15x binos or spotting scope

[jstone]

Bought myself the Vortex 15 powers for christmas. Nice. I just need to get me a Bino mounted stand and i will be set. Cant wait to get out.

[jstone]

I desided to go with the 15 power binos and tripod and not a spotter cause less weight to carry.

[JDHasty]

Bought myself the Vortex 15 powers for christmas. Nice. I just need to get me a Bino mounted stand and i will be set. Cant wait to get out.

I think you will be very happy w/them.  I almost bought them instead of the Swarro that I bought.  One of my buddies did get that binocular exact and it is great.  My tripod is rather heavy so I use a Gorilla Pod and an old Leupold Packer Tripod when away from the truck.  I am not satisfied w/either and am still thinking how I am going to eventually end up.  I really like the heavy tripod I have when I am set up next to the truck though.   

[Spawnstar]

I use both, but tripod glassing with 15x binos is the number one way to spot game. A spotter is primarily used for measuring game. What ever you want get ahold of me and I can get you a great price on Swarovski or Leica

[JDHasty]

 

I use both, but tripod glassing with 15x binos is the number one way to spot game. A spotter is primarily used for measuring game. What ever you want get ahold of me and I can get you a great price on Swarovski or Leica

 

[Elknut1]

If interested in the 15X56 Kaibabs we have the 2015/2016 model here in a Demo, excellent shape. Send me a PM! Thanks!

  ElkNut1

[muleyslayer]

If interested in the 15X56 Kaibabs we have the 2015/2016 model here in a Demo, excellent shape. Send me a PM! Thanks!

  ElkNut1

Pm sent

[LOTG]

I was at the same point you were about 7 years ago. It boiled down to this for me. What do you use 90% of the time? Your binos. If you already have a pair of binos then get your spotter, but if you don't have binos invest in a quality pair of optics. I have Swarovski slc 10x42 and they are phenomenal. The new Swaro's are top notch and second to none. I have buddies with EL's and Leica's and between the two you can't go wrong. Hope I could help ya out

[JDHasty]

If interested in the 15X56 Kaibabs we have the 2015/2016 model here in a Demo, excellent shape. Send me a PM! Thanks!

  ElkNut1

Pm sent

You won't be sorry.  My buddy bought the Kaibab shortly after I bought our 15x56 SLC.  When I was shopping I compared both extensively and thought the Kaibab was pretty close to the SLC. 

[syoungs]

a few questions; I don't know much about optics, so these may be rudimentary.

1: seems to be a re-occurring theme in this thread that 15x binos and a tripod are the cats meow for finding game, and the spotter is more for detailed inspection of already found game. what is the benefit of the binos, rather then running the spotting scope at a lower power? field of view and eye strain were all I could come up with, but not sure if im missing something else.

2: most of the glass discussed here seems to be higher end, my budget wont allow for high end anything until I get my house purchased later this year, and possibly not for a couple years after that (to many toys on the wish list), when comparing lower end optics, do the same rules of thumb hold true? im talking 350-400$ for spotter or binocs. ive been pretty happy with my barska spotting scope at the range, and for some glassing, but I don't use it much, as im not hunting areas where its needed much. But I was considering purchasing a newer spotting scope to get better build and quality sometime in the near future.

3: Bean counter, you don't gotta answer this, but im curious what your job is 
thanks all

[JDHasty]

a few questions; I don't know much about optics, so these may be rudimentary.

1: seems to be a re-occurring theme in this thread that 15x binos and a tripod are the cats meow for finding game, and the spotter is more for detailed inspection of already found game. what is the benefit of the binos, rather then running the spotting scope at a lower power? field of view and eye strain were all I could come up with, but not sure if im missing something else.

2: most of the glass discussed here seems to be higher end, my budget wont allow for high end anything until I get my house purchased later this year, and possibly not for a couple years after that (to many toys on the wish list), when comparing lower end optics, do the same rules of thumb hold true? im talking 350-400$ for spotter or binocs. ive been pretty happy with my barska spotting scope at the range, and for some glassing, but I don't use it much, as im not hunting areas where its needed much. But I was considering purchasing a newer spotting scope to get better build and quality sometime in the near future.

3: Bean counter, you don't gotta answer this, but im curious what your job is 
thanks all

1:  I have had the big SLC bino for a few years, for twenty-five years previous I would spot chucks and game mostly with my eight or ten power binocular or my 12-40x60 Leupold Ring spotter set at about 12-15 power.  Everyone just picks up so much more using the big binocular and I think the depth of field combined with sufficient power is what makes such a significant difference.  Eye strain, in my case, is significantly less.  When using a spotter I buy a dozen eye patches at the pharmacy early in the year and keep both eyes open and cover one with a patch.  Have been doing it that way for twenty-five plus years.  Field of view is sufficient in both, I think using binocular over spotting scope that it is easier to actually make use of the FOV you have available and that may help in finding animals.

2:  It is entirely possible to purchase quality optics at lower prices today.  Maybe a bit more than the price range you listed.  The big thing is to compare what you are looking at under field conditions.  Every optic performs "like a champ" in a well lit store.     

[whacker1]

a few questions; I don't know much about optics, so these may be rudimentary.

1: seems to be a re-occurring theme in this thread that 15x binos and a tripod are the cats meow for finding game, and the spotter is more for detailed inspection of already found game. what is the benefit of the binos, rather then running the spotting scope at a lower power? field of view and eye strain were all I could come up with, but not sure if im missing something else.

2: most of the glass discussed here seems to be higher end, my budget wont allow for high end anything until I get my house purchased later this year, and possibly not for a couple years after that (to many toys on the wish list), when comparing lower end optics, do the same rules of thumb hold true? im talking 350-400$ for spotter or binocs. ive been pretty happy with my barska spotting scope at the range, and for some glassing, but I don't use it much, as im not hunting areas where its needed much. But I was considering purchasing a newer spotting scope to get better build and quality sometime in the near future.

3: Bean counter, you don't gotta answer this, but im curious what your job is 
thanks all

I have been making the investment for the last 10 years and here is what I learned and other suggested.  Buy what you can afford in binos and then save and buy the second time, but buy the absolute best you can buy.  I didn't listen initially.

I went through a pair of bushnell binoculars, followed by Steiner bighorn that lasted quite a while and a buddy is still using,  this next step is where I screwed up.  I went to the Zen Ray ED, and then the Zen Ray Prime, and then the Leica.  There is nothing wrong with the ZenRay binoculars, in fact I was very impressed, but the mistake I made is that I knew good and well that I was going to upgrade again and should not have made the steps in between.

on the spotter, I bought a Leupold Windriver spotter that is junk and sold it to my hunting partner for less than half what I paid and neither one of us use it.  I will be purchasing a Swaro spotter this summer, which has taken me a while to afford.

My suggestion, is by the best you can now in 8 or 10x binocular, even if it means used.  and then hold out as long as you can saving for what you actually want in a spotter or big binos. 

[JDHasty]

a few questions; I don't know much about optics, so these may be rudimentary.

1: seems to be a re-occurring theme in this thread that 15x binos and a tripod are the cats meow for finding game, and the spotter is more for detailed inspection of already found game. what is the benefit of the binos, rather then running the spotting scope at a lower power? field of view and eye strain were all I could come up with, but not sure if im missing something else.

2: most of the glass discussed here seems to be higher end, my budget wont allow for high end anything until I get my house purchased later this year, and possibly not for a couple years after that (to many toys on the wish list), when comparing lower end optics, do the same rules of thumb hold true? im talking 350-400$ for spotter or binocs. ive been pretty happy with my barska spotting scope at the range, and for some glassing, but I don't use it much, as im not hunting areas where its needed much. But I was considering purchasing a newer spotting scope to get better build and quality sometime in the near future.

3: Bean counter, you don't gotta answer this, but im curious what your job is 
thanks all

I have been making the investment for the last 10 years and here is what I learned and other suggested.  Buy what you can afford in binos and then save and buy the second time, but buy the absolute best you can buy.  I didn't listen initially.

I went through a pair of bushnell binoculars, followed by Steiner bighorn that lasted quite a while and a buddy is still using,  this next step is where I screwed up.  I went to the Zen Ray ED, and then the Zen Ray Prime, and then the Leica.  There is nothing wrong with the ZenRay binoculars, in fact I was very impressed, but the mistake I made is that I knew good and well that I was going to upgrade again and should not have made the steps in between.

on the spotter, I bought a Leupold Windriver spotter that is junk and sold it to my hunting partner for less than half what I paid and neither one of us use it.  I will be purchasing a Swaro spotter this summer, which has taken me a while to afford.

My suggestion, is by the best you can now in 8 or 10x binocular, even if it means used.  and then hold out as long as you can saving for what you actually want in a spotter or big binos.

That is very good advice.  Get a good solid serviceable binocular and scope and then upgrade once and only once to what you want to eventually end up with.   

[high country]

a few questions; I don't know much about optics, so these may be rudimentary.

1: seems to be a re-occurring theme in this thread that 15x binos and a tripod are the cats meow for finding game, and the spotter is more for detailed inspection of already found game. what is the benefit of the binos, rather then running the spotting scope at a lower power? field of view and eye strain were all I could come up with, but not sure if im missing something else.

2: most of the glass discussed here seems to be higher end, my budget wont allow for high end anything until I get my house purchased later this year, and possibly not for a couple years after that (to many toys on the wish list), when comparing lower end optics, do the same rules of thumb hold true? im talking 350-400$ for spotter or binocs. ive been pretty happy with my barska spotting scope at the range, and for some glassing, but I don't use it much, as im not hunting areas where its needed much. But I was considering purchasing a newer spotting scope to get better build and quality sometime in the near future.

3: Bean counter, you don't gotta answer this, but im curious what your job is 
thanks all

I have been making the investment for the last 10 years and here is what I learned and other suggested.  Buy what you can afford in binos and then save and buy the second time, but buy the absolute best you can buy.  I didn't listen initially.

I went through a pair of bushnell binoculars, followed by Steiner bighorn that lasted quite a while and a buddy is still using,  this next step is where I screwed up.  I went to the Zen Ray ED, and then the Zen Ray Prime, and then the Leica.  There is nothing wrong with the ZenRay binoculars, in fact I was very impressed, but the mistake I made is that I knew good and well that I was going to upgrade again and should not have made the steps in between.

on the spotter, I bought a Leupold Windriver spotter that is junk and sold it to my hunting partner for less than half what I paid and neither one of us use it.  I will be purchasing a Swaro spotter this summer, which has taken me a while to afford.

My suggestion, is by the best you can now in 8 or 10x binocular, even if it means used.  and then hold out as long as you can saving for what you actually want in a spotter or big binos. 

May I suggest looking at the nikon 82 ed with a fixed eyepiece,  pentax pf 80ed and the kowa tsn these all ere better to my eye than the swaro. I have the 15x56 swaro neu and kept the 82ed.....but it is not as wide fov as the tsn scopes......but it is dang good a a narrower view.

[Okanagan]

a few questions; I don't know much about optics, so these may be rudimentary.

1: seems to be a re-occurring theme in this thread that 15x binos and a tripod are the cats meow for finding game, and the spotter is more for detailed inspection of already found game. what is the benefit of the binos, rather then running the spotting scope at a lower power? field of view and eye strain were all I could come up with, but not sure if im missing something else.

2: most of the glass discussed here seems to be higher end, my budget wont allow for high end anything until I get my house purchased later this year, and possibly not for a couple years after that (to many toys on the wish list), when comparing lower end optics, do the same rules of thumb hold true? im talking 350-400$ for spotter or binocs. ive been pretty happy with my barska spotting scope at the range, and for some glassing, but I don't use it much, as im not hunting areas where its needed much. But I was considering purchasing a newer spotting scope to get better build and quality sometime in the near future.

3: Bean counter, you don't gotta answer this, but im curious what your job is 
thanks all

1:  I have had the big SLC bino for a few years, for twenty-five years previous I would spot chucks and game mostly with my eight or ten power binocular or my 12-40x60 Leupold Ring spotter set at about 12-15 power.  Everyone just picks up so much more using the big binocular and I think the depth of field combined with sufficient power is what makes such a significant difference.  Eye strain, in my case, is significantly less.  When using a spotter I buy a dozen eye patches at the pharmacy early in the year and keep both eyes open and cover one with a patch.  Have been doing it that way for twenty-five plus years.  Field of view is sufficient in both, I think using binocular over spotting scope that it is easier to actually make use of the FOV you have available and that may help in finding animals.

2:  It is entirely possible to purchase quality optics at lower prices today.  Maybe a bit more than the price range you listed.  The big thing is to compare what you are looking at under field conditions.  Every optic performs "like a champ" in a well lit store.   

Good questions and good answers.  Mid level optics are superb compared to 20-30 years ago.

I have a friend who trains military snipers and uses the best optics money can buy.  He worked as a hunting guide for awhile in earlier years.  I asked him about optics, and he knows my interests and modest budget.  He told me that if my life is on the line, buy the best optics made, no matter what they cost.  For hunting, the difference between a $400-500 optic and one that costs 2-3 grand will seldom make the difference in getting game.  If you have the money you can enjoy the best but it's probably is not worth it for someone like me.  That's a personal choice, not necessarily for others.   Friends of mine have some superb Leica's etc. and they are very nice, but I haven't felt limited with my $400 Nikons.   Depends on how much discretionary money you have and what you want to spend it on.