Vortex vs. Minox vs Zeiss

[creed]

I don't need a pair of 15's but I do want to add them to my already good box of optics. I am kind of up in the air about which brand to buy. My wife owns a pair of the Kaibab's. They are decent glass. I have considered a pair of the old SLC's but to be honest I don't think they are that much better.

 

Has anyone had any experience with the Minox 15x56's? I am also considering the Zeiss 15's. I could break down and buy the new Swaro's but can't justify the cost when I already own Nikon Premier 10x42's and a Zeiss 85mm spotter. Any thoughts? I get almost to the point of pulling the trigger on a pair of 15's but at the last minute think that maybe there is better glass for the money. It is hard to tell which is the best by comparing them side by side at Cabela's.

[Antmo23]

I have an older pair of Zeiss 15's that are 30 years old and still finding deer. Ill never part with them but I am going to be buying the new HD 15's. Look thru the Zeiss, same price as the Kiababs but way better glass, IMO.

[Shooter McGavin]

I own a pair of the Minoz 15x56 and aboslutley love them. I have looked through the Vortex and yes they are good, but I think the warranty is the key selling point to their reputation right now. I have a Zeiss rifle scope and love their glass. I think the glass on Minox and Zeiss are way better but that's my opinion.

[naturebob]

I have Minox in ten's and 15's and love them both. Had the 15's for about 10 years and Can find anything My buddies find with there Swaros. And they don't fit My narrow eyes ( Swaros). I bought a 700 dollar Vortex scope for My new 300 win Mag last year and not crazy about it. My buddies said they have the best warranty on the market. So I bought it , I am not much of a researcher. They are a hot Item because of their warranty, but if the chit aint no good to begin with what difference does it make. I had a pair of Doctor 15's for 11 years before the Minox and they were fine too. Havn't spent much time with the new Vortex scope but I will this year ,so we shall see. If I don't like it , it will be on here for sale. Of course the Swaros are a bit clearer and they should be for 2k more. Just My 2cents, thanks............BOB!

[Swivelhead]

Got some 15X Swaro's, the older version. Great glass, however eye relief is an issue (reduced FOV) for those of us that should wear glasses. Zeiss 15's have an additional 3mm of eye relief over the old Swaro 15's. 15X SLC's can be had for 1300 - 1500, New Zeiss are slightly more. If I were to purchase additional 15's, I likely get the Zeiss. Good luck with your search.

[HuntHarder]

Swarovski, Zeiss, Minox, Vortex in that order. If you got the money, the swaros are the best. I suggest looking thru all of them at dusk @ sportsmans warehouse. They will usually take you outside and let you look off in the distance. Looking inside the store does very little. Have them put them all on tripods and see what YOU like best. Everyone's eyes are different.

 

FWIW, I have owned 15's, and sold them both times. I always find myself using my EL's more than the 15's. I believe this is why lots of people sold their 15's when the 12 el's came out. Bigger field of view, better exit pupil and a crisper picture.

[azslim]

you will be satisfied with decent glass Bruce, I have the SLC's along with Vortex Viper's in 15's and find game with both of them, the Vipers are lighter because they are only 50mm vs 56mm and about $1400 cheaper. You know how and where to glass, you will be happy with any brand as long as it is good quality. When you get to the top of the line you are kind of picking the fly poop out of the pepper to say which is better than the other.

[Arrowsniper]

I bought my Swaros, then the Zeiss came out, dammit, bad timing on my part.

[rcdinaz]

I have read the new zeiss are pretty good. However, you can pick up some swaro's used on here for a great price. I have the original SLC's about 8 years old and they are still great binos. Swaro will service or fix for not much money and have sent me a couple of lost parts for free ovet the years. I have EL's, gold rings, HD Spotter, kahles, vortex, optics so have compared or used quite a fee of brands.

 

I still think the EL 12's are the bino king of the hill but everyone is getting closer to the same mark.

[429mike]

I myself have been shopping for a new pair of 15s I hvae it narrowed down to the ziess 15s and the new cabelas 15s both of them fit me better then the kiababs or the older swaro 15s and at 1000 dollars cheaper then the new slc 15s fit my budget alittle better

[chompy]

Bruce I hunt the desert like you, me and madglasser from monstermuleys both agreed that although the kiababs are awesome glass we are both going to the 12-50 razors they are awesome and perfect for the desert

[4Falls]

I have also found Zeiss' customer service to be exemplary.

 

Those are minox 15's in my avatar. They were ok.

[DesertBull]

The Minox are good glass but they are big and heavy and the eye cups are hard plastic which is annoying. The glass is clear and bright.

[Guest wdenike]

you will be satisfied with decent glass Bruce, I have the SLC's along with Vortex Viper's in 15's and find game with both of them, the Vipers are lighter because they are only 50mm vs 56mm and about $1400 cheaper. You know how and where to glass, you will be happy with any brand as long as it is good quality. When you get to the top of the line you are kind of picking the fly poop out of the pepper to say which is better than the other.

 

 

 

WHAT HE SAID!!!!^^^^^^

 

 

 

 

 

Take care, Willie

[lancetkenyon]

Look at the Meopta 15x56 at Cabela's.

 

I did a long comparison on the 10x42s. Borrowed, begged and cheated to get friends glass before my purchase. Plus sat down at Cabela's for hours with the staff and different glass. I am in the market for 15x56s too, and will be doing the same type of testing on the 15X glass as below.

 

Here is what I found with the 10x42s.

 

I have done a bit of research by browsing threads like these for people's preference.

I have looked through various glass owned by friends.

I have compared, side by side, 8 pair of glass on tripods at three different times of day/night at my local Cabela's. Great guys/gals to let me take them out of the store and look through them for a couple hours.

 

I was looking to replace my 15 year old Cabela's Alaskan Guide 10x42 Roof Prism binoculars (cost 15 years ago was $500, my max back then). They have performed amazingly over the past 15 years. A truly great pair of $500 glass. They did not hold a candle to Swaros, Leicas and the other $1K+ glass from that same time period, but I can still easily see and size up potential game from over a mile and a half with them, and I would say I honestly spend thousands of hours behind them each year. This year I have over 8000 hours behind them already.

 

My criteria was simply the best glass for around $1500+/-.

Here are MY findings.

 

Vortex Razor HD 10x42 @ $1199. I was very disappointed in these. Optically I could not tell a difference between these and my current $500 glass, and I am a huge Vortex fan in other cases. Clarity and crispness was way off the others listed below. The warranty is the best in the business though, No ask 100% warranty.

 

Zeiss Conquest HD 10x42 @ $1000-1200. Noticeably better than my $500 glass. Good color, fairly crisp with just a bit of edge blur. Bright at dusk, but not as much as others.

 

Zeiss Victory HT 10x42 @ $2299. Amazing glass. Very close to the Swaro ELs. I could barely tell any difference.

 

Leica Trinovid 10x42 @ $1495. Great glass, color, crisp except for the very outer edge, clear, bright. My biggest pet peeve is the eye relief. My eyelashes kept brushing the lenses every time I blinked. That would drive my nuts for hours on end. I have also heard nightmares about Leica customer service if anything should go wrong.

 

Leica Ultravid 10x42 @ $2299. Not quite as good as the Zeiss Victory HT, but still amazing, and noticeably better than the Trinovids. Again, my biggest pet peeve is the eye relief. Same as the Trinovids. Also the CS issue.

 

Swaro SLC HD 10x42 @ $1799. Great glass. Crisp to the edges and very clear. Good color, very bright until full dark. An improvement even over the older SLCs, and that is a compliment. Barely beat out by the next level of glass at additional costs of $500-800. These were my #2 choice even though slightly above my price range.

 

Swaro EL 10x42 @ $2579. The mother of all glass. Near perfection in a set of binos. Unparalleled clarity, crispness, color, and brightness. But almost twice my budget.

 

And here is the surprise glass.

 

Meopta Meostar HD 10x42 @ $1199. Cabela's in house glass or you can get them for the same price without the Cabela's logo from various places. Clarity is right there with the new Swaro SLC HDs, and better than a buddy's 2012 SLCs (non-HD version). Truly amazing for glass that is $500 cheaper than Swaros. Crisp right up to the edges. Brightness was only beaten by the ELs. Easily viewable in full dark like the SLC HDs. Color is amazing, only beaten by the Swaro ELs. Second least expensive (notice I didn't say cheap) glass that compares to higher dollar glass.

 

I ordered mine on Monday from Sportoptics.com, as they have a no tax/free shipping deal right now, which saved me another 9.5%. Here is the kicker that sealed the deal. Sportoptics.com had a demo model like NIB for $949. Saving me an additional $250.