no matter the binos.
I'd upgrade to a RF/Bino but I have good glass and that is really a long way down the road.

Good luck making the choice!

 

[grizzly]

My wife had Monarch's that faded in clarity over time until they almost looked like wax paper. We fully intended to get her some Razor's to save some money but found a pair of used Swaro SLC NEU on Ebay for the same price as the new Razors.

While using them on tripods hunting Barbary this year, the quality in her Swaro SLC NEU far out-paced my friends Vortex and even more impressively, my Leica Geovid (non-HD). Enough that my buddy has now ordered himself a pair of the new EL Range (he works at Sportsmans and can order a "pro deal" and save a fortune). I'll let you know how they compare to my Geovid's, but I would seriously look at anything labeled Swaro first.

 

[OregonJim]

, but I would seriously look at anything labeled Swaro first.

High end optics and mid range beer, GO GREEN

 

[ando_31]

I looked through the swaro and razor side by side a few days ago. The hd swaro was better in my opinion, but not by much. I personally wouldn't be able to justify the new price tag difference between the two though. If money is little to no importance to you then go with the swaro hands down. If you think the extra 1000+ dollars would be better spent on other gear then I would go with the vortex. After owning a pair of high end leica binoculars I would find it hard to downgrade, even a little, to the razors.

 

[grizzly]

ando_31, the difference in optics exacerbates in a few years. I had an optics rep call Vortex "six-year glass". It is the same reason the OP and my wife both had major deterioration in their Nikon's. He said to expect the same experience with any mid-price binos. That is the reason we went with used SLC's... we couldn't afford new ones but wanted the quality. Definitely the way to go, IMHO.

 

[Bitterroot Bulls]

The SLC neu is still awesome glass for sure!

I haven't spent enough time with the new Razor HDs to recommend them.

I have spent a lot of field time with the Meopta Meostar HDs. I heartily recommend them, and they are my go-to 10x42s.

 

[ando_31]

I just noticed you said you have 2-3k rifle scopes on all your guns. I think most would agree that your binos and spotting scopes should be where you spend your big bucks. It is likely that you would be a more successful western hunter having that money invested into "glassing" optics. You can spend countless hours looking through binos and spotters but only look through the rifle scope for a few seconds...assuming all goes as planned.

 

[clacklin009]

I just spent time with three guys looking through the Swaro EL's, Zeiss Victory HT, Leica Ultravid, and the Razor. The Swaro had the best edge, however the Zeiss had a wider view and was so much brighter that the edge became a non-issue (and really wasn't bad). The Ultravid was a distant third (although the geovid IMO is the best ranging bino). And as my buddy put the Razor was like looking through a bino that needed the glass protector peeled off the lens, compared to the Swaro and Zeiss. The Zeiss is the brightest and the cheapest of the three top choices.

 

[Musket Man]

I have swaro EL's I got the first year the EL came out and I have used and abused them alot and are still as clear as the day I got them!

 

[Fat Daddy]

Just picked up a pair of Zeiss Victory HT 10X42's. These are my first pair of high end bino's and they blow my old Nikon Monarch's out of the water. Couldent pass em up after finding them online at 10% off on a March Madness sale, plus Zeiss currently has a $125.00 rebate offer on the HT's. I will compare them to the Swaro's and Vortex next week at work(a couple coworkers own them) and will be able to check low light performance from all three.
I was considering the Swaro's and Vortex but the price and review's on the HT's made my decision easy.

 

[OregonJim]

I just noticed you said you have 2-3k rifle scopes on all your guns. I think most would agree that your binos and spotting scopes should be where you spend your big bucks. It is likely that you would be a more successful western hunter having that money invested into "glassing" optics. You can spend countless hours looking through binos and spotters but only look through the rifle scope for a few seconds...assuming all goes as planned.

I'm not sure that I would completely agree..... (I think he said "HAD" 3K scopes, although the ones he has are not bad)

I'm not saying that I completely disagree either, but if someone handed me a gift certificate for $1400 for swarovskis I don't know if I'd go scope or binoculars if I had working midrange optics in both.

Sure enough Swarovski Binos were my first leap.
Second Swaro item was a scope that I had for almost two years before I could afford the gun underneath.

Having looked through several fogged up piece of crap scopes over the years I would argue that I can reach over and grab a buddies field glass, or return to the truck and grab a standby set of binoculars, but you don't put cross hairs on an animal with your binoculars.
Right now most of my scopes are middle of the road, And I am thinking about some 12X50s
So I guess I talked my self into agreeing with Ando

 

[ando_31]

I'm not sure that I would completely agree..... (I think he said "HAD" 3K scopes, although the ones he has are not bad)

I'm not saying that I completely disagree either, but if someone handed me a gift certificate for $1400 for swarovskis I don't know if I'd go scope or binoculars if I had working midrange optics in both.

Sure enough Swarovski Binos were my first leap.
Second Swaro item was a scope that I had for almost two years before I could afford the gun underneath.

Having looked through several fogged up piece of crap scopes over the years I would argue that I can reach over and grab a buddies field glass, or return to the truck and grab a standby set of binoculars, but you don't put cross hairs on an animal with your binoculars.
Right now most of my scopes are middle of the road, And I am thinking about some 12X50s
So I guess I talked my self into agreeing with Ando

I wish all my disagreements with my fiance went that well...

I didn't mean go out and buy a barska rifle scope. I was just trying to get the point across that a good $400 leupold scope and $2000 binos/spotter would make for a better pair than a $2000 rifle scope and $300 dollar pair of binos....at least in my mind. Spend the money where you will gain the most from it.

 

[OregonJim]

LOL
My arguments with myself usually don't go that well either !!!!!

 

[Retterath]

The reason I have and have had such high end scopes were for 1000 yard F class matches and tactical matches, I didn't need to spend so much money on premier, Schmidt & Bender and nightforce but thought I needed to try them all. Now I'm hunting with a $300 dollar pair of binos, and I have no idea why I haven't upgraded yet. I keep thinking of that saying, buy once cry once and just need to figure out what I want to get. I'm guessing I should probably get a new pair before alaska in sept if I want to see anything.lol

 

[Retterath]

Yeah FD that would be awesome if I could get some feed back on those binos you and your coworkers have. I would be curious what you thought of them in low light.

 

[Musket Man]

I would take high end binos and spotter over a high end scope any day of the week! I can and have killed lots of animals with open sights. I have never killed anything I couldnt find because I had cheap binos.

 

[Retterath]

Your right there musket man if u can't find it u can't kill it

 

[clacklin009]

Just picked up a pair of Zeiss Victory HT 10X42's. These are my first pair of high end bino's and they blow my old Nikon Monarch's out of the water. Couldent pass em up after finding them online at 10% off on a March Madness sale, plus Zeiss currently has a $125.00 rebate offer on the HT's. I will compare them to the Swaro's and Vortex next week at work(a couple coworkers own them) and will be able to check low light performance from all three.
I was considering the Swaro's and Vortex but the price and review's on the HT's made my decision easy.

Those HT's are great, I think they are the most under appreciated optic for the price and the light. They also carry the unlimited lifetime warranty. Congratulations on the purchase.

 

[mntnguide]

I love my Zeiss Rangefinding 10x45's. . Best investment Ive ever made for my gear. I spend countless hours behind optics each fall; its my job. I used to use one of the high-end Leupold models, and i really dont have anything bad to say about them, They make great Truck binos now adays. But, I immediately noticed the clarity and low-light difference in the Zeiss. They are amazing. The other guides in our camp all have Swaro's. I personally prefer my Zeiss over theirs, but maybe its just personal preference. No matter, Any of the big 3 is worth the upgrade to. Especially if your heading to AK. I have ranged objects to 1700, which i do when i get board in the middle of the day, and have ranged animals out to 1500. . The Zeiss are quick and instant with ranging.