Optics?????

[Trapdoor]

Late to the party, but what the heck...

 

What hunting gear do you spend the most time using? For me its binoculars by multiple factors. So, I put my money into binos about 12 years back when I made my trip to Africa. Single best decision I made, because as it turns out, I use them all the time, not just hunting! Swaro's are the gold standard, for both binos and spotting scopes.

 

My second most used piece of gear is the spotting scope of which I currently use the Leupold HD. Have always been tickled pink with it, until this year when my hunting buddy upgraded his Leupold to a Swaro. He went on a stalk after a good mule deer buck and I put his Swaro next to mine watching the buck. By shifting 24" back and forth looking at the exact same view, I now will be upgrading to the Swaro spotter to accompany the Swaro binos. Unbelievable, the difference!

 

My second best decision was putting those Swaro binos on a tripod mount. That took my use of the binos from used most to used almost exclusively, only switching to the spotting scope to dissect an anomaly or look at horn.

 

The only problem with the Swaro spotter is the minimum power of 20x. That 12x of the Leupold is very handy and I wish like heck that a 12x eyepiece was available for the Swaro...

[PRDATR]

Huge difference in FOV from 12 to 20 power.

[Jawa512]

I just wanted to drop a little word on the bins I got from Averagejoe as there may be something helpful in what I write someone else. First, thanks to Averagejoe. This was a real smooth transaction and he is a good guy to deal with.

 

As I started this thread, I mentioned how I was stepping up the glass ladder. There is one constant in the equation. The constant is Finger Rock up on Pusch Ridge on the north side of Tucson. Maps show this rock to be about 8.5 miles from my residence. No I am not going to tell you how I spotted a Coues deer under a mountain mahogany at that range. Each time I get a new piece of equipment related to glassing, however, I find myself out in front of my house looking up at this area.

 

The first time I did this, I was using 12 x50 Nikon Action Extremes. Through this glass I, I looked at a hilltop and I could tell there was something there (sky lined so easier) but I could not make out what. I also think back to these bins and how I used them scouting. I always got frustrated until the sun started to poke up.

Next up was a Nikon ED50 spotting scope. I had purchased the spotting scope to try to get into good glass without a huge expenditure. On the low setting, I could make out that what was on that hill was something similar to a yucca stalk. I wanted to see, however, if it was in fact a yucca stalk or perhaps something man made like what hikers put on top of hilltops. I cranked up the power and now I could tell it was something very close to a yucca stalk but that was the extent of it.

 

My next glass were Bushnell Legend Ultras in 10 x 42. Obviously I didn’t make much progress on identification of the object with these. Of note, I glassed hard with these last year on a mule deer hunt. I thought they were great. That said, I had terrible headaches at the end of the day during that hunt. I thought it was something else but since I got rid of those, no more headaches.

 

As my original posting noted, I parted with the Nikon because I wanted something with more power. Now in possession of a Vanguard Endeavor HD 15-45, I undertook the exercise again. On the low setting, I immediately noticed I had received the eyepiece with some sort of flaw noted in the reviews. Also, the object on the hilltop continued to be a mystery as the image just wasn’t quite there on the low setting. When I cranked this scope up to the 45 setting, I could make out that it was a yucca stalk. That said, I felt like I was fighting the exit pupil, eye relief etc. The fight was very similar to being out of position when getting behind a rifle and trying to acquire a good sight picture. The take away was that I had a piece of equipment now that I could use for longer range identification stuff but that would be uncomfortable for extended use.

 

The next step up the optics ladder was a large one but I AM FOREVER CONVINCED!!! I ended up with the Euro HD’s in 12 x 50 I picked up from Averagejoe. Like all previous glass I had purchased, I mounted them to the tripod and commenced to glass Finger Rock. In the very first split second of looking through them, I felt a moment of UH-OH as I was not immediately able to recognize a huge optical advantage and I was worried that I had spent more than I should have and on what? Well I took a moment, got the diopter adjusted more precisely and went back to them. Now, things were different. Included were the absolutely pristine image, brightness, and edge to edge clarity. I had read about these terms countless times. Now I was starting to see what these terms meant and how I had been missing out.

 

I switched over to the yucca stalk and here is where my opinion was solidified. Not only could I make out the mysterious object on top of the hill was a yucca stalk, I could do it with relative ease. Someone else in another thread wrote of a similar experience with a herd of deer and how they could not see them with their glass but their buddy could with a higher quality set of glass. It is really hard to describe how my new bins made that yucca stalk stand out. It stood out not because of how it was magnified but because of the picture the glass presented (I think good terms are clarity and crispness).

 

This glassing session answered another question for me. I was really concerned with how I was going to do without being able to get the 45X magnification on an animal. For who I am as a hunter, 12 X 50 high quality glass is all I will need. At the ranges I will be glassing, I have no doubt I will be able to gather the information I will need to decide to put a stalk on or not.

 

Further, I found myself wanting to stay behind these bins. My session was far from long but previously I found myself wanting a break 30 minutes or so. I have always enjoyed glassing but now, well, I think my wife might get annoyed by how much time I spend behind a set of binoculars.

 

In regard to what binoculars to purchase for your hunt, I have heard it is an individual preference. I have to agree with that. Each of us has an area we are going to hunt, a level of knowledge about the animals in the area we are going to hunt (like where they are at), a style of hunting, a budget for gear, and other factors. Once all of these factors are considered, a high dollar set of optics may be low priority.

 

However, if your hunting situation will require extensive glassing, you will be absolutely BEST served to get the best glass you can afford and maybe stretch beyond that (like spend what you have in savings and put the rest on a credit card if that option is available).

 

This fall, I ended up hunting an area where glassing was of high importance. I went to this area with substandard optical equipment. I have no doubt that I spent a whole bunch of hours looking for deer that I was in fact glassing right over because I wanted to save some money. Well, there is next year.

[hoghntr]

The hd euros are the bomb, you did good. I regret selling the pair i bought and sold before season do to everwhelmibg guilt for not askin wifey.

[5guyshunting]

The hd euros are the bomb, you did good. I regret selling the pair i bought and sold before season do to everwhelmibg guilt for not askin wifey.

What about "don't ask don't tell" ?

[hoghntr]

 

The hd euros are the bomb, you did good. I regret selling the pair i bought and sold before season do to everwhelmibg guilt for not askin wifey.

What about "don't ask don't tell" ?

L.O.L. tried that method in 1st marriage.

[5guyshunting]

 

 

The hd euros are the bomb, you did good. I regret selling the pair i bought and sold before season do to everwhelmibg guilt for not askin wifey.

What about "don't ask don't tell" ?

L.O.L. tried that method in 1st marriage.

Its still working for me, although I do get caught once in a while.

[daryl_s]

I just wanted to drop a little word on the bins I got from Averagejoe as there may be something helpful in what I write someone else. First, thanks to Averagejoe. This was a real smooth transaction and he is a good guy to deal with.

 

As I started this thread, I mentioned how I was stepping up the glass ladder. There is one constant in the equation. The constant is Finger Rock up on Pusch Ridge on the north side of Tucson. Maps show this rock to be about 8.5 miles from my residence. No I am not going to tell you how I spotted a Coues deer under a mountain mahogany at that range. Each time I get a new piece of equipment related to glassing, however, I find myself out in front of my house looking up at this area.

 

The first time I did this, I was using 12 x50 Nikon Action Extremes. Through this glass I, I looked at a hilltop and I could tell there was something there (sky lined so easier) but I could not make out what. I also think back to these bins and how I used them scouting. I always got frustrated until the sun started to poke up.

Next up was a Nikon ED50 spotting scope. I had purchased the spotting scope to try to get into good glass without a huge expenditure. On the low setting, I could make out that what was on that hill was something similar to a yucca stalk. I wanted to see, however, if it was in fact a yucca stalk or perhaps something man made like what hikers put on top of hilltops. I cranked up the power and now I could tell it was something very close to a yucca stalk but that was the extent of it.

 

My next glass were Bushnell Legend Ultras in 10 x 42. Obviously I didn’t make much progress on identification of the object with these. Of note, I glassed hard with these last year on a mule deer hunt. I thought they were great. That said, I had terrible headaches at the end of the day during that hunt. I thought it was something else but since I got rid of those, no more headaches.

 

As my original posting noted, I parted with the Nikon because I wanted something with more power. Now in possession of a Vanguard Endeavor HD 15-45, I undertook the exercise again. On the low setting, I immediately noticed I had received the eyepiece with some sort of flaw noted in the reviews. Also, the object on the hilltop continued to be a mystery as the image just wasn’t quite there on the low setting. When I cranked this scope up to the 45 setting, I could make out that it was a yucca stalk. That said, I felt like I was fighting the exit pupil, eye relief etc. The fight was very similar to being out of position when getting behind a rifle and trying to acquire a good sight picture. The take away was that I had a piece of equipment now that I could use for longer range identification stuff but that would be uncomfortable for extended use.

 

The next step up the optics ladder was a large one but I AM FOREVER CONVINCED!!! I ended up with the Euro HD’s in 12 x 50 I picked up from Averagejoe. Like all previous glass I had purchased, I mounted them to the tripod and commenced to glass Finger Rock. In the very first split second of looking through them, I felt a moment of UH-OH as I was not immediately able to recognize a huge optical advantage and I was worried that I had spent more than I should have and on what? Well I took a moment, got the diopter adjusted more precisely and went back to them. Now, things were different. Included were the absolutely pristine image, brightness, and edge to edge clarity. I had read about these terms countless times. Now I was starting to see what these terms meant and how I had been missing out.

 

I switched over to the yucca stalk and here is where my opinion was solidified. Not only could I make out the mysterious object on top of the hill was a yucca stalk, I could do it with relative ease. Someone else in another thread wrote of a similar experience with a herd of deer and how they could not see them with their glass but their buddy could with a higher quality set of glass. It is really hard to describe how my new bins made that yucca stalk stand out. It stood out not because of how it was magnified but because of the picture the glass presented (I think good terms are clarity and crispness).

 

This glassing session answered another question for me. I was really concerned with how I was going to do without being able to get the 45X magnification on an animal. For who I am as a hunter, 12 X 50 high quality glass is all I will need. At the ranges I will be glassing, I have no doubt I will be able to gather the information I will need to decide to put a stalk on or not.

 

Further, I found myself wanting to stay behind these bins. My session was far from long but previously I found myself wanting a break 30 minutes or so. I have always enjoyed glassing but now, well, I think my wife might get annoyed by how much time I spend behind a set of binoculars.

 

In regard to what binoculars to purchase for your hunt, I have heard it is an individual preference. I have to agree with that. Each of us has an area we are going to hunt, a level of knowledge about the animals in the area we are going to hunt (like where they are at), a style of hunting, a budget for gear, and other factors. Once all of these factors are considered, a high dollar set of optics may be low priority.

 

However, if your hunting situation will require extensive glassing, you will be absolutely BEST served to get the best glass you can afford and maybe stretch beyond that (like spend what you have in savings and put the rest on a credit card if that option is available).

 

This fall, I ended up hunting an area where glassing was of high importance. I went to this area with substandard optical equipment. I have no doubt that I spent a whole bunch of hours looking for deer that I was in fact glassing right over because I wanted to save some money. Well, there is next year.

 

This is very well said and mirrors my experience exactly. I have been using Nikon Monarch 12x42 for the last 8 years or so. I always tried to justify that they were good enough. They were your typical $350 binos, not bad, but not great either. For many years I justified that they were good enough, even though secretly I always wanted to upgrade.

 

Well, I decided that I was going to upgrade to one of the big three. I went with the new Zeiss Conquest HD 10x42. My experience was exactly the same as yours. They were clearer and much more crisp. It may not make sense, but the picture through the glass just looked more "real." With my old Nikons I could only glass for an hour at most before I had to take a break. With my Zeiss I couldn't stop glassing all day. There was zero strain and it didn't feel like a chore to be looking through them all day.

 

The old cliche is true.....My only regret is that I didn't upgrade sooner.

[Jawa512]

The hd euros are the bomb, you did good. I regret selling the pair i bought and sold before season do to everwhelmibg guilt for not askin wifey.

I told the wife I was getting new binos and that I was going to sale my old stuff to fund them. I avoided the details about the $difference. Thank heavens the old stuff is selling.

[bhuntin]

save for swaros, you'll never go back! critter gitters and their worst nightmare! 15's

[Xnt]

 

 

This is very well said and mirrors my experience exactly. I have been using Nikon Monarch 12x42 for the last 8 years or so. I always tried to justify that they were good enough. They were your typical $350 binos, not bad, but not great either. For many years I justified that they were good enough, even though secretly I always wanted to upgrade.

 

Well, I decided that I was going to upgrade to one of the big three. I went with the new Zeiss Conquest HD 10x42. My experience was exactly the same as yours. They were clearer and much more crisp. It may not make sense, but the picture through the glass just looked more "real." With my old Nikons I could only glass for an hour at most before I had to take a break. With my Zeiss I couldn't stop glassing all day. There was zero strain and it didn't feel like a chore to be looking through them all day.

 

The old cliche is true.....My only regret is that I didn't upgrade sooner.

 

 

Sounds like the collimation was out.

[Xnt]

I glass with 10x42 Swaro El's and also carry Nikon's Ed82 25-75x82 spotting scope that I use when I locate game. I would not hunt without a scope personally. This last weekend in 36a, we needed the scope probably close to 20 times a day to grow spikes on little bucks at distance. 15's will not replace a good spotting scope.

 

I've had this same scope for a decade now and I love it. Different EP: I have to swtich between a 30x fixed and a 75x fixed. I've also looked through Swaro in the field and wouldn't trade my Nikon ED for one if you begged me!

[Chris]

I like my Nikon Ed82 as well.

 

Every now and then Cabelas sells 10x42 Steiners and put the "Cabelas" decal on them, and sells them for $500. They are VERY close to my Swaros. Amazing for $500