15x binos or spotting scope

[Hot Lunch]

12x50 El's
I picked up a pair and out to about a mile you can count points. I have had spotting scopes on and off and they are the most over rated piece of equipment unless you want to field judge animals. 10x42 is also a good choice, throw them on a tripod and you'll what you have been missing. The majority of 15x50 glass are not practical to carry, not much of a fan.

[JDHasty]

15x56 roofs can fit in the biggest Badlands case/harnes and the bigger Kuiu harnes.  They are not much fun to pack on a strap.  The Docter is like hauling around a cinder block.  It is dazzling optically, like the old Ziess 15x60 BGA but both are bulky and heavy. 

[Kurt_S]

12x50 El's
I picked up a pair and out to about a mile you can count points. I have had spotting scopes on and off and they are the most over rated piece of equipment unless you want to field judge animals. 10x42 is also a good choice, throw them on a tripod and you'll what you have been missing. The majority of 15x50 glass are not practical to carry, not much of a fan.

A spotting scope is a must have in my opinion.  I wouldn't have got the buck I shot in Idaho this year without it.  Spotted him bedded bout a mile and half away.  I have a pair of 12x50 and couldn't see it through them. 

[WAcoueshunter]

12x50 El's
I picked up a pair and out to about a mile you can count points. I have had spotting scopes on and off and they are the most over rated piece of equipment unless you want to field judge animals. 10x42 is also a good choice, throw them on a tripod and you'll what you have been missing. The majority of 15x50 glass are not practical to carry, not much of a fan.

A spotting scope is a must have in my opinion.  I wouldn't have got the buck I shot in Idaho this year without it.  Spotted him bedded bout a mile and half away.  I have a pair of 12x50 and couldn't see it through them.

Some of this depends on the country.  If you're mostly glassing at more than a mile or so, then yes, the spotter may be better. But less than that, the spotter is a significant handicap relative to the 15s.  Most of my glassing is at a mile or less, regardless of the State.  Both eyes open and 15x56 is night and day better at those distances.

[JDHasty]

12x50 El's
I picked up a pair and out to about a mile you can count points. I have had spotting scopes on and off and they are the most over rated piece of equipment unless you want to field judge animals. 10x42 is also a good choice, throw them on a tripod and you'll what you have been missing. The majority of 15x50 glass are not practical to carry, not much of a fan.

A spotting scope is a must have in my opinion.  I wouldn't have got the buck I shot in Idaho this year without it.  Spotted him bedded bout a mile and half away.  I have a pair of 12x50 and couldn't see it through them.

Some of this depends on the country.  If you're mostly glassing at more than a mile or so, then yes, the spotter may be better. But less than that, the spotter is a significant handicap relative to the 15s.  Most of my glassing is at a mile or less, regardless of the State.  Both eyes open and 15x56 is night and day better at those distances.

[muleyslayer]

Thanks for the help guys. I'm thinking of getting the 15x binos then 2017 I'll get the spotter.

[The scout]

I would say that's a good choice for what your using them for, check out the vortex kaibobs. if you get something now you can paly with them scout with them and you would still have time to go a different route by hunting season

[JDHasty]

I would say that's a good choice for what your using them for, check out the vortex kaibobs. if you get something now you can paly with them scout with them and you would still have time to go a different route by hunting season

Probably good advice.  I was looking at them when I purchased mine and they are pretty close to the SLC.   I don't know about the other 15x56 roofs, there seem to be a few new ones out this year and last.  The Docter porro is a brick.  It is one heck of a good binocular, but it is HEAVY and BIG.   

[The scout]

one thing that comes to mind is that you would need a taller tripod than you would if you went with a spotter, adding even more weight and bulkiness

[Bean Counter]

If you go Swaro, get the new 15x SLCs that are HD. I looked through the old ones and compared to my Nikon EDG I be like

[JDHasty]

If you go Swaro, get the new 15x SLCs that are HD. I looked through the old ones and compared to my Nikon EDG I be like

You have got to be kidding me!!  In your dreams maybe.     

We have a Nikon EDG II 8x42 binocular and a Swaro 15x56 SLC Neu and have spent hundreds of hours in the field looking through them side by side every year.  Our 15x56 SLC just predates the latest SLC and therefore it is non HD. 

When I am set up rockchuck shooting I have my 15x56 SLC set up on a Manfrotto x55proB with the center post set horizontal and a Manfrotto 533 Right Angle Bracket.  I will pan back and forth all day with the big binocular looking for chucks, but I also have my 8x42 binocular sitting on the shooting bench right to the left of my front rest.

We shoot from daylight until after sundown and where we shoot there are deer, coyotes, raptors and other birds, and various other things to look at.... and I do take a break from looking for chucks to just sit and enjoy looking at something that has caught my fancy. 

If there is much, if any, discernible difference between the optical quality of an SLC and an EDG or EDG II binocular, I will  eat my hat.     

[Bean Counter]

If you go Swaro, get the new 15x SLCs that are HD. I looked through the old ones and compared to my Nikon EDG I be like

You have got to be kidding me!!  In your dreams maybe.     

No, in my eyes.

- As someone who uses optics to make money 

[2MANY]

I buy team green because I want to.
I cannot vouch for the whole my high school is better then your high school argument.

My 15's are sweet.
My 20x60's are sweet.

If I was a looking much I would choose the 15's on the tripod.
But then I would like to clamp on the 20X60's.

This combo can save a ton of calorie burn.

[JDHasty]

We own Leica, Leupold, Vortex, Zeiss, Swarovski and others optical products INCLUDING a Unertl 100MM Team Spotting Scope.  The new Swaro 15x56 SLC HD is noticeably lighter, smaller overall and is absolutely stunning to look through.  The older non HD SLC was the Gold Standard for many years when looking at high power roofs.  Before I purchased ours I looked through them set up side by side with Ziess and Docter 15x60 Porros and I could get almost as deep into a USAF resolution target with the Swaro roofs as I could with either of these two phenomenal porros. 

To put it succinctly:  there is very little to not love about this binocular.  Of course, with contrasting sharply outlined subjects there will be a higher level of CA than with a binocular containing the newest HD glass, but that is to be expected and it really doesn't do much, if anything, to take away from their utility as a high power hunting binocular. 

[JDHasty]

Cabela's has their 15x56 Instinct HD on sale right now.   

Cabela's Instinct™ Euro HD™ 15x56 Binoculars
$1,599.99
$1,119.99

Plus an additional 15% in Club points so that would net out at under a grand.