When DONT I use a 12x50? (1 Viewer)

[Scarletmacawdad]

I bird on the way coast with mostly wide open viewing conditions.

I have a 8x32 SV, 10x42 Noctivid, and a 12x50 SV.

For whatever reason I can hand hold the 50.

I have been pairing it against the Noctivid for a week now, and there is. I occasion I don’t see more with the SV.

The Noctivid view is gorgeous. But being closer is hard to beat.

Especially with raptors.

Thoughts?

 

[etudiant]

If you can hand hold the 12x50, it is the clear winner, better detail matters.
It may be simply an illusion, but one suspects the higher power glasses get a bit more manufacturing TLC, simply because they are more demanding to fit properly.
Note that once things get shaky, the IS binoculars from Canon are wonderful.

 

[Scarletmacawdad]

Thank you for that.

 

[chill6x6]

Along the coast, hard to beat the SV 12X50. Longer walks and such one might appreciate the 10X42. Of course the 10X42 has the FOV advantage when birds are closer. I've actually use all three of those along the AL/FL coast. If I have the 8X32 I usually have a spotting scope too.

 

[tenex]

"Being closer is hard to beat"... I agree, in your typical circumstances as in mine. The EL 12x50 is one of the very best binos today, and I like it despite not being a fan of the EL shape and ergos. I'd have one myself if I hadn't fallen for the SLC 56s instead. Most of the time I can handhold even the 15x well enough (around lakes, or for raptors) to profit from its magnification, as studies cited here suggest, although some find otherwise for whatever reasons. Enjoy!

 

[Scarletmacawdad]

Thank you all!

 

[David in NC]

The 12x50 SV is a special animal IMHO. I have related this here on this forum before but I was at the 2014 Birding Expo in Ohio and was shopping for a main binocular for birding. I was mainly looking for a 7x or 8x but Clay Taylor with Swarovski was there and making a special effort to show the 12x50. He specifically mentioned that he and others were of the mind that this particular 12x could be held as steady as a 10x. I had to agree after about 5 minutes, although at first I thought he was just "talking his product up." If-before I personally held it-someone told me this I probably wouldn't have believed them.

 

[mpeace]

You have 3 great binoculars there, each with their merits. I do think if you haven't put the 12x50 on a tripod yet you haven't experienced all it has to offer. On a good tripod when even the smallest micro-vibrations disappear it kind of transports you into the image in a way that you don't get however steady you can hand hold them - that would bring out all the 12s have to offer. Another big advantage is not having to support the weight of them for extended viewing.

I know the advantage of binoculars is their portability, but when coastal viewing if you're going to be in a single spot for a while it is worth the effort of setting a tripod up for the boost in detail and viewing quality you get. I'd say it's even worth it for 10s, but definately for higher magnifications.

 

[Tringa45]

mpeace has hit the nail on the head here.

A support makes SO much difference to the viewing experience with higher powered binoculars. However, tall lightweight inexpensive tripods are few and far between.
Stability is not as important at 10x to 15x magnification as it is with scopes but with bins one often views at elevated angles, so maximum tripod height should ideally be your own height minus about 10 cm. Add a small friction ball head and a platform bino adapter such as those from Leica or Swarovski and you should be able to view in the zenizh.

A monopod is a good compromise, not quite as relaxing as a tripod but nevertheless significantly better than hand-held and more easily portable. One then only needs a simple tilt head like a Manfrotto 234 or Sirui L-10. IMO though, most monopods are underdimensioned for this application as regards height and overdimensioned as regards stability.

John

 

[Jason Bugay Reyes]

If I have the 8X32 I usually have a spotting scope too.

I do the same too. Now using the 10x32