Longtats Head to Head Optics Nikon v. Leupold

[LongTatLaw]

Hey guys...when in Iraq,,,one of the few things I can do for hunting season next year is to shop...

I already picked my new rifle scope...

Now I need Help on the Spotting scope and the Binos.

Price was a factor...I have narrowed it down to two choices per... Ill listen to other options Ive not considered in the same price range but I primarily want opinions based on these products.

Thanks for the help...unfortunately, both will be bought while Im here without me being able to test them.


                                    - SPOTTING SCOPE -

NIKON prostaff 20-60x82mm  599$
                         
                         or

Leupold Sequoia 20-60x80     515$



                                            - BINOS-

Leupold Wind River Pinacle  12x56  479$

                          or

Nikon Monarch ATB  12x56  430$


both are upgrades from 30$ spotting scope and 30$ binos so either way life will get 100x better!

[jdb]

I am a die hard leupold man the fact that there made here in the PNW is a huge point  IMHO plus there gaurantee is second to none. that said my dad is a nikon guy and has absolute great success with nikon. I dont think you can go wrong with either it will come down to personal preference. My  JB

[boneaddict]

I am also a Leupold man, but as jdb said, you can't go wrong with either.

[1bowhunter1]

I have the Nikon Monarch.....AWSOME!!!  Catches all the light,  when there really is'nt any and clear as any scope I have used in the past....so far

[JPhelps]

LongTat, I know neither of my reccomendations are on your list but I will still give you my $.02.

For a spotting scope save some money and buy a vortex nomad.  I know we are not comparing apples to apples but the 60 mm nomad lets in more light than the 80 mm leupold.  I am telling you this from real worl experience.  With the Wind river you could not go past about 25 power before you ran out of light and clarity, where with the nomad 40x was clear and crisp.  Plus the nomad is lighter.  Don't have any experience with the Nikon.

[LongTatLaw]

hmmm vortex?

that one I have zero knowledge of

seems like very few people have tested these side by side?

Kinda thought the two of them were kinda the go to model in those price ranges?

anyone wanna say Im way off on the power specs??

the idea idea glassing big clear cuts and long long looking with the Spotter...

[Bookworm]

Why not keep an eye out on e-bay for the Leopould gold ring spotter. I got mine there for $500.00 and I still see them on there once and a while for that price. The seqouai isn't worth buying.

[C-Money]

Leupold all the way! Enjoy!

[jackelope]

12x56 is too big IMO for a pair of bino's you plan to carry if you plan to do any kind of hiking...also you'll possibly have a hard type holding them still enough. especially if you will also be carrying a spotter...i use the monarchs in 10x42 and think thats about perfect.
i don't think you'll go wrong with either of your other choices.

[robodad]

I too have the Nikon 12.5x56 and for the exit pupil you really can't do better and they are clear as a bell but really only good for the dash board of the truck because of their size, I now have the Zen-Ray in 8x42 and they are much lighter and the quality of the lenses are just as good as the Nikon's IMO. Zen-Ray is also coming out with a set of binos that I'm told will compare with Swaro in quality but will only be around $400 they are on my list !!!

The Nikon's are really great don't get me wrong but a little big to be packing all day !!!

[GoldTip]

As far as pwer levels go, I would be surprised if you could hold a pair of 12 power bino's steady enough by hand for really effective glassing.  At that power you will notice the pulse in your wrists while glassing, I would stick with a 10x42.  I will second the motion to take a hard look at the vortax spotting scopes as well.

[croix]

Just a thought - but I would consider using all of that money and finding a pair of Swaro SLC binos, and saving my pennies for a Swaro spotter down the road. In the interim the SLC binos can be used with a tripod (adapter required) for scanning those cuts. Plus - in the end you have Swaro's all around - tough to beat.

If waiting on the spotter is simply not an option, I would go with Nikon Monarchs but 10x42, not 12x56. If you are totin a spotter I think the lighter/smaller 10x42 will work out better. I don't have any experience or opinion on either of the spotters but have read less than stellar reviews on the Sequoia model from Leupold.

 

[skinzner]

just thought i would post this because i saw your post and this deal popped in my head. In my opinion this is a smoking deal on a vortex spotting scope and 2 sets of binoculars. The sandpiper spotter was originnally 369.00 but evidently is being discontinued because it and another vortex spotter are similar and they dont see the point in carrying both in their line now its 199.00 at camera land he bought them up.then you get a 239.00 pair and 149.00 pair of binoculars also for 399.00 total.the warranty i believe is no questions asked it will be repaired or replaced.Maybe someone on here has some experience with vortex and will chime in. If you want to do some research before you buy there is a 24hr campfire forum for hunting optics that has a ton of info.

http://www.cameralandny.com/optics/vortex.pl?page=vortexsandpiper

original price over 750.00 msrp for 399.00 and you can also get a digiscoping adapter for the spotting scope too.i have no experience with vortex, but this was a tempting offer because of the price ,below is a spotting scope review link. page 4 mentions the sandpiper.

Scope Quest Review 2008, Living Bird
http://www.livingbird.org/netcommuni...eChart2008.pdf

oh yeah i used to have the leupold sequoia and hated it ,this was when they first came out and maybe they have got better since then but i was really dissapointed with that spotting scope. Nikon monarchs are sweet binoculars i dont own them but i have several friends who do and they are nice. I agree with the above poster on getting a really nice pair of binos now and get a spotter later.I have spent about as much buying  cheap to intermediate binoculars in my life as i have on my swarovski slc's and if i would have just bucked up and bought quality binoculars in the beginning i would have been that much farther ahead. Anyway good luck with your choices.

[snohohunter]

In regard to the Vortex warranty...hands down, the best folks I've dealt with.  A week before Elk season, I knocked my vipers off my bench in the garage and jammed the adjustment for the lens when they slammed the concrete -     After having a moment of anger, I figured I'd give Vortex a call and explain my situation, timing, etc.

No questions, they said that rather than sending mine in for repair, which would take a few weeks, they would just sent me a new pair and asked that I return my old ones.    As if they couldn't do any better, they sent them overnight. 

I went through Elknut for mine...you might want to give him a shout and see what he can do before buying them elsewhere. 

[Intruder]

12x56 is too big IMO for a pair of bino's you plan to carry if you plan to do any kind of hiking...also you'll possibly have a hard type holding them still enough. especially if you will also be carrying a spotter...i use the monarchs in 10x42 and think thats about perfect.
i don't think you'll go wrong with either of your other choices.

Agree.... 8x or 10x in a 40mm or 42mm are much more practical for hunting.  For all around, 8x42 is hard to beat.  10x is nice if you know you'll be doing more open area glassing.  Once you get above 10x it is damn hard to really glass for long periods and you end up giving up light gathering capacity.  

It'll be interesting to see what your viewpoint is on the spotters.  I didn't look through the 80mm stuff but I did look through the 65mm ProStaff, 60mm Sequoia, and a 65mm Vortex.  I thought the Nikon and the Vortex were nicer than the Green Ring.  

However, for the $ I really like the 8x42 and 10x42 Green Ring binos.  I was really, really impressed with them.

Leupold and Vortex have better warranties and customer service.....   

[wastickslinger]

I own the Sequoi spotting scope and dont really care for it and I am Leupold fan. This is the only Leupold product that has not met my expectations. The Leupold Gold Ring however is a much better product. If I had it to do over again and only had $500 I would probably look for a used Gold Ring.  

I also do not know anything about the Vortex, but it looks like something worth looking into.

[BlackTail]

  As many have said on here, I would not go with a 12x bino for general use.  Image shake will be a real problem if these binos are to be used hand-held.  Also, for a little bit more money, you can make a big jump in quality.  I would take some of that spotter money and buy the Cabelas Euro bino's in 10x42 that are on sale right now for $699.99.  Those binoculars are really, really good and you'd be hard pressed to find anything that good at that price.

  Mid priced spotters can be of little to no use, depending on what you're wanting them for.  If you spot things with your binos, then put the spotter on them for a short period of time to get a closer look, then they're useable.  But for extended glassing these spotters leave a lot to be desired.  A lot of times you'll end up cross-eyed with a headache before you spot any game.  Eye relief can be a real issue especially at higher powers.  And speaking of higher power, on the mid priced spotters I have looked at they were pretty much useless above say 45x unless conditions are perfect.  That gets even more exaggerated in low light situations.  And low light for these spotters doesn't mean the last 5 minutes, they're unuseable for about the first or last 45 minutes above about 30x. 

  I'm truly not trying to trash you're choices here at all. But, you really are just a few dollars away from stepping up to top notch glass that that you can use for the rest of your life.  I would say save just few more dollars!

[Slider]

I'm with everyone else. The 12X50's or 10X50's are to heavy and bulky. The best all around are 10X42. Sequoi spotting scope's are NOT manufactured by Leupold!!! They are imported as are all Wind River. It would be a waste of your money. Maybe look at a higher end spotter used. Good Luck

[grizzlygibbs]

I'm with everyone else. The 12X50's or 10X50's are to heavy and bulky. The best all around are 10X42. Sequoi spotting scope's are NOT manufactured by Leupold!!! They are imported as are all Wind River. It would be a waste of your money. Maybe look at a higher end spotter used. Good Luck

Not sure about 12x50s but i have a set of Leupold Mark 4 tactical 10x50s and they are not very heavy and are a great set of glass

10x50mm Patrol

Actual Magnification    10x
Linear Field of View (ft/1000 yd)    262
Linear Field of View (m/1000 m)    87
Angular Field of View (degrees)    5.0
Weight    25.7 oz / 729 g
Length    6.7 in / 170 mm
Obj. Aperture (mm)    50
Twilight Factor    22.4
Exit Pupil (mm)    5.0
Eye Relief (mm)    18.0
Interpupillary Distance (mm)    60 - 70
Close Focus Distance    10.5 ft / 3.2 m

Cascades 10x42mm

Actual Magnification    10x
Linear Field of View (ft/1000 yd)    267
Linear Field of View (m/1000 m)    89
Angular Field of View (degrees)    5.1
Weight    23.1 oz / 656 g
Length    5.5 in / 140 mm
Obj. Aperture (mm)    42
Twilight Factor    20.5
Exit Pupil (mm)    4.0
Eye Relief (mm)    16.0
Interpupillary Distance (mm)    58 - 72
Close Focus Distance    9.9 ft / 3.0 m

Golden Ring 10x42mm HD

Actual Magnification   10x
Linear Field of View (ft/1000 yd)   340
Linear Field of View (m/1000 m)   113
Angular Field of View (degrees)   6.5
Weight   33.8 oz / 958 g
Length   6.0 in / 152 mm
Obj. Aperture (mm)   42
Twilight Factor   20.5
Exit Pupil (mm)   4.2
Eye Relief (mm)   16.0
Interpupillary Distance (mm)   56 - 72
Close Focus Distance   7.0 ft / 2.1 m

Sorry but my tactical 10x50's weigh less than the golden ring hd.  Not saying they are not a good glass, im sure they blow my 600 dollar tacticals out of the water, however when i got them the golden ring hd were 1200

[Ray]

I own none of those particular binos you mentioned.

I do own a set of Nikon Monarch ATB binocs and have owned other gold ring leupold binos which I lost and have some limited experience with Vortex Optics as I have one of their scopes.

I would say that any of these brands are good quality and the amount of quality is depending on the product line you choose from. If I had to choose between Nikon and Leupold Gold Ring binoculars I would go with Leupold. Only for the fact of the easy in and out no hassle warranty.

[7mag.]

As far as bino's, I have the Leupold Cascades 10x42, and I am happy with them for the price($300) most places. I will be stepping up to Leica or Sworovski as soon as I can.

As far as spotters, I have been in your shoes already, and I went through a few different spotters that I could afford and was not happy. I finally saved my money and bought a Sworovski 20-60x80 HD, and it is worth every penny. Don't make the same mistakes that I made by wasting money on inferior glass. Start saving your money now and buy a Sworovski when you can, you won't regrett it. If you are on the fence, wait until you get home and you can come out with me and look through mine.

[DeerHarvester]

I own the Leupold Pinicles 10x40's.  They are some of the best for the money, but I still want a pair of Swaro's.  The only spotting scope I would buy is the gold ring, I recently had the chance to test one of the new HD models and they are compairable to the Swaro's at half the price. So as you've heard before spend the money now or later.   

[huntinhick]

I have the Nikon 8x42's and I love them.  My thought is that they are what will always be with me so I did not want the extra weight plus with the 10 or 12s I could not hold them steady.  sportsmans let me take several pair out side to test them and the nikons (to me) were as nice as the higher priced ones. with the crocked horn harness they don't bother me at all.  I plan on buying a good compact spotter such as the gold ring or the nikon spotter xl something that doesn't weight a ton and is small enough to put in a daypack.  I guess that was along way of saying I like nikon and leupold but that I tend to use nikon due to the price and the quality

carl

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

From what i have read about the sequoia is that it is very heavy in the front and it is hard to stabilize. We had the smaller sequoia and returned it because our bushnell was just as good and a few hundred cheaper. We are now lookign at other options. Just my 2 cents.
I have the 10X42 cabelas roof prism and if i had your choice i would go with a 10X42 in either the leupold or nikon. I love my roof prisms but it wasn't one of your choices.

[Hacksaw]

I am and always will be a fan of Leupold because of their willingness to honor their warranty. With that said, I have had mixed results with the Wind River line. I have a pair of 10x40 Pinnacles. I know you did not want opinions about other models, but I thought you might want to consider this if it isn't too late already. My buddy has had two pairs of the Wind River Cascades and they are every bit as clear as my Pinnacles. I have tested the two models side by side several times under varying conditions, and, if anything, my Pinnacles are not as sharp around the edges as the Cascades under most conditions. I almost bought the Cascades originally, but the advertising for the Pinnacles suckered me in and I had the money to spend. Now, I really wish I would of just bought the Cascades to begin with. In my opinion, the Cascades are a really good binocular for the money. I'm pissed I spent the extra money for the Pinnacles.

Still, I would not hesitate to ever buy a Leupold product because I know first hand that they stand buy their warranties. I bought one of the first pairs of Wind Rivers about 11 years ago and had problems with the right eye-diopter adjustment ring breaking in freezing temperatures (below 20 degrees). I had these diopter rings break twice and both times had a brand new pair of binos at my door within two weeks. I am hoping that I will have a similar experience when I send back the Pinnacles.

[Heavily Armed Hiker]

For the price, I'd go w/ the Nikon.  However, for a couple hundred dollars more you could purchase 10x42 Kahles which is a fantastic piece of glass and made by Swarovski, which is a plus.  Sportsmans Warehouse has them on sale right now too for about $699 I believe.

[columbiaman]

I too have the Nikon 12.5x56 and for the exit pupil you really can't do better and they are clear as a bell but really only good for the dash board of the truck because of their size, I now have the Zen-Ray in 8x42 and they are much lighter and the quality of the lenses are just as good as the Nikon's IMO. Zen-Ray is also coming out with a set of binos that I'm told will compare with Swaro in quality but will only be around $400 they are on my list !!!

The Nikon's are really great don't get me wrong but a little big to be packing all day !!!

If I decode this right, you were referring to the new ZEN ED binoculars?

[Coasthunterjay]

However, for the $ I really like the 8x42 and 10x42 Green Ring binos.  I was really, really impressed with them.

Leupold and Vortex have better warranties and customer service.....   

yeah im a leupold fan also. i have been having mixed feelings about what binos to buy for years. Have friends with both nikons and leupolds. I finally after a while decided to go wtih the green rings(leupolds). Ill tell yeah one thing, there built great, not heavy. Collect alot of light. cant go wrong. And they werent 500 bucks. there only about 350 bucks depending on where you go to get them. From what i can tell yeah. spend a little less on the binos and go a little more on the spotting scope. Ide start searching ebay.

[ghgetter]

It really boils down to how long you spend behind your glasses. For most people who are out in the woods 2 maybe 3 days a year...either Nikon or Leupold are just fine. When you start spending 2-3 weeks behind glasses...thats a little different. When you dont look through glasses very much your edge to edge clarity never sticks out and is an issue and you dont really care about light gathering ability too much.

I am a Leupold guy...but thats mainly because of their location and warranty.

[popeshawnpaul]

Vortex hands down.  There have been tons of comparisons on the monster muleys website under the optics section.  Best glass for the money.  I have Viper 10x42 and 15x50 and they are great.  Both are in the price range you mentioned above.  Warranty is best ever.  You can drive over them with your truck and they'll replace them.

[scudmaster]

I had my Leupold green ring Cascades next to my buddy's Vortex.  the Vortex Diamondbacks were much better at low-light and cheaper to boot.

As for the Spotting scope, take a look at the Kowa's excellent 60mm scope TSN600 with the TSE Z9B 20-60 eyepiece.  It is the lightest for the size and you can even get it in ED glass.  Excellent for backpacking.

Check the www.opticsplanet.com for their message boards.  There are lots of comparison posts and Optics Planet has experts that monitor the board and answer questions with good hands on knowledge.  No brand loyalty, just performance based evaluations.  Good luck.