High magnification binos for spotting?
- Thread starter SAR
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clacklin009
Active Member
Nikon has just introduced a pair of 16x56 and 20x56 Monarch 5's. The 20x will sell for $800-$900. There are a few 15x binos out there but not as many 20x so they might be worth looking into. I have seen them in Sportsmans Warehouse but I don't know if every store will be carrying them since it appeals to a small market.
Ill check those out for sure. But for some reason the first thing that comes to mind is 20x for 800 = not worth a look. But id like to check them out and prove my brain wrong. If there solid and clear ill be selling them asap!
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
Fatrascal
Member
Kowa also has a pair of "Big Eyes" called Highlanders. Very expensive though. Its actually two spotting scopes set up as binoculars. fatrascal.
Checked these out online, I’ll definitely give these a look. Thanks clacklin009
I just think that subpar glass @ 20x fixed will leave ya hangin. Might be able to get away with low quality glass for 8 or 10x but if you have a fixed 20x your going to want some quality to see past a mile. I would like to know how these work out though. My train of thought may be completely backwards.
hoshour
Veteran member
I assume you have a hard time with field of view because you leave your glasses on when you use a spotter. I take my glasses off when I use my spotting scope and often when I use my binos for an extended time. Would that work for you?
Kentucky hunter
Active Member
You are correct on the field of view, my eye sight is very bad without my glasses and I feel I must keep them on. I do fine with binos though.
Thanks for the explanation you’re probably right, you just don’t get much for $800 bucks these days might still be worth a look.
I don't have 15x binos, but the difference between 10x alpha quality glass and the mid range can be extreme at least with my eyes. I had the good Minox 13x56 binos that I read a lot of great reviews on and traded them in on the 10x42 Zeiss Victory binos I have now. I guarantee that I can see more detail on deer tines with the 10x Zeiss in any light than with the 13x Minox that are still darn good binos. I was impressed with the 13x until I got the Zeiss. I'm cheap but sometimes things are worth the extra money to buy once and enjoy.
My advice would be to find a place to try 15x Swaro binos, I have been wanting a pair myself after looking through an outfitters on a muley hunt a few years back. The guide he had working for him had 10-15 Leica Duovids that were also impressive although not quite up to the Swaros on 15x. I'd be interested in seeing the Nikon ones also but will have to see them to become a believer. The Vortex Kaibabs are awful nice from the short time I looked through a pair also. If you get the chance take the Swaros, Vortex, and Nikons outdoors and try them on small detailed things at decent range. In a store with bright lights everything looks better than it is, try picking out individual leaves at 600yds outdoors for example. The fine crisp detail is what you are looking for to identify and evaluate animals. If you get the chance please do a post on your thoughts also.
I guess my point is to not get overly hung up on magnification. Top quality glass with a lower magnification will beat mid-range glass with higher magnification for my eyes at least. Go somewhere to try them outdoors and see what fits you the best evaluating fine detail at range.
My advice would be to find a place to try 15x Swaro binos, I have been wanting a pair myself after looking through an outfitters on a muley hunt a few years back. The guide he had working for him had 10-15 Leica Duovids that were also impressive although not quite up to the Swaros on 15x. I'd be interested in seeing the Nikon ones also but will have to see them to become a believer. The Vortex Kaibabs are awful nice from the short time I looked through a pair also. If you get the chance take the Swaros, Vortex, and Nikons outdoors and try them on small detailed things at decent range. In a store with bright lights everything looks better than it is, try picking out individual leaves at 600yds outdoors for example. The fine crisp detail is what you are looking for to identify and evaluate animals. If you get the chance please do a post on your thoughts also.
I guess my point is to not get overly hung up on magnification. Top quality glass with a lower magnification will beat mid-range glass with higher magnification for my eyes at least. Go somewhere to try them outdoors and see what fits you the best evaluating fine detail at range.
squirrelduster
Active Member
I bought a pair of 20x by Celestron a few years ago after looking through a pair of Zeiss 20x80. Waste of money.
I have a pair of Kaibabs 15x56 and the glass is so much better the higher power of the Celestron is actually detrimental.
The most important part of any optics is the glass. The better the glass the higher the price. When the magnification goes up the better glass becomes more important. A pair of cheapo 7x50 perform pretty well for the most part, jump up to 10x and a pair of cheapos gives you a headache almost instantly when glassing. The 20x is worse.
Mcseal is right if you can't afford the good glass save up. Don't settle for second best.
I have a pair of Kaibabs 15x56 and the glass is so much better the higher power of the Celestron is actually detrimental.
The most important part of any optics is the glass. The better the glass the higher the price. When the magnification goes up the better glass becomes more important. A pair of cheapo 7x50 perform pretty well for the most part, jump up to 10x and a pair of cheapos gives you a headache almost instantly when glassing. The 20x is worse.
Mcseal is right if you can't afford the good glass save up. Don't settle for second best.
BigSurArcher
Very Active Member
I had the pleasure of using some Kowa Highlanders on a recent elk hunt and WOW... those things are incredible. Not something you'd want to pack far obviously, but if you can glass far enough, there's no reason to carry them anywhere. You definitely need a super-duty tripod for them.
This has been my first year hunting with 15x56s and I'm a believer.
This has been my first year hunting with 15x56s and I'm a believer.
They had a good article on 24hr campfire a while back comparing the Zeiss with the Swaros and some of the others. They said with the smaller lenses they couldn't compete. Found the link.
http://www.24hourcampfire.com/big_eyes.html
http://www.24hourcampfire.com/big_eyes.html