So recently I purchased a Swarovski atx 65 spotter to upgrade my glass for mainly western hunting/spotting long range impacts target shooting. I love the scope but don't really have anything to compare it too, I had an old Nikon so this is night and day better. One thing I struggle with is my vision, I've kind of gotten used to it but if I can get the right equipment to make it better I do.For me with the spotter, I struggle finding anything unless I find it with bino's first. I was looking at either selling the atx for a btx or I've got a few rifles I don't shoot anymore than could be thinned to purchase it. Would it make more sense for say solely spotting deer/elk to run a btx along with quality 8 or 10x binos or go with a pair of quality 15x binos? I currently have some vortex uhd 10x42 binos that are decent but sadly I've looked through a lot of glass cheaper that seemed better.
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Swarovski btx vs 15x binos
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Huntnful
Well-Known Member
I would personally get the binos. The BTX just isn't that realistic of a tool IMO. It's far too magnified for moderate distances out to say 1500 yards. Then beyond that, where it excels, you can see animal figures out to crazy yardages, but can't see whether they're good enough to go after sometimes because it's a fixed 30X.
Ckleeves
Well-Known Member
Huntnful covered it pretty well. The BTX has a distance where it really excels but the other 80% of the time it's just a real heavy weight in your pack. When you can really put it to use it's an awesome tool but it's pretty specialized.
I feel like top notch 10's or 12x binos with a tripod adapter are kinda the foundation of a good glassing setup. Now that tons of guys are jumping to NL Pures there are some deals out there on SV EL's in both 10's and 12's and those won't really leave a guy wanting (as long as you don't look thru a pair of NL's lol).
15's are sweet for a lot of different terrain but they are starting to get a little specialized and they suck to handhold. And they aren't light. I feel like 12's are a good compromise for all arounders if you do lots of tripod glassing but you can also handhold them when needed.
I feel like top notch 10's or 12x binos with a tripod adapter are kinda the foundation of a good glassing setup. Now that tons of guys are jumping to NL Pures there are some deals out there on SV EL's in both 10's and 12's and those won't really leave a guy wanting (as long as you don't look thru a pair of NL's lol).
15's are sweet for a lot of different terrain but they are starting to get a little specialized and they suck to handhold. And they aren't light. I feel like 12's are a good compromise for all arounders if you do lots of tripod glassing but you can also handhold them when needed.
Thanks for the info! I think that is where I'll lean toward is some better binos, maybe upgrade the tripod. I've already made the mistake of looking at the nl's but I think I could survive with the el's! Boy they sure are nice though.
100percent
Well-Known Member
Good advice so far! I haven't played with the pures yet (by design) but, can say the EL's of all stripes are plenty good.
I will add that the btx starts with the 95. Pairing with the 65 will disappoint! Unlike some here, I'm crazy about the btx for the way I hunt but, it is definitely a specialty tool.
I will add that the btx starts with the 95. Pairing with the 65 will disappoint! Unlike some here, I'm crazy about the btx for the way I hunt but, it is definitely a specialty tool.
socalhunter88
Well-Known Member
I just sold my 18x mavens and went with the btx. The binos were great, verdict is still out on the Btx. I'll make a decision after the season but it's a lot of weight in the pack and it's oddly shaped.
PNWdude67
Well-Known Member
NL Pure! The new 14x will blow everything else away. I used the 12x on my recent hunt and I have an Atx/Btx system as well. What swaro is doing with the NL Pure lenses is revolutionary. The field of view and color accuracy is what sets them apart from the rest imo.
1wildcatfan
Well-Known Member
15s on a tripod, 10s in a chest pouch. I quit taking my spotter on hunts, only use it at the range. Couple of friends have the BTX. They're "cool" and fun to play with, but spend most of the time in their pack. I could buy two Seekins rifles for what the BTX cost.
I just got back from a Coues deer hunt. I used my new NL Pures and they're fantastic. I had a pair of 10 yr old Swarovski 15x56's and replaced them with the NLs. They're IS a significant improvement in glass. The edge to edge clarity and low light ability is where they really stand out. They're actually 14.7x52. I actually carry 2 pairs of Binos, the 10's for in close 600-700 and in for a wider field of view and the 14.7's for further out. If I'm hiking into an area I know requires further out glassing then my Kowa 553 comes along and the 10's stay in the CanAm. Get a pair of the new 14.7 NL's and don't look back.
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IMO the BTX is a highly specialized tool for long distance (1500 yds plus) glassing. And it's fantastic when you need it. Coues WT and Desert Bighorn are prime examples.
But for the vast majority of my time I utilize Swaro 12 power binoculars paired with an ATX spotter. I haven't used my 15's for years now and need to sell them. I know quite a few people who have switched from Swaro 15 HDs to the 12x42 NLs...for a reason.
But for the vast majority of my time I utilize Swaro 12 power binoculars paired with an ATX spotter. I haven't used my 15's for years now and need to sell them. I know quite a few people who have switched from Swaro 15 HDs to the 12x42 NLs...for a reason.
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I'd like to someday get a BTX but, I would get a 95mm objective before I did that. I use my 65mm ATX with a phone adapter, Olin, and it works great and is much easier to look at for extended periods of time compared to just the spotter. Adding a 95mm objective would make that even better. I do a lot of glassing with my 10x42 SLCs on the tripod and then throw the spotter up to get a closer look. I have a bunch of good photos of deer, elk, and antelope using the spotter and the Olin with my phone. Let me add, the BTX for me would be a specialty tool, something to take when I go to AZ and when I'm hunting really big country and needing to glass really far, my 10s do just fine for anything else. I can spot game pretty ridiculously far with them for initial spots.
MighteyWhiteHunter
Well-Known Member
I think it is totally personal preference. I have NL 10x42s, SLC HD 15x56, BTX 85mm & doubler, and I have an STX 65mm + 2 tripods and heads. I rarely carry all 4 but sometimes I do depending on what I am doing.
I use my 10xs and 15xs Tripodded the most. BTX's 3rd and use the 65mm spotter the least. I really like the BTXs for scouting and for specific western hunts. I rarely carry them while I am mountain hunting due to weight and size.
Your hunting style and budget really are the determining factors for the type of Glass you have and use. In my opinion If I were you with no budget, I would get NL 10xs, NL 14xs and keep your spotter, then down the road if you really wanted to do a lot of long range glassing you could get the BTXs.
I use my 10xs and 15xs Tripodded the most. BTX's 3rd and use the 65mm spotter the least. I really like the BTXs for scouting and for specific western hunts. I rarely carry them while I am mountain hunting due to weight and size.
Your hunting style and budget really are the determining factors for the type of Glass you have and use. In my opinion If I were you with no budget, I would get NL 10xs, NL 14xs and keep your spotter, then down the road if you really wanted to do a lot of long range glassing you could get the BTXs.
My son always carried 10x42 ELs, 15x56 HDs and a spotter. I made him use my 12x42 NLs for 1 day Coues hunting...he gave them back 4 days later and sold his 10's and 15's and bought the 12 NLs.
The 14x52's are pretty spectacular though.
The 14x52's are pretty spectacular though.
