12x50 Razor or Swaro 15x56 SLC

[cjl2010]

The 12s vs 15s debate intrigues me. Would love to compare swaro vision 12s to hd 15s.

[Cell4soul]

I have been debating this very thing. I currently have Vortex Kaibab 15x56 for tripod and Steiner 8x30 around the neck. I don't plan to use a spotting scope at all. I would like to lighten all my gear up because my plan is to start backpack hunting. As soon as I finish building my custom rifle I plan to put my funds towards upgrading glass.

 

If the Swaro 12x50 EL will work for free hand glassing, I think this would be a great way to go to lighten up as they would be good on a tripod too. Does anyone have any experience with the 12x50 EL free hand glassing? The other option I have considered is the Leica Douvids in 10-15x50. This would allow me to only need one bino.

 

Also, to those that have looked through both, are the Euro 12x50 even comparable to the Swaro 12x50 EL? This could be an option to save some money.

 

I had a chance to glass with my Kaibab alongside Swaro 15x56 and was blown away at the difference....the hype is real!

[Hatchet Jack]

I have compared euros and the pre hd swaro 15 side by side and in all honesty would take the euros for overall view. My buddy said the same and he owns the swaros.

 

I think where the EL really shine is the edge clarity. Nothing compares. I have heard of quite a few guys giving up 10s and 15s and just using the 12 EL. I've thought about it but I don't think I could give up my euro 15s yet.

[lancetkenyon]

15x56 Swaro HD NEU used or 15x56 Euros. I have a LOT of hours behind the Meopta Euro HD, in the 10x42, 15x56, and now my new 20-70x82 spotter. They are amazing glass for about $1k+ less than new Swarovski.

 

I was recently on a mountain top with 3 guys with Swaros. Two older and one HD NEU SLC. All 15x56s. We all were back and forth between glass, and the NEU SLC did have a slight advantage on the outer edges. But center (90% FOV) clarity was on par, and better with the Euro than the older SLCs.

 

I do have one buddy on here that bought a set of Euro 15x56s used, and had an issue with them. I think he exchanged them for a new pair at Cabela's.

[Zeke-BE]

I had a 12 x Nikon and it was to much to free hand. Use 10s if you want to,free hand.

[bonecollector]

You can free hand the El 12's

[firstcoueswas80]

I have been debating this very thing. I currently have Vortex Kaibab 15x56 for tripod and Steiner 8x30 around the neck. I don't plan to use a spotting scope at all. I would like to lighten all my gear up because my plan is to start backpack hunting. As soon as I finish building my custom rifle I plan to put my funds towards upgrading glass.

 

If the Swaro 12x50 EL will work for free hand glassing, I think this would be a great way to go to lighten up as they would be good on a tripod too. Does anyone have any experience with the 12x50 EL free hand glassing? The other option I have considered is the Leica Douvids in 10-15x50. This would allow me to only need one bino.

 

Also, to those that have looked through both, are the Euro 12x50 even comparable to the Swaro 12x50 EL? This could be an option to save some money.

 

I had a chance to glass with my Kaibab alongside Swaro 15x56 and was blown away at the difference....the hype is real!

I have the duvids. Words can't describe how much I love them. I have 12x swaros on the way.

[Will K]

I use my 15 Vortex as truck glass. My 15 Swaro's as tripod glass. Swaro's hands down though for clarity and construction.

[Big or Bust]

Pass on the Vortex....

[Cell4soul]

 

I have been debating this very thing. I currently have Vortex Kaibab 15x56 for tripod and Steiner 8x30 around the neck. I don't plan to use a spotting scope at all. I would like to lighten all my gear up because my plan is to start backpack hunting. As soon as I finish building my custom rifle I plan to put my funds towards upgrading glass.

If the Swaro 12x50 EL will work for free hand glassing, I think this would be a great way to go to lighten up as they would be good on a tripod too. Does anyone have any experience with the 12x50 EL free hand glassing? The other option I have considered is the Leica Douvids in 10-15x50. This would allow me to only need one bino.

Also, to those that have looked through both, are the Euro 12x50 even comparable to the Swaro 12x50 EL? This could be an option to save some money.

I had a chance to glass with my Kaibab alongside Swaro 15x56 and was blown away at the difference....the hype is real!

I have the duvids. Words can't describe how much I love them. I have 12x swaros on the way.

If you don't mind, can you give a review on the Swaro 12's for handheld glassing when you get them? This would definitely be a lighter option than the Leicas. I am probably about 4 months off from a purchase....gotta finish the rifle then buy my pack tent and sleeping bag before I upgrade glass.

[rossislider]

I upgraded my Razors 12x50s to Swaro 12x50s a year ago. I loved my Razors and never had a complaint or problem with them, but the Swaros are superior. I'm with the crowd that doesn't like to carry two pairs of binos (10s and 15s) since I also carry the new Vortex 85 spotter. 12s are a very happy medium since you can free hand them for short periods, but also get the extra magnification over the 10s. I have buddies with 15s and every now and then I start to get the jealous bug. But I always fall back to not wanting to carry 2 pairs of binos, and if it to far for my 12s to pick out the details, the 15s wouldn't make a huge difference. Plus I have multiple tripod plates, so I can swith between my 12s and the spotter in a few seconds.

[rossislider]

I'll also add, that I am a fan of both Vortex and Swaro and disagree with the crowd that loves to bash all things Vortex. As someone who has owned and still currently uses both brands (Razor 10x42s for my son and wife, Vortex Razor 27-60x85 spotter, and Swaro el 12x50), I have never understood it. NO, Vortex are not as good as Swaro, but I don't think I have ever heard them claim to be. In their price range, they make a very good product and from a customer service standpoint, they are an outstanding company.

[firstcoueswas80]

 

 

I have been debating this very thing. I currently have Vortex Kaibab 15x56 for tripod and Steiner 8x30 around the neck. I don't plan to use a spotting scope at all. I would like to lighten all my gear up because my plan is to start backpack hunting. As soon as I finish building my custom rifle I plan to put my funds towards upgrading glass.

If the Swaro 12x50 EL will work for free hand glassing, I think this would be a great way to go to lighten up as they would be good on a tripod too. Does anyone have any experience with the 12x50 EL free hand glassing? The other option I have considered is the Leica Douvids in 10-15x50. This would allow me to only need one bino.

Also, to those that have looked through both, are the Euro 12x50 even comparable to the Swaro 12x50 EL? This could be an option to save some money.

I had a chance to glass with my Kaibab alongside Swaro 15x56 and was blown away at the difference....the hype is real!

I have the duvids. Words can't describe how much I love them. I have 12x swaros on the way.

If you don't mind, can you give a review on the Swaro 12's for handheld glassing when you get them? This would definitely be a lighter option than the Leicas. I am probably about 4 months off from a purchase....gotta finish the rifle then buy my pack tent and sleeping bag before I upgrade glass.

Remember, leicas are two top tier bino in one though.

[lancetkenyon]

I think Vortex's high end stuff is pretty darn good. Especially the top 3 rifle scopes. Razor Gen I, Razor Gen II, and the new Razor AMG is getting rave reviews from some real world testing by non-sponsored people who run their stuff hard.

 

Binos and spotters are OK, and a good step up in quality. But not in the "top tier" range of a lot of the European glass companies like Swarovski, Leica, Zeiss, Meopta, and the like. With Minox being built by the former owners of Premier (Optronica group), their new line of riflescopes (ZP TAC) are amazing. I hope their binos and spotters follow suit.

[Rumhunter84]

Lets beat this dead horse some more!!!!

 

I'm looking at different glass options for 2017. I am currently using the Vortex Viper 15x50 HD's and sometimes 10x42 Nikon Monarch's for archery hunts.

 

I'm going to sell the Vipers add some $$ to the fund and get either some used 15x56 Swaro SLC's or 12x50's Razors.

 

I'm not a big fan of spotters and I plan on keeping my Nikon 10x42 to wear around my neck sometimes (depending on the terrain and the hunt).

 

What would be your choice and why? Has anyone had both or compared both side by side in the field?

 

 

 

 

 

I'm leaning pretty hard towards 12x50 euros for 1300.00 there on sale right now at cabelas i'm almost saving a 2k if you buy new 1k if you buy used hard decision ??????

 

Then get a swro spotter !