Binocular Comparison

[CannonBallZ]

This may be a worn out topic to some, but I've been using Leupold BX-1s for a while and am sorely in need of an upgrade. I will be getting a tax refund this year and want to use part of it on a fresh pair of boots(eyeing the Danner pronghorns at present) and a new set of binos. My initial thought is to keep my BX-1s for my chest harness and then lug around a pair of 15x56 or 18x56s in my backpack to mount on my tripod. The main idea being that I'll upgrade my chest binos next to something higher quality. 

 

The two binoculars I've got my sights on are the Athlon Cronus Gen II 15x56 for about 700 or the Maven C4 18x56 for about 550. I've heard the Maven are comparable to the Vortex Kaibabs(that are 2x the Mavens price) but I know that the glass is a tier below Mavens B5 lineup. I'm really tempted to go for the Cronus for the small price jump.

 

I did recently go look at some binos at bass pro just to see the difference. I got to try to 10x42 Swarovski ELs, Leupold BX-4 Pro Guide HD Gen 2, Zeiss Conquest HDX, and the Vortex Vipers. I noticed the Vipers had a blue tinge to them and Leupolds seemed clearer. The swarovskis and zeiss were very similar, I didn't notice anything but then again my target was just about 80 yards away indoors. So the intricacies that come with testing outdoors in different light settings was lost to me. I'm also generally not sure what to look for. 

 

I would go for a Leica/Zeiss/Swarovski if I could find one <1k  in a 15x or above. But until I see a deal like that I'm sifting through the mid tier binos that should still blow my BX-1s out of the water.

 

If anyone has any suggestions or comments I'd appreciate it. I'd love to hear about other opinions on what I should look into.

Thanks again for reading!

[yotebuster]

Dig up another $500 and get a good used set of swaro 15’s.  You’ll be able to sell them for $1500 for the rest of your life.  If you buy some mavens or athalons for $800-1000 (with tax as you’ll be buying new) you’ll get $300-600 for them if you ever sell them. 

[sherman]

I have used cheaper vortex and leupold  10x42 and even some vortex 15x56 and other 15x56 I have settled on leupold bx4 12x50 pro guide I love them I found for me 12s are the sweet spot for me. I can spot deer at over a mile and tell buck or doe. I only carry thses. Would like to look at the bx5 in 15x56 but feel I will not be overwhelmed with the difference. This is just my 2 cents

[Shawn]

Sig zulu 9 15x56 are the best bang for the buck IMO. I have had most all of the binos in the 14 to 18 power at some point

[dustin25]

If you have a grand and want the best 15s you can get, find some meopta meostars. dang good binoculars. Can be found for 800-1k if you keep an eye out. I’ve told a lot of people over the years, I do prefer my swaros, but if I lost them I’d just start using my meoptas and not feel like I’m missing a thing

[Viper]

Take a look at Red Hawk Rifles. They have reduced prices on "demo" optics, brand new condition with full warranty. I bought my demo Zeiss rifle scope from them for about $300 less than retail. Not one mark on them. I see they have a Zeiss 10x40 SFL for $1200. They also have the Terra model for $300. Not sure how those stack up.

https://redhawkrifles.com/demo-optics/

[HNTNGUY]

15 hours ago, dustin25 said:

If you have a grand and want the best 15s you can get, find some meopta meostars. dang good binoculars. Can be found for 800-1k if you keep an eye out. I’ve told a lot of people over the years, I do prefer my swaros, but if I lost them I’d just start using my meoptas and not feel like I’m missing a thing

Great advice. I use NL's but have a buddy that has the Meopta's and they are a great bang for the buck. Id put the 15's up against the Swaro 15's any day of the week. 

[Shawn]

I had the meopta HD plus 15s for about a year.  To me the 20% on edges was horrible, like unusable.  The other 80% was great.  

[CatfishKev]

My advice would be buy some high ankle work boots to hunt with (just for now) and put the extra funds towards glass.  Id consider keeping your glass you have for general glassing and maybe buy a kowa 66mm straight spotter with a zoom eyepiece and a 30x wide angle eyepiece. Scan with your binos look closer with the spotter.  

  Then when funds allow buy a second and an Adams adapters plate and build yourself a pair of duel kowa big eyes.  Just a thought.  

In my experience you don't actually need expensive glass to find deer, but a good spotter will let you verify if it's worth chasing.  

Just some food for thought.  

[Siwash]

If you are in Tucson skip the boots and buy these: https://tucson.craigslist.org/spo/d/tucson-swarovski-sl15x56wb/7911263369.html

 

 

[wildwoody]

There's alot of great bino's out there, at a very wide range of quality and price, very wide range. The biggest thing i was taught is that the objects should be just as clear on the outer ring of the glass as the center. Clarity, clarity, clarity. Then choose a brand you like. I like Zeiss.

And what the wife will let you get away with. I would also add from experience, if this is your last glass purchase spend the extra so you'll never be wanting more. Last but not least I have found a good tripod makes all the difference with any thing over 12x.  Oh ya and can you glass into the sun with them without glare. Sorry I'm done

[Zeke-BE]

Athlon are good.  Not as great in the bino world.  The best bang for your buck will be Meotpa.     But the Swas NL Pure are truly next level... 

[CatfishKev]

There's a pair of minox 15s for 575 and a pair of meoptas for 900 in the classifieds right now