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Meopta Meostar B1 Plus 15x56 are better overall optically than Swarovski SLC HD 15x56

What agrees with your eyes does not mean they agree with everyone else’s.

Someone could say Bushnell are better than Hensoldt. The fact that most guys would disagree and/or call them crazy doesn’t necessarily make them wrong.
 
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I was prepared to buy the Swaros and @gr8fuldoug suggested I seriously consider the Meoptas as they are so close optically I would not be disappointed. I did and I haven't been.
 
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Everyone's eyes are different. Some folks can see every subtle difference and color hue difference, some folks vision is not as acute. The Meopta in a side by side with the Swaro SLC will be extremely close. To some that difference is worth the $$$ to some it is not. Both are alpha quality and are the top 2 options in a 15x56
 
This is good to know. My 10x42 Swaros are indispensable- I use them daily on the ranch. Always wanted some 15x56’s but balked on laying down the coin. Great to have options….
 
Has anyone that has used both noticed if you can pick up trace sooner with the Swarovski? The one advantage I see mentioned over and over with Swarovski is the slight edge clarity advantage it has. Does that translate into picking up trace better/sooner.
 
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Has anyone that has used both noticed if you can pick up trace sooner with the Swarovski? The one advantage I see over and over with Swarovski is the slight edge clarity advantage it has. Does that translate into picking up trace better/sooner.
Maybe, maybe a slight edge in clarity, but the CA Swaro’s and Kahles have kills it for me
 
I just sent mine back in for a non warranty claim. They have been super impressive up to the point the tripod they were on was knocked over. The right ocular lens was chipped and the hinge was floppy loose. Erik got me squared away with a RMA and an address to ship them to. I’ll have to pay for the repair since it was a oohhhhnooo accident. He did advise that it might be 10 weeks before I see them again, which is a bummer. It sucks it happened but it seems that Meopta USA is on it getting the ball rolling to send the back to CZ for repair.

They will be missed while away and yes they are super clear and make seeing trace really easy.

To answer your original question… I spent a day behind a set of 15x Swarovski working a stage at the same time I owned my Meopta 15x binos. I prefer mine. Color looks better to me and mine are easier on my eyes after all day on glass.
 
considering the age of the swaro design it doesn't surprise me. look at the EL compared to the NL
 
Yes. And if you get a chance to look in mavens B series 15x Those are also fantastic and cheaper then swaro
 
Doug is right on this one. If a 100 people looked through them not knowing which is which & told to choose the best I bet it would be close. The slc has AK prism which tends to have higher light transmission but when I looked through my meopta next to the slc hd I didn’t see much difference at all. Only thing I thought was the slc maybe had slightly warmer color & meopta with a slight yellow neutral. The sandy dry desert dirt in the slc didn’t seem quite as yellow as the meopta. CA control was even. In the middle of the day I couldn’t see any difference in brightness, both were bright & super clear. Another big thing meopta has going is resale value & a lot of people who want to buy a used one in mint condition. I might have to call Doug & buy another meopta 15x because I sold mine a few years ago. I would like to see how the 15/18x UHD vortex compares but it’s probably enough more $$ to make the meopta the way to go.
 
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Doug is right on this one. If a 100 people looked through them not knowing which is which & told to choose the best I bet it would be close. The slc has AK prism which tends to have higher light transmission but when I looked through my meopta next to the slc hd I didn’t see much difference at all. Only thing I thought was the slc maybe had slightly warmer color & meopta with a slight yellow neutral. The sandy dry desert dirt in the slc didn’t seem quite as yellow as the meopta. CA control was even. In the middle of the day I couldn’t see any difference in brightness, both were bright & super clear. Another big thing meopta has going is resale value & a lot of people who want to buy a used one in mint condition. I might have to call Doug & buy another meopta 15x because I sold mine a few years ago. I would like to see how the 15/18x UHD vortex compares but it’s probably enough more $$ to make the meopta the way to go.
FWIW, we have the Meopta MeoStar B1 Plus 15x56 HD Binocular on sale for only $1,444.99 and a shipment arriving this week (we keep selling out)
 
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I haven’t considered Meopta for binoculars, not sure why because the Meostar r1 scope I had was phenomenal at the price point.

Anyway, I was basically set on a set of Vortex Razor UHD 12x50’s, but now the Meopta Meostar b1 12x50 has my attention.

Anybody able to compare the two?