Best 10x42 Binos besides Swarovski EL's?

Is there any binos around $1000 that compare to the Swaro's?

WEATHERBY460 said:

Is there any binos around $1000 that compare to the Swaro's?

Click to expand...

No, you get what you pay for with optics, ELs is what I have and I have looked through many, nothing else looks as good for my eyes.

Meopta Meostars will get you very close for under $1k. If military, with the discount, you will be way under $1k. I sat on a ridge glassing in WY with a buddy a few weeks ago. We switched glass back and forth. He had an older set of ELs and I had a new set of HD Meostars. I thought the Meostars were crisper. I don't know how much the new ELs would have compared... I assume better, but I sure am not disappointed in the Meoptas.

If I were staying under a grand, I would buy the Vortex Razor HDs.

I would definitely look at the Meoptas as well. I have a pair of the Cabelas Euro HD made by Meopta and the glass is great for the price. That said if Swarovski is on the table, buy once cry once.

I had the Cabelas Euro Hd as well, very good bino for the money, compared them to Swarovski EL and got rid of them, upgraded to the new EL Fieldpros last year and there's quite a difference. I guess it comes down to how much you glass, it always amazes me that people will have a 2k plus gun and have an inexpensive bino. You use your Binos more than anything hunting so to me it makes sense to have the best you can. Buy once cry once.

The SLC's are a grand cheaper than the EL's and have the same glass. Only minor differences in the lense coatings, weight, eye relief and feel of each unit. The SLC was designed to provide a bit better contrast in lowlight and EL shows better colors. You can regularly find both lightly used in the classifieds here and other forums for well below cost of new. I think you'd be much happier with a used pair of Swaro's over anything else that sells new for a grand.

I really would compare if possible. You could potentially be happy or happier with 1k glass vs $1.5 or $2.5k glass.
Some folks actually say the Meostar HD glass is a bit better than SLCs, myself included. You will find the strong proponents for $2.5k glass are the people who actually panned out the bucks for them. Do your research and compare if at all possible. Each of us interpret images differently. I would also bet that there are variances in individual pairs of the same models of binos.

A used set of Swarovski SLCs
If you look around you should be able to find a good lightly used pair for about $1000

I have the Meopta Meostar HD 10x42s as well. I have thousands of hours behind them. Amazing glass for the price. So nice, that I bought the 15x56 and a 20-70x82 spotter as well. Not even a little disappointed in my decision.

having had a few...
1) swarovski EL
2) leica
3)meopta , although meopta costs less and are extremely good bargain for the dollar

Another vote for the Meoptas and you can get them for $900, $675 used, make sure to get the HD model.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Meopta-Meo...=item52089bbcd0:g:xKQAAOSw9DJa1T1h:rk:10:pf:0

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cabelas-In...lope!91387!US!-1:rk:2:pf:0&LH_ItemCondition=4

GPO 10X42HD, zeiss conquest 10x42 HD, both are a grand, I feel the GPO piece has slightly more resolution and brightness, and they're made by former swaro engineers.

For a grand the zeiss conquest hd as stated above are very nice. I'm actually about to list mine for sale if interested for a big savings over new. I've had them for 4-5 years and have been awesome. I am only selling because I found a good deal on some leica noctovid and cant afford to keep both. If spending the big money I can recommend the noctovid as phenominal!
If interested in my zeiss send me a pm.
Good luck!