Swaros SLC HD 10x42 or 15x56?

[nboni.2007]

Which one of these powers would you choose as your all around use binocular? And why? Looking for feedback because I recently received a check and now am able to purchase these. Would you get the 10xs at $1700 or get the 15s at $2400?

[nboni.2007]

By all around used I mean, up mountains, down valleys, through canyons, through open country, and through wooded areas. I only have enough for one pair.

[lancetkenyon]

10x42. 15s are amazing for glassing a LOT of country up to a couple miles away, but are too much power for most glassing under a mile in my opinion. It is crazy hard to hold them steady by hand too.

 

I was just up above Crown King today, and only took my 15s. Too much glass for the nearby hills. Great for glassing the adjoining mountains and plains below though.

[HuntHarder]

Go with the 10's. I use my 10's around my neck and personally prefer them on a tripod vs. 15x. Lots of people have different opinions on this, but I prefer 10's. The 10x SLC HD are amazing.

[nboni.2007]

Huntharder if you don't mind me asking, the new HDs have that black color near the center right? Or are these them? I looked online and saw a different looking bino. This pair also says HD on them.

[HuntHarder]

sent you a PM

[Shedhunteraz]

12x50 el swaro. Amazing set of glass. Just got them, had stud put in by outdoorsmans. Have to say they are better than my 15's swaro.

[Coues assassin]

My .02, 15's would be the way to go. A quality pair of 15s will (again in my opinion it's how I hunt) be the most useful tool in your arsenal. It's the glass that you can really tell a major difference between the average and above average glass. Then get a decent pair of 12's to throw around your neck! That's what I would do!

[ArizonaWildernessHunter]

15s may be tough for an all around bino. You almost have to use them off a tripod all the time so add that to the cost if you need a better one. They will work really well at 400-800 yards (if in the sun you can see animals really far off) and you will spot more game at these ranges. 10s work much better at closer ranges and during stalks. If it was me I would base it on what my next few really important hunts are likely going to be. If you are drawn for a rifle Coues hunt the 15s will be better in most units unless you have a spotting scope. I normally use 10s with a built in rangefinder and a 25-60x spotting scope (did use a 15-30x for a long time). I use the 10s mostly under 600 yards and the spotting scope for longer range stuff. I have needed to use the spotting scope at 350 yards to actually confirm that a buck we spotted with a pair of 15x slc neu was actually a deer on the other side of some brush. Someday I plan to buy the new HD 15s since some places I hunt most of the glassing is 600-700 yards and I know I miss seeing things moving first thing in the morning since the spotting scope has a smaller field of view.

 

I do think that 15x binos -or- a really high end spotting scope are normally a priority for most hunts.