10x42 vs 12x50 binos

[Bobby Bowman]

I want to upgrade my Nikon Monarch 7 10x42 binoculars... Looking at Vortex Razor UHD 10x42 or 12x50. What are people's experiences with 12x50 binos? I plan on getting a tripod for them, but is it too much magnification for just hand use? I also don't have a spotting scope so i'm hoping the 12x50 might be a good bridge. Am i making a mistake leaning towards 12x50? I bow hunt and rife hunt.  Thanks!! 

[ShaneTyTrey]

You will have people say the 12x50 is the only way to go and others that will say absolutely stay away.  You need to go to the store and play with them and think what makes the most since for your style of hunting.  Running them for too long of a period without a Tri-pod can become difficult but honestly so can 10x42.  Glassing off a tripod is just way better and easier.  I personally run the Razor 10x42 HDs and have the 18x56 UHD for Tri-pod work, but I have considered giving the 10x42s to my kid and trying to run the 12x50 UHD in my harness.

Good luck, there really isn’t a right or wrong answer on this one, it is what is best for you.  As I also have both the Razor Gen 1 65MM and Gen 2 85 MM spotters that come along at times too.  Just have to play around as different hunts require different optics combos.  Good luck!

[Crunchy]

You will have people say the 12x50 is the only way to go and others that will say absolutely stay away.  You need to go to the store and play with them and think what makes the most since for your style of hunting.  Running them for too long of a period without a Tri-pod can become difficult but honestly so can 10x42.  Glassing off a tripod is just way better and easier.  I personally run the Razor 10x42 HDs and have the 18x56 UHD for Tri-pod work, but I have considered giving the 10x42s to my kid and trying to run the 12x50 UHD in my harness.

Good luck, there really isn’t a right or wrong answer on this one, it is what is best for you.  As I also have both the Razor Gen 1 65MM and Gen 2 85 MM spotters that come along at times too.  Just have to play around as different hunts require different optics combos.  Good luck!

For me 12s are too much to free hand for any period of time.  If you wanted an all around pair of say archery, muzzleloader and rifle season I would do 10s.  12s are too much when you are in the timber.  I have 12s, and looking for 8s for archery season.  I do love my 12s when it is rifle deer season, but that is mostly using a tripod or seated and using my pack. 

[Bob33]

Interesting question. I have a pair of alpha glass 10x42s that I've used for many years. Last year I bought a pair of 12x50s and have had occasion to take both binos on several hunts. The 10x are smaller, lighter, and have a greater field of view. There have been a few occasions where I could see game with the 12x that I couldn't with the 10x. I'm glad to have both but if I had to choose one it would be the 10x42s.

[DJ_Mack]

If you are only looking at UHD’s then go 12x50. Two reasons, each lineup has specific bino that outshines the rest. In the UHD’s it is the 12x50’s (that came directly from Vortex to me). The second, the 10x42’s are larger than regular hd razors anyways, so if you are worried about offhanding the binos, the 10x42’s are by far larger than 10x42 HD razors.


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[Pegasus]

If you bow hunt stick with the 10x42. You don't need a tripod, just wear it on your chest. You still have room to shoot your bow while wearing the binos. The 12X50  might be too big for that.

[Magnum_Willys]

If you carry a spotter then 10x42   .  No spotter I would go 12x50.  But swaro doesn’t have l
The less expensive  12x50 if looking there   

[andrew_in_idaho]

12x50, I’m guessing you wear a ball cap while hunting, stabilize them by putting a couple fingers over the bill of your cap when you don’t have them on your tripod. Problem solved


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[OltHunter]

Glassing from a tripod is a game changer.  My vote is 12x50.  You will see more game.  Then you have some decent 10x42 if you will only be in timber, then some nicer glass 12x for the long distance stuff.

10x42 don't really make sense to use a tripod with.  Like others said, they will excel in timber, but I rarely use them in timber situations (maybe i should more!).

12x free hand does have some shake, you will probably always need to have a couple points of contact, whether that's holding onto the bill of a hat, or sitting down, elbows to knees.

I did free hand glass up deer last season without any points of contact from about 1/2 mile away so it's not terrible.  You just wouldn't want to do it for a long time.

[mburrows]

For everyday use id go 10x42. As noted 12x's are tough to focus with off hand. 10x42 on a tripod will find you a lot of game and i dont think 12's will ever find you anything that 10's couldnt have.

Preference deal though. 

[Bobby Bowman]

Thanks for the input. I got the 12’s! I’m excited to get them on a tripod and hopefully we find some deer!

[lamrith]

Quite a bit of the decision will hinge on your intended usage.  Here in W WA 12x50 is not going to be super useful.  Easter, or if you travel to hunt to open areas like AZ, they are very useful.  I will mirror others, 12x50 will be too much to hold and use.  Sure some people might pull it off, but it is difficult at best and just not enjoyable for the amount of time you typically would be behind such strong glass.

12x50 will be lighter than a spotter, and they are easier to look thru for extended periods (two eyes vs one), so if the magnification of 12x is enough I say go for it, but keep your 10's for hand use.

12x50 on a tripod were a game changer for me on my last Coues hunt in AZ.