Anyone using Vortex UHD 12x50 binos?

[samb300]

I’m shopping around for my first set of good binos for next season of prs-style match shooting. No plans for hunting or birding or anything like that.

I wear Rx glasses when I shoot, so eye relief is a huge factor for me. I really struggle with seeing the full FOV on even high end binos like the Swaro 15x56 which are listed at 16mm eye relief.

I’ve noticed that I tend to like the 12x power a little more than 15x, mostly because my local match has more field type stages where the targets can be quite far apart. It’s easier to find targets and have multiple targets in the FOV with the wide angle of 12x.

That being said, the Bushnell Forge 15x56 has by far the longest eye relief out there. But I’d like a little better glass and a smaller/lighter package if possible. Has anyone tried the new “UHD” Vortex 12x50 binos? I’m actually in Milwaukee, so push come to shove I could drive the 2 hours to Vortex to try them out in person.

I know the Swaro EL 12x50 are probably the pinnacle of the 12x binos. But they are at least $1000 more than the street price of the Vortex, and their 19mm eye relief really isn’t that much due to the depth of the eye cups (confirmed in person and on a bino review I found online).

Any help/advice is appreciated, thanks!

Sam

 

[Carl_Ross]

Sam,

I haven't, but in the range you are looking I'd seriously consider the Meopta 12x50's. The glass is very very good, and you can find some deals on them as well. I got my Cabela's Euro HD branded pair off of eBay for $1,000. I use mine for hours at every match, and highly recommend them.

 

[samb300]

Sam,

I haven't, but in the range you are looking I'd seriously consider the Meopta 12x50's. The glass is very very good, and you can find some deals on them as well. I got my Cabela's Euro HD branded pair off of eBay for $1,000. I use mine for hours at every match, and highly recommend them.

I'd like to (and have looked online) but the eye relief is only listed as 15mm...so that's a no-go for me unfortunately.

 

[Carl_Ross]

Roger that. I'm not a glasses wearer anymore, but I definitely can't get a full field of view with them while wearing shooting glasses. Good call.

 

[gr8fuldoug]

IMO the 2 best 12x options, without going for the Swarovski are the Meopta MeoStar 12x50 and the GPO 12.5x50 Passion HD
It would be our pleasure to discuss options with you, 516-217-1000

 

[kindabitey]

I've got the 18x UHD's. I also wear Rx glasses, but not when shooting. I'll check the eye relief with my glasses on, and advise shortly.

 

[samb300]

Thanks for the suggestion though @Carl_Ross ! I've heard a lot of good things about the Meoptas.

I just checked my old pair of Nikon Monarch 8x42 which are listed as 19.5mm eye relief, and I have no problem seeing full FOV with my Rx shooting glasses on. Even with the eye cups adjusted out a little they're good. They're just too low of power and too low clarity for me to dedicate them for match use.

The Swaro 15x56 at 16mm don't give me a full FOV, so I'm extremely wary that the Meopta 12x50 at 15mm would be the same or any better @gr8fuldoug

 

[gr8fuldoug]

The ER on the GPO is 16.5

 

[samb300]

I've got the 18x UHD's. I also wear Rx glasses, but not when shooting. I'll check the eye relief with my glasses on, and advise shortly.

Those are listed as 18mm eye relief, while the 12x50 is listed at 17mm. If you have an easy time on the 18x UHDs getting full FOV, especially if you extend the eye cups a bit, then that would make me feel pretty confident the 12x UHDs would work.

18x is just too much power and too small of FOV for me for match use since targets are usually all over the place versus a "square range" type setup.

 

[Geno C.]

I’ve looked through all of the uhd at the vortex facility. The glass is very impressive. They are not light by any stretch if that’s of any interest to you. I don’t know about the eye relief since I’m not a glasses wearer so I can’t help you on that part. They are very very nice binos though

 

[samb300]

I’ve looked through all of the uhd at the vortex facility. The glass is very impressive. They are not light by any stretch if that’s of any interest to you. I don’t know about the eye relief since I’m not a glasses wearer so I can’t help you on that part. They are very very nice binos though

Anything is lighter than the Forge 15x56 lol

 

[kindabitey]

Those are listed as 18mm eye relief, while the 12x50 is listed at 17mm. If you have an easy time on the 18x UHDs getting full FOV, especially if you extend the eye cups a bit, then that would make me feel pretty confident the 12x UHDs would work.

18x is just too much power and too small of FOV for me for match use since targets are usually all over the place versus a "square range" type setup.

Just checked the 18x. I have maybe a 5% loss of fov with my glasses on. Not terrible. I could live with it if I lost a contact at a match, or if something else happened.

 

[Mxridr]

Agree with the Meopta 12x50. I have the cabela instinct and the glass is amazing. Next best thing to swaros. Shooters cannot believe how clear they are.