My Experience: 12x binos vs 50mm spotter

[bowhuntmontana]

So, I did a field test over this past season and wanted to report my findings. Keep in mind, this is just according to my eyes and others’ experiences might be totally different.

I have messed around with spotters a bit over the past few years but never really liked them that much. I’ll own it right now that I have never spent top dollar. But, I also never cared for squinting through one eye and packing the extra weight. A lot of the country I hunt is big and lends itself to lots of glassing. I have always run 10x Leupold binos and have really enjoyed them. A few years ago I started using them on my tripod and really prefer that method. Last year I got to looking into 12’s thinking it might give me some of what I would like a spotter to deliver, but not require packing an additional optic. I ended up with the Maven C3 12x50’s. (Gotta say I am pretty happy with the Mavens.)

I did quite a bit of scouting this summer and after my second trip I was really liking the 12’s but also still found myself wanting a closer look. So, I shopped for a spotter again and picked up a Nikon ED50, which is great glass, far better than anything I used previously. After a few more scouting trips and some hunting trips with the ED50 I came to the conclusion that the 50mm spotter, even at 30x gave me the same image as my 12x binos. I am assuming this is because of the two objectives and function of the binos vs the spotter. So, I will no longer be going down the rabbit hole of 50mm spotters. However, I still want a closer look.

That got me thinking about 15x binos, wondering if I might have a similar experience between 15x binos and a 65mm spotter. I went to Cabelas yesterday and looked through my Mavens, the Vortex Kaibabs, and the Vortex Vultures, all off a tripod. I compared them to a 65mm Razor on a tripod (obviously). To my eyes, 15x binos and 12x binos provide the same image as the spotter up to 30x. However, after that, the spotter wins for image and detail. Definite benefits to a spotter vs binos in that case. As a side note, I found the Mavens to be much sharper than both of the Vortex binos. The only slight complaint I have with the C3’s is the edge-to-edge clarity isn’t the best. But, it is good enough for me.

So, I am probably going to be shopping spotters a bit this next year. My dream glass would be the Swarovski BTX eyepiece on a Swaro 65 or 85, but that is way out of my price range. That one would solve my loathing of squinting through a spotter.

Just thought I would share my experience.

(Also posted this in Rokslide)

 

[idahofishnhunt]

I was along the same line, I was tired of packing a 10x bino and spotting scope so I went with a 15x50 Vortex Viper HD Bino...not sure if they make those anymore. I've enjoyed them quite a bit, and put on a tripod they are pretty awesome. I hate the squinting through a spotter as well. That being said...in certain situations a spotter would be handy, but for the most part...I've never needed it. Maybe something I'll pick up in the 60mm for future, go big or go home.

 

[std7mag]

While i'm stuck on the east side of things, i seem to hunt a lot of gas and power lines.
Hence my shooting opportunities can be exponentially greater than most in my state, PA.
Being on a constrained budget, but looking for light weight also i've made a couple of not so compromising compromises.

For binos i chose Vortex Raptors 8X32.
Best set of binos i've ever owned. Decent low light also. The big plus was that they weigh half as much as my neighbors Nikons.

For spotter it was much the same process of bang for the buck at the least weight.
I chose the Celestron C70. Fat, but short, and amazingly light weight. If you haven't tried a Mak, by all means, do!
Figuring Celestron makes good telescopes and microscopes, their spotters should be good too.
Great light gathering! Standard telescope size eye piece allows for filters and magnifiers. The blue filter when really sunny is great, as is the yellow filter at low light levels.

With the advances in manufacturing, i firmly believe for a couple hundred dollars wisely spent, i can get 90-95% of the quality of $3,000 glass.

 

[Trial153]

I use 12x swaro els quite a bit off the tripod, they don't compare for detailed viewing to my swaro 65.m STX. Howver they are superior for finding game.