12x NL Pure vs 10x and 15x binos?

[TimberHunter]

Currently have zeiss SF10x32 (may consider selling them if you’re interested). Considering making the jump to NLs 12x42 or getting some 15’s.

If I when the NL route, they be my primary chest bino that I’d also mount on a tripod. I also carry a spotting scope.

Would you go with 12’s and a spotter or 10s, dedicated 15s on a tripod and a spotter?

Edit: this is for western hunting for mule deer and some elk. Not a trophy hunter but I’m becoming more and more selective, especially with deer. I tend to glass far distances which is why I’m not giving up the spotting scope


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[wnelson14]

Depends on Hunt application and country, meat hunter, or lookign for an old trophy?

Spot and stalk archery deer I would want 15s on Tripod with 8s in the chest, but if you're camping with everything on your back, I would go 8/10s and light spotter.
Elk rifle might be NL12 and a small or even no spotter.
Rifle Mule Deer depending on what you're looking for but you could go with either option above,

If you want ballistics, I would go range finding binos and then stick to the high end 15s off a tripod.

 

[nphunter]

For a good all around setup I like 8’s, 14’s and a spotter. I always have a the 8’s, this weekend for medium range elk I’ll carry the 14’s in the pack and use them for glassing. For high country deer or elk I’m taking all 3, same for rifle deer. I’m not going after an elk unless I think he’s 330” or a deer unless he’s old and mature or a stud.

Big binos aren’t good enough to identify antler size if your picky, 8’s FOV can pick up animals you might otherwise overlook. Also with my 8x32’s I can glass all day, the 14’s and Spotter become useless mid day depending on weather and heat waves.

 

[Ajsomp]

I’ll preface - I primarily backpack hunt and don’t set up a base camp. So I tend to be weight conscious. I run a 10x42 RF w/ballistics in my bino harness and a 12/14/15 on the tripod if I carry a second set. I carried a spotting scope previously but honestly I use my spotting scope mostly for shooting vs hunting.

I’m going to run a pair of GPO 15x50s this year alongside my 10x42 sig kilo10k. I’ll upgrade my sigs to the Revic sometime in the future.

 

[Steve O]

Right now I use 12 NL and a spotter for all my western hunting. I used 10-15 Duovids as my 15s and 10x42 EL prior. 12NL are awesome in every way. Same FOV as the 10 EL and 2x more for my aging eyes. I don’t freehand glass much and when I do I find the 12s with the headrest are not a problem. Now that the 14 NL are out I’ve considered moving to those and the 10 NL but I’m pretty darn comfortable right now. I spotted and identified the Desert ram in my profile pic with those 12s at right around 2.5 miles; they are spectacular.

 

[Blackbird]

I fought this 12 vs 15 battle with myself this offseason as well and ended up going with the SFL 12s and a spotter for all my hunting I can hand hold them when I need to but my objective is to get somewhere and get them on a tripod. Then use the spotter to get a better look at what was already found. It all comes down to personal preference I don’t think you can go wrong either way.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I use the 12’s and an ATC all mule deer hunting… there are times when I think the NL 8’s or 10’s would be nice, maybe free handing, but on a tripod which is how I do 95% of my glassing the 12’s are amazing, you can free hand with the headrest without too much shake as well

 

[Clarson757]

Anyone want to trade NL 8x42 for my 12s? My 12s are mint. Just cleaned and serviced by swaro, no damage ever and always used lense cap and objective covers even inside my harness. Outdoorsmans stud installed.

 

[TimberHunter]

Anyone want to trade NL 8x42 for my 12s? My 12s are mint. Just cleaned and serviced by swaro, no damage ever and always used lense cap and objective covers even inside my harness. Outdoorsmans stud installed.

You’re welcome to start you own for sale/trade post lol


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[Tahoe1305]

I use the 12’s and an ATC all mule deer hunting… there are times when I think the NL 8’s or 10’s would be nice, maybe free handing, but on a tripod which is how I do 95% of my glassing the 12’s are amazing, you can free hand with the headrest without too much shake as well

10x and ATC for the hunting he describes would be pretty solid.

 

[Tahoe1305]

Fwiw I owned the 10x32 SFs for a while. Personally I think they compromised a bit on eye placement sensitivity. I got blackouts often.

I have 12x NLs now and they are much better. I really want to try the 12x SFLs.

If someone wants to buy the used SFLs from me for $1550 I’ll snag some and do a comparison!

I think you’d like 12x for a single bino or 8/10x if you wanted to combine for more magnification.

Personally I don’t think 15x can do what a spotter can 8/10/12x to find movement. Spotter to count tines (beyond 1200yds or so).

 

[kota]

I tried to go with just 12s and a spotter, and lasted a season before I sold the 12x NLs and replaced them with 10x ELs. The 12s were awesome on a tripod but too much to free hand. This was especially true on a stalk trying to relocate a bedded deer without being able to get set up solid or when still hunting the thick stuff. Much happier with 10s, and can still spot deer with them from a long ways on the tripod. Unless you are one of those lucky people that can glass effectively with a spotter, my vote would be 8s (or 10s if you are happy with what you have), 15s and a spotter.

 

[mainbeam pursuit2]

I did the same as kota, except my 10's are NL's. It's a system that is working out well for me.

 

[dirtytough]

I spotted 2/3 of the deer with 12 NL’s vs my brother who was using 8.5 EL’s at the time. Lots of free handing and glassing from 100-800 yards. And not only that I could identify it a lot easier size wise with the 12’s.

After that hunt it would be hard for me to take 8’s over 12’s unless I was mainly hunting tighter ranges.

 

[mighteywhitehunter]

I think it is a personal choice, I hunt Archery, Muzz and Rifle so for me I use NL 10s and 14s + Spotter or BTXs. If you were only a Rifle hunter I could see going 12xs and spotter but I think for versatility it is hard to beat having 10xs.

 

[cxtressler]

I think you’re right on the money with 12’s and a spotter. 12’s are great on a tripod and still work in your chest.

 

[Clarson757]

Anyone with the NL 8x42 - are you having any issues with edge clarity? Compared to the 12x the edge clarity on my 8x is noticeably poorer.

 

[roweraay]

Anyone with the NL 8x42 - are you having any issues with edge clarity? Compared to the 12x the edge clarity on my 8x is noticeably poorer.

Just replied in that other thread. My 8x42NL has no edge clarity issues. Sharp to the outer edge.

I am planning to add either the 12x42 or the 14x52 to supplement the 8x42NL. I briefly had the 12x42NL in the past, and I found it to be very steady when hand-held, and with the forehead rest. Steady enough to read small print from a good bit of distance.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

The NL 14s completely take a dump on any current offerings in 15 power. The image and FOV are just insane for a 14.7 power bino. The image side by side even with multiple pairs of NL12s is somehow superior.

They are also lighter in the pack , and while not as durable as my Meopta 15s, they are proving to do well so far in nearly daily use with durability on par with SLC 15s.

The setup for me for 95+% of hunts is going to be very similar to what I’ve used for the last 5 years. Range finding binos in the chest harness and larger binos in the top of pack for quick access onto a tripod.

Last few years has been Meopta 8x50 RF binos paired with Meopta or Swaro 15s. The last 9 months has been Revic BLR10B RF binos with ballistics on board and Swaro NL 14s. The new combo has been nothing short of fantastic and I’d recommend that combo to anybody.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Anyone with the NL 8x42 - are you having any issues with edge clarity? Compared to the 12x the edge clarity on my 8x is noticeably poorer.

The one pair of 8 power NLs I looked through was really really good. I’ve owned two pairs of the 12s and two pairs of the 14s.

The 14s image is just something special honestly. It’s been noticed by other folks who do a ton of glassing and have compared the 12s side by side to the 14s. I was talking with @huntnful about it, and I’m not really sure if there’s anything inherently different but it’s been every pair of 14s I’ve ever looked through including the pre release models sent to outdoorsmans here in AZ.