Advantage of better binoculars

[sako223]

a few years ago when I finally wised up to purchase better binos, I researched it heavily. At that time the 8x42 Leica was one of the highest rated binos for birders. Not only for clarity and light but steadiness. After handling many pairs side by side I agreed. The 8.5x42 Swaro were my second choice at that time.
Then I stumbled onto 10x42 Leica and couldn't resist the deal. The Leica is a bit heavier but the pivot seems a little beefier than the Swaro. not knocking Swaro just comparing.

[WDFW-SUX]

Id just use your X-RAY vision PJ...

Low light and eye fatigue are the issues that drove me into the 10x42 EL's....  I hunt westside archery elk and the 10x42 is preferable to the 8x42.  It really comes down to preference..my pard uses 10x42 leupold gold rings and they are just as good as my swaros 95% of the time.

I can use my swaro's in the middle of the night to spot elk in dark fields though

see into the dark shadows of the trees to pick apart the animals from the brush?

Yes it does make a difference in that scenario... especially if you are in a sunny spot looking onto the dark. Another one of my pards uses Stiner glass and missed deer in the shadows last year. I guess it just depends on if you care about missing a critter every now and then.

[USAFpj]

Hooh boy, just when I'm thinking about them Ultravid 8x42's, now you got me thinking about the 10x42's

[Bob33]

Hooh boy, just when I'm thinking about them Ultravid 8x42's, now you got me thinking about the 10x42's

They are both great binoculars, and each has advantages and disadvantages.  If you asked 100 hunters that owned both, you'd probably get close to a 50/50 split.  Personally, I give a slight edge to 10x but others like 8x.  You'd love either.

[WDFW-SUX]

Seriously its a personal preference thing.. If it works for you go with it.

[Wild Bill]

Well, You could just drag me along, and I'll spot em all for ya! (again)
Okay, okay just kidding. Im with ya hoss, been thinking about the swarvo's alot, but the ol lady may send me to your house for good!
I would really say this. Good knocks are a must if you use em a lot. I know dudes who have swarvo's and the likes, and my 12x50 Gold rings spot 100 to their 1. Why? I glass daylight to dark. If I can only see 10 ft in the brush I still use em... In the open, still use em. Dont matter where or what terrain... Sooo, I could justify the 1K for the knocks....

[USAFpj]

12x50, huh?  So that's why you hang by my side; you need me to help hold them things up in the air...

[whacker1]

the 15 minutes of light when you can see that it is a buck vs a doe because of the good binoculars whether it be in the morning to know that it is time to start the stalk or whether it be at dusk and you bed down a doe by accident for the morning stalk vs. looking for the next buck. 

A lot can happen in 15 minutes whether it be in the morning or in the evening; The goal is to be able to see it.

I upgraded this time last year from Steiner Big Horn 9 x 40's to the Zen Ray ED 10x43 and couldn't be happier.  Are they Swaro's - no
But I bet they hang with the leupold gold ring and the Vortex you mentioned. I use them a lot more and have picked up a couple animals I would normally have missed due to color and clarity.

[finnman]

Buy the best you can afford.
The problem is unless someone you know has a pair, you can't test them out in the early light of day.
I have a pair of Swarovski 8x30's my wife bought for me 12 years ago. I bought her a pair of Bushnell Elite 8x42 with Rainguard, there is no visible difference in the early morning or evenings. They are about $400 less and have a lifetime warranty.

[Wild Bill]

12x50, huh?  So that's why you hang by my side; you need me to help hold them things up in the air...

lol.... See, i'm not dumb...

[MtnMuley]

Eye fatigue is critical to me.  Some days I spend 8-10 hours glassing.  At the end of the day, I have no eye fatigue, and to that I credit Swaro.

[lilswab]

In my group of hunting buddies a few of us have invested in Swarovki Optics.  To this day we have never looked back.     Seriously the best thing in my hunting gear. 

the non-swarovki guys "its too dark for my Nikons, can you see anything with your SLCs?" 
Me, "ya, I just finished scanning the whole hillside, there are a few does, no bucks, lets move on!"

This is a daily thing when I'm hunting with my Swarovki 10x42 SLC binoculars.  I get a good 30 mins to glass before a resonably priced pair can even see clearly.  This is a HUGE advantage.  I glass like a mad man.  That is my style.  I live by it.  So the huge expense is easier for my to swallow since I use them so much.  Less eye fatigue + super clear = hunt longer and harder.

[Blsum]

the non-swarovki guys "its too dark for my Nikons, can you see anything with your SLCs?" 
Me, "ya, I just finished scanning the whole hillside, there are a few does, no bucks, lets move on!"

  I know who your talking about. I just wish I could afford a pair as good as he's got. Let alone yours.