Looking for some "big eyes".

[jrsolocam]

I'm looking for some 12x-15x binos and have narrowed it to these:

Vortex Viper HD 12x50 $660
Vortex Kaibab 15x56 $1200
Bushnell Elite 12x50 $900
Meopta Meostar HD 12x50 $1200
Minox 13x56, 15x56 or 15x58 ED.

Please share your experience and/or opinions, thanks. I'll be using it off a tri-pod and would rather spend $600 vs $1200

 

[toddc]

Who needs a tripod? Canon IS 15x or 18x either one. And the viewing with them beats anything on a pod. Even a pod view shakes because your head shakes. An IS doesnt, its like looking at a video on a TV. The canon glass is comparable to what you listed and you dont need a tripod. They are electronic so thats a minus but so are LRFs. Mine are 13 yrs old and still chugging along. Even if glass can resolve detail if its moving you cant truly SEE it due to the design of your eyes.
And sorry for being off topic but you oughta look thru a pair before you decide. I have big german binos @ 15x and I use the canons.
Whatever you buy look thru it for 12 hrs before you buy. No im not kidding I will sit in a store glassing all day before I buy. Thats the ONLY WAY to really get glass that fits YOUR EYES. Everyone is different.

 

[Nitroman]

If you are going to spend $1200 on glass get yourself a previously owned Leica.

 

[Browninglover1]

The Kaibabs are awesome. They fit my eyes better than the swaros and have a great image. You can find them on eBay for around $900.

 

[Sako7STW]

I am with Toddc. Canon's all the way. I love my 15x50's!

 

[MPeoples]

I'm looking for some 12x-15x binos and have narrowed it to these:

Vortex Viper HD 12x50 $660
Vortex Kaibab 15x56 $1200
Bushnell Elite 12x50 $900
Meopta Meostar HD 12x50 $1200
Minox 13x56, 15x56 or 15x58 ED.

Please share your experience and/or opinions, thanks. I'll be using it off a tri-pod and would rather spend $600 vs $1200

Look at the NIKON 12X50 SUPERIOR E nice Porro Bino 5 degree FOV only draw back they are not water Proof price around under $900 bucks . The same goes for Canon 15x50 IS not w/p either. If you want a higher Mag. go with the Vortex Kaibab.

Best
Mike

 

[jrsolocam]

Thanks for the input. Anyone compare the Viper HD to the Kaibab?

 

[Browninglover1]

Thanks for the input. Anyone compare the Viper HD to the Kaibab?

I've looked through the 10x42 Viper HD's but never the 15x50 HD's. I looked at buying the Vipers instead of the Kaibabs, but I found a few reviews that said when you put them side by side the Kaibab was noticeably better so that's what I bought.

The Kaibab has honestly never left me wanting for more and fits my face better than the Swarovski. The few comparisons of the Swaro 15's and the Kaibabs state that the Swaro's are just a little bit better than the Kaibab but if you have narrow set eyes the Kaibabs are the much better choice. I don't consider my eyes to be narrow, but the Kaibab's were much more comfortable to look through then the Swaros.

Call Doug or Neil at Cameraland and ask them what they think about the Viper HD compared to the Kaibab. The advice they have given me has always been spot on when asking their opinions about optical quality of different binos or spotting scopes.