Hi all. New here! I am saving up for a pair of binos for general animal observation and hunting in Canada. I'd like to cover all areas such as boreal forest to the rocky mountain regions. I am deciding to save up for the 10-52 or the 14-52. I would like to see lots of detail but have a good field of view as well. What would everyone recommend as I would like to make a buy once cry once purchase. Thanks so much. Let me know if you have any questions.
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Decision Time (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Aviator21
- Start date
Moved it
Yarkho
Optics afficionado
So this ended up in the "Swarovski" sub-forum. This company makes the NL Pure 10x52 (or 14x52) binocular, which would fit "buy once, cry once" purchase perfectly 👀
That said, are you sure you need a 52mm sized binocular? 10x52 would be a dusk glass. I have never looked through it, since it was not available at the local shop. I have looked through a 14x52 and liked it well enough (with the forehead rest), but the magnification is a bit big; I would prefer 10x. And you can get 10x42, which is lighter, and will do most things (except perhaps dusk) as good as the 52 one.
As ever, please try before you buy, there are many things about a binocular that can go either right or wrong for you (eye relief, haptics, weight, ...)
That said, are you sure you need a 52mm sized binocular? 10x52 would be a dusk glass. I have never looked through it, since it was not available at the local shop. I have looked through a 14x52 and liked it well enough (with the forehead rest), but the magnification is a bit big; I would prefer 10x. And you can get 10x42, which is lighter, and will do most things (except perhaps dusk) as good as the 52 one.
As ever, please try before you buy, there are many things about a binocular that can go either right or wrong for you (eye relief, haptics, weight, ...)
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From a few minutes of viewing through the 14x, I personally could not consider it if not mounted to a tripod. Reviews on YT from guys that routinely use the SLC 15x56 mounted on a tripod, suggest they are completely enamored of the NL14.
The 10x52 does give the field of view of the 10x42. I'd still think the quest for detail would require a solid tripod.
You'd probably enjoy either one.
You have had the best bit of advice, try before you buy. But….
I have the 10x42 and the 14x52 Pure’s and if I were to choose one as the perfect ‘all round’ pair then the 10x42 is the one.
I did think of trading it in for the x52 and tried them side by side but apart from the extra advantage in the morning or evening I felt the cost difference really wasn’t worth it (for me).
I discounted the 14x52’s when I first tested them but did buy them after trying a pair with the winged eyecups and the headrest. But the high magnification does limit their use in certain scenario’s. The 10x is by far the most universal jack of all trades and master of most. The weight difference and cost between the x42 and x52 might be the deciding factor depending on budget but both are quite superb.
Whichever you choose you will be getting a sublime pair of binoculars but they are an investment so again please do try if at all possible.
I have the 10x42 and the 14x52 Pure’s and if I were to choose one as the perfect ‘all round’ pair then the 10x42 is the one.
I did think of trading it in for the x52 and tried them side by side but apart from the extra advantage in the morning or evening I felt the cost difference really wasn’t worth it (for me).
I discounted the 14x52’s when I first tested them but did buy them after trying a pair with the winged eyecups and the headrest. But the high magnification does limit their use in certain scenario’s. The 10x is by far the most universal jack of all trades and master of most. The weight difference and cost between the x42 and x52 might be the deciding factor depending on budget but both are quite superb.
Whichever you choose you will be getting a sublime pair of binoculars but they are an investment so again please do try if at all possible.
Thanks so much everyone. Sorry I tried to move the thread myself after posting it in the wrong place but ended up just posting it again hahaha. That all makes a lot of sense. Especially being from Canada the dollar value doesn't help in the overall cost of the binos. I think the 10x would be a nice all rounder and I'd probably have to pair it with a spotter to get the best setup.
4.5K CAD - Saving up for it over the next 6-8 months
Its too bad I can't really try them out as where I live doesn't have any stock in any "high end" binos
Thanks - still figuring out the fourms hahaha
And thats what im thinking also. As the saying goes jack of all trades master of none. I'd rather have a 10 or 12 x for good fov and also save for a swaro spotting scope.... I'd better pick up some overtime
That's a good point about the dusk dawn spotting. If I was hunting I feel it would marginally help but maybe not a feature that would significantly improve my results.
Yarkho
Optics afficionado
Generally a sage advice. However, many of the $1000+ binos will do ~85% of the NL Pure, in terms of ergonomics, FOV, etc. This is another personal preference: If you won't be satisfied with anything but the best, buy the best.
Same goes for spotting scopes, although here you could factor in the Meopta S2 into consideration.
Jason Bugay Reyes
Well-known member
If you want to pair it with Swarovski scope, I would suggest to get the 12x42 NL (wide fov and lighter than 10x52 and 14x52) and ATC56 scope which starts from 17-40x. It should be able to cover you need to hunt from dusk to dawn with these combo and I have both too and have used it extensively in the rainforest. Even used it for night drive with powerful spotlight looking for mammals and birds. So far so good...
tenex
reality-based
Welcome to Birdforum, Aviator. Birders typically pair an 8 or sometimes 10x32/42 bin with a scope, but you may want more magnification for longer observation distances, and possibly(?) bigger glass for low light. I have 10 and 15x56 SLC and use the 15x much more often myself even for birding, so between 10 and 14(.4)x52 NL I would recommend 14, especially if you may often use a tripod (you didn't say?) as most find it harder to handhold than I do. Also worth consideration would be 12x42 which has a similar exit pupil to 14x52 but is easier to handle, and 12x could be a good compromise on magnification also. (The Leica 12x50 and recently discontinued EL are also excellent, with very good FOV by pre-NL standards. One could have wished for an NL 12x52.)
Barebly. See picture. I vote for the NL 12x42 too. The largest afov and not too heavy. More comfortable in the hands than the 52's imo.
The EL 12x50 is also really nice.
It's worth being clear in your head as to how much "general animal observation" you will be doing vs hunting. The reason being that when you are carrying the extra gear needed when hunting, weight and bulk of your chosen binocular becomes more of an issue if you plan to cover any distance - which might lead you towards x42 rather than x52. The 10x52 NL is a quite frankly stunning binocular optically (IMO anyway) but it's a 1kg binocular.
I have a really difficult time imagining the 14x52 as an all rounder (even though most of my birding involves scanning a long way off for raptors) but again, a lot depends on your intended use. But, if you are going to be spending lots of time glassing over vast North American landscapes and intend to be regularly carrying a tripod around (I found the 14x52 surprisingly hand holdable when I tried it, but wouldn't wish to be using it hand held the entire day) it may be just the ticket - for your individual requirements.
What do you currently use? Have you tried other outdoorsmen's binoculars and if so, which models/formats did you like?
I have a really difficult time imagining the 14x52 as an all rounder (even though most of my birding involves scanning a long way off for raptors) but again, a lot depends on your intended use. But, if you are going to be spending lots of time glassing over vast North American landscapes and intend to be regularly carrying a tripod around (I found the 14x52 surprisingly hand holdable when I tried it, but wouldn't wish to be using it hand held the entire day) it may be just the ticket - for your individual requirements.
What do you currently use? Have you tried other outdoorsmen's binoculars and if so, which models/formats did you like?
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