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Timberghozt
Board Founder
| Joined: | 11 February 2005 |
| Location: | Plaza De Los Armas, Mexico |
| Posts: | 5339 |
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Posted: 11 February 2007 06:07 PM |
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How many guys use a Swarovski?Do you feel it is worth the money you paid for it,?Or would you have been just as happy with a good Leupold,Burris or Zeiss???
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steve a
HB Pro Staff
| Joined: | 2 February 2007 |
| Location: | Highdesert,california |
| Posts: | 84 |
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Posted: 15 February 2007 05:55 PM |
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I never owned any but I used to sell them in a shop I worked at. The quality all around was outstanding. A Swarovski factory rep came in and gave us some training. He would take a pair and chuck them down across the floor like a bowling ball and nothing ever went out of adjustment. Other top of the line optics in side by side were close or as good but I can't remember any that were better. Especially in low light. Optics is one place where you do get what you pay for.
Keep in mind that I have'nt worked in the shop for nearly 15yrs so my stuff is a little dated but I assume that they are still top of the line.
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bea175
Board Founder
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Posted: 16 February 2007 01:39 AM |
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I don't think they are worth the cost compared to the VX 3 Leupold and the Zeiss Conquest. I have looked at them and wouldn't mind to own one but the quality of them over the Leupold and Zeiss just isn't there to justify the difference in cost..
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wyo300rum
Handloading Master
| Joined: | 20 December 2006 |
| Location: | California USA |
| Posts: | 1025 |
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Posted: 22 February 2007 11:21 PM |
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| I paid $750.00 for a pair of 10x42 SLC's years ago. I know they are more than double that now. I love them except the weight. I hated their hard eyecups too. I replaced them with their "winged" cups and that fixed that. I've compared them to many other midrange bino's I've had and they don't come close to the Swaros. I've looked at some Liecas and Zeiss and I don't see any difference than the Swaros. The Liecas are a little lighter though. A friend just bought a pair of 10x42 ELC's and they are lighter but have those same dammed eye cups !
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sdb777
Administrator
| Joined: | 16 October 2005 |
| Location: | Cabot, Arkansas USA |
| Posts: | 1269 |
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Posted: 23 February 2007 12:32 AM |
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I've looked through them, but that's about as far as I've gone. Guess the most expensive piece of glass I ever owned was a Leupold 24X....my 50BMG ate it, and it's always left a bad taste in my mouth to pay that much for any optic again(especially when a BSA has taken 750+ rounds out of the same rifle).
For me, top of the line is now Nikon Monarch stuff.....everything else is just too much cash for the name. At least for now, Nikon is still affordable....for now.
Now if someone was to give me a $4,000.00 scope, I guess being the nice guy I am....I'd take it.
Scott (I'd take a free turd) B
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OK Hunter
HB Life Member
| Joined: | 23 April 2007 |
| Location: | Stillwater, Oklahoma USA |
| Posts: | 118 |
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Posted: 30 June 2007 04:07 PM |
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I don't own any swarovski optics but another poster said it well, "with optics you get exactly what you pay for". I believe that.
There is a difference in Swarovski, Zeiss, Schmidt Bender and Kahles when compared to VXIII's, Burris Black Diamonds, Nikon Monarchs and the others but I'm not sure that I'm well versed enough in optics to tell a great amount of difference. I own a zeiss conquest and its a great scope. I think its brighter and clearer than my VX III but how much, I can't say.
I think the last 10 minutes of the hunting day is the tell tale sign and that most likely is when the high end shows its value. My next scope will be a kahles or swarovski.
My 2 cens.
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wolfkill
Handloading Master
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Posted: 1 July 2007 03:45 AM |
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sdb777 wrote: a Leupold 24X....my 50BMG ate it, and it's always left a bad taste in my mouth to pay that much for any optic again(especially when a BSA has taken 750+ rounds out of the same rifle).
sdb777 Leupold did replace it right? I've dropped binocs and stuff out of trees and they fixed them no questions and no charge.
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sdb777
Administrator
| Joined: | 16 October 2005 |
| Location: | Cabot, Arkansas USA |
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Posted: 1 July 2007 12:04 PM |
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wolfkill wrote: sdb777 wrote: a Leupold 24X....my 50BMG ate it, and it's always left a bad taste in my mouth to pay that much for any optic again(especially when a BSA has taken 750+ rounds out of the same rifle).
sdb777 Leupold did replace it right? I've dropped binocs and stuff out of trees and they fixed them no questions and no charge.
No, I was left with the repair bill.....not bad for 27 rounds on a 36lb rifle. Ended up sending it to a guy in Arizona for 'doubling' to 48X and a new reticle. Cost was reasonable, for what I had done. But I ended up selling it to a benchrest shooter for even money.
Would I buy another optic from Luepy? No, I'd rather deal with $39.99 Tasco's from Wal-Mart then to give that company another cent.
Standing strong with Nikon glass, all the rifles I've set them on have been improved due to there repeatability.
Scott () B
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sako06
addicted handloader
| Joined: | 22 July 2007 |
| Location: | California USA |
| Posts: | 493 |
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Posted: 23 July 2007 03:47 AM |
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| Too expensive for me. Leupold Vari X 2c 3x9x40 with a CPC Reticle have worked on Blacktails,Muleys,Elk & Bison for me .My longest shot was in excess of 600 yards using a custom tuned & bedded Sako Mod 2700 in 300wm at a huge mule deer doe in Colorado, at the packing house she hung with her nose just skimming the floor with the 6x6 & 7x7 mule deer bucks .I made a mistake telling the other hunters my approx location of the kill so the next year my favorite place was over run with campers and hunters.After that experience I always picked one location for my deer kills far away from the actual site but not like some CA hunters who gave coordinates 10 miles out in the Pacific Ocean or in the valley where the sun never shines. Last edited on 23 July 2007 03:48 AM by sako06
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Hi Ball
HB Life Member
| Joined: | 29 September 2007 |
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Posted: 24 October 2007 04:33 AM |
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Timberghozt, I don't use those high dollar bino's or rifle scopes! Once day I tested a pair of Swarovski's 12 x 50 against a pair of Pentax 10 x 50. I ended up purchasing the Pentax. They were less than 50% of the cost and as far as "low light" situations go, I don't hunt in the dark. I am very happy with the Pentax 10 x 50 DCF SP bino's.
I tried to compare apples to apples bought the store, didn't have any 12 power Pentax or 10 power Swarovski's for me to compare. Nonetheless, things worked out and I don't believe in my mind and eye's, they are worth the money compared to other bino's that get the job done. I don't need to see the eyelashes of an elk or kudu in low light, just know that it is a bull elk or kudu etc. that I am about to drop the hammer down on.
I also have a pair of 8 x 42 Bushnell Legends. Those bino's been all over the US and parts of Africa. They have served me very well, enableling me identify animals in the bush. I have no compliants about these $340 dollar pair of bino's either. They are waterproof and have a protective rubber covering around them.
Last edited on 24 October 2007 04:34 AM by Hi Ball
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sako06
addicted handloader
| Joined: | 22 July 2007 |
| Location: | California USA |
| Posts: | 493 |
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Posted: 24 October 2007 04:50 AM |
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| I have leupold 10x40 IF binocs,Bushnell 2 pair,nikon 8x20 & pentax 20x60 purchased a tripod for it good for seeking deer way out there.Scopes:Leupold (several),Bushnell Trophy 4x16x50 AO(a couple),Bausch & Lomb 3x9x40,Sightron, red dots.
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OkieHunter
HB Full Member
| Joined: | 19 June 2006 |
| Location: | Bartlesville, Oklahoma USA |
| Posts: | 26 |
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Posted: 31 October 2007 10:44 PM |
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| You have to pay way to much for the name, I'll stick to my Leupolds
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DHH45
HB Full Member
| Joined: | 19 November 2007 |
| Location: | Sand Springs, Oklahoma USA |
| Posts: | 9 |
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Posted: 10 December 2007 03:28 PM |
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I purchased a 3x12x50 30mm Swarovski two years ago and hunted with it for one year.. I didn't like the bulk of the 30mm and the cross hairs were not crisp and black like I'm used to on the Leupolds and one Zeiss that I have.. I traded it back to SWFA for two Leupold 4.5 x 14 x 40mm and some change.. My Swarovski 10x42 Binoculars I wouldn't trade for anything else I've had the opportunity to look through. . Just my personal taste of course..
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Hi Ball
HB Life Member
| Joined: | 29 September 2007 |
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Posted: 10 December 2007 05:41 PM |
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DHH-45....I spent 3 separate days looking through those expensive rifle scopes and bino's. The first day was very overcast with light drizzle coming down outside. However, I insisted that I look at them outside in natural light and under current weather conditions.
So called tests on binio's and rifle scopes are a good thing but bare in mind, it is after all YOUR EYES that are doing the looking OK. I went back 3 days later to the store and did the same thing on a very bright sunny day. I jotted down some notes on what I thought believed was the pro's and con's of looking through those various rifle scopes and bino's.
I visited 2 separate stores some 30 miles from each other. I also mounted two scopes a Swrsky. and a Leupold and then a Bushnell 3200 and Swrsky. I mounrws once again a Pentex and Swrsky. Then it was the Pentex verses Bushnell and Leupold. We looked out at various yardages, graded brightness, color, lenses cripness etc. We considered the weight and how they felt in our hands (bino's) and checked out eyerelief on those scopes. Targets as far as far 1500 yards away up on a hillside. I viewed several other targets at various more ethical hunting yardages, along with a friend of mine who was 22 years younger and who's eye's are much better as well.
I won't tell you that the Swsky. scope came in 3rd but I will tell you, I could NOT see anymore than a 10% difference (I am being liberal in this case) in clarity or any other thing such as color, brightness etc. I also came away thinking that the Bushnell 3200 rifle scope was a tad better all way around than the Leupold in those areas mentioned. It was surely a bargin to save the cost of $100 dollars verses the Leupold rifle scope. Images were just a wee bit sharper! We felt the same way about the bino's as well. The Swrsky's. were to heavy in the 50 x 12 power to begin with but we did give them a GO as well. The Leupold and the Bushnell bino's were very close to each other in all catagories, including price.
I wanted to also look at the Nikon Monarch, as they did beat out a Leupold scope in a test done earlier this year, which was put on the internet. I remember reading those results and if I can get the information whereabouts, I'll post it on this forum. I would assume therefore, that Nikon would also be a very good canadate for hunters to consider for their next rifle scope or set of bino's. They are surely within the confines of a working man or woman's bankaccount! Veary affordable OK.
Yes, there may very well be a difference in those highdollar bino's and rifle scopes when the sun is NOT yet up but in the 50 years I been hunting, I have never needed anything that showed the animal I am hunting better than a Roy Weaver rifle scope did back then. I must draw the line therefore, at my check book, when it comes to what rifle scope or set of bino's I am going to purchase. I just don't have an oil well iln the backyard yet!
Last edited on 10 December 2007 05:53 PM by Hi Ball
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DHH45
HB Full Member
| Joined: | 19 November 2007 |
| Location: | Sand Springs, Oklahoma USA |
| Posts: | 9 |
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Posted: 11 December 2007 09:09 PM |
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Hi Ball ......... Thanks for the incite on the Bushnell and Nikon Monarch.. I'm looking for another scope for my .340 Weatherby... Needless to say I want one that will hold together and have an adicate field of view. “BEAR”. I’ll have to look into both brands. Leupold’s new VX-7 2.5-10x45mm is as expensive as any Swarovski or Schmitt and Bender.. GOOD but not that GOOD..
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Hi Ball
HB Life Member
| Joined: | 29 September 2007 |
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Posted: 12 December 2007 01:31 AM |
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DHH-45, I'll tell you what I have presently on my "BEAR RIFLE", which is a model 70 Winchester .416 caliber. Now before I did this scope mounting, I had a long talk with the man at Leupold, prior to mounting this scope on the rifle.
The scope in question is a Leupold 2 x 7 power "Shotgun" scope, it has heavy reticules and is excellent in the woods, especially up close......NO FUZZY pictures when looking at bark on a tree 6 feet in front of you. I shoot 1.5 inch groups with this particular rifle, using 350 grain Swift A Frame bullets off a bench at 100 yards. It is much better to fire this rifle, offhanded by all means.
I have had the scope on this rifle since the year 2000 and no problems whatsoever OK. I also have the same type scope mounted on a .458-LOTT and have not had any problems with that scope either. Both those rifles have had over 350 rounds put through or better. I have a 1 x 4 Leupold "Shootgun" scope, mounted on a .375 Wby also! Once again no problems.
Last edited on 12 December 2007 01:32 AM by Hi Ball
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DHH45
HB Full Member
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Posted: 12 December 2007 12:43 PM |
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| HiBall- GREAT! I'll look at both of them..
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