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Message: <blockquote data-quote="tenex" data-source="post: 3674963" data-attributes="member: 135233">You helped inspire me to visit my (not so) local Cabela's and see these Swaros myself for the first time.  (We used to have a fine family-owned shop that carried all the top brands, but they retired.)My experience was the mirror image of yours.  Even though I was curious about stepping down 3X to get something easier to hold than my 15x60, my experience of the 12x50 EL wasn't super exciting considering the price tag.  I did prefer it to the 10x50, but basically it's another familiar roof prism, very well done of course, nice size, 12x works for me, eyecups a bit odd (stepping up then down again so smoothly they don't really lock).  Focus didn't quite snap as I'd like; does it have more DOF than expected, or too much travel?  Couldn't really evaluate subtleties in a store, but no obvious faults, which is really quite an achievement.The 15x56 SLC HD absolutely blew me away.  Just wow.  A different quality of view that I'd have needed more time to study and describe... even looking at a stuffed elk near a store window.  It handled and balanced very well, feeling light for its size rather than dense like the EL.  Tack sharp, very fine detail, though a challenge to enjoy with more jitter due to the higher power.  These would be stunning on a tripod.  Going back to the EL seemed rather... boring.  If they made a 12x56 SLC that would be ideal for me.Why is there such a dramatic difference here?  It can't be just a modest advantage in brightness, can it?  Damn.  Now I really want an SLC, though I should choose 10x instead of 15.  It's hard for me to justify either way."First world problems", as a friend likes to say...</blockquote>

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