Visit the SWFA.com site to check out our current specials. |
Vortex Kaibab 15x56 and Swarovski SLCneu 15x56 |
Post Reply |
Author | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Online Points: 13182 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Posted: December/07/2009 at 04:11 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Vortex Kaibab 15x56 and Swarovski SLC 15x56 Binoculars
Technically speaking, this started a while back when Vortex asked me if I am interested in reviewing their new Kaibab 15x56 binoculars and I politely declined. The reasoning for that was simple: I like to compare products to their competition, rather than review standalone products. "Big Eyes" are generally not my cup of tea, so I really had nothing to compare it to. The bad part was that I really liked this binocular when I looked at it during SHOT show and wanted a chance to play with it. Now, if I were to compare the Kaibab to something, it would have to be the current "king of the hill" in the world of Big Eyes: a similarly configured Swaro SLC, which was the design target for the Kaibab. Luckily, SWFA has stepped up and allowed me to borrow a Swaro SLC 15x56 from the Samplelist. Here is the short version: Both are exceptionally nice binoculars. Swaro has a slight edge as far as pure image quality. However, the Vortex is more user friendly owing to its longer eye relief and, arguable, better eyecups. Once price comes into the conversation (and Swaro is appreciably more expensive), this becomes a difficult choice. Unless you wear glasses, that is. Then the choice is easy, go awith the Vortex. When wearing contacts I preferred the Swaro. When wearing glasses I opted for the Vortex every time. Now for the long version. Just about any 15x56 binocular is going to be fairly massive. It has to be. Here are some basic specs:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Very nice, thorough review, Ilya! Thanks for posting!
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
mike650
Optics God Joined: May/14/2006 Location: West of Rockies Status: Offline Points: 14569 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
“A hunt based only on trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.” – Fred Bear
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
brocknroller
Optics GrassHopper Joined: October/10/2009 Status: Offline Points: 1 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Thanks for that very detailed review, Ilya.
And for posting the pix. Wow! The Swaro is the size of Texas. :-) One thing I would like to know is if the low-dispersion HD glass in the Vortex made a noticeable difference in controlling the amount of chromatic aberration, particularly on targets set against a high contrast background. At 15x, I would expect the HD glass to make a difference. Unless you happen to be one of those lucky guys who doesn't see chromatic aberration! Thanks. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Online Points: 13182 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
There was a little Chromatic Aberration in both binoculars. I did not see a whole lot of practical difference between them in that regard. I suspect that both use some sort of extra low dispersion glass in their objective lens systems. As a general comment, if you are talking about minimizing CA, "HD glass" is a misnomer. ILya
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
lucytuma
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: November/25/2007 Location: Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 5389 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Great info Ilya, always welcome your great reviews.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." - Thomas Jefferson
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
JGRaider
Optics Master Joined: February/06/2008 Status: Offline Points: 1540 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Excellent info Ilya (as usual). Thanks for your time and effort. Are the Kaibab's Japanese, Chinese, or what?
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Online Points: 13182 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Japanese, to the best of my knowledge. ILya
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tranan
Optics Apprentice Joined: February/09/2009 Status: Offline Points: 85 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Very happy to read your review. It brought a little bit of light in some areas that were still dark and reinforces once again an old opinion about the value of a Vortex.
It's always good when the germans get some competition.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
CHARLIE DON'T SURF!
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kickboxer
MODERATOR Moderator Joined: February/13/2008 Status: Offline Points: 23679 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you try the "kicking around the parking lot" test???
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.
There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Online Points: 13182 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
That is something I generally try not to do with $1k+ binoculars. ILya
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bird Watcher
Optics Master Joined: August/30/2006 Status: Offline Points: 1523 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Here's something that I came across recently, so I thought that I would pass it along to anyone who might find it interesting reading.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Post Reply | |
Tweet
|
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |