Leupold 12x50 vs Nikon 12x56

 I am looking to buy a new set of Binoculars. Does anyone have any info between these two?

 

Nikon 12x56 Monarch ATB Binocular 

Leupold 12x50 Wind River Olympic Binocular

Even though they are both 12x binoculars they are somewhat at opposite ends of the spectrum, in terms of weight and size.

The Olympic weighs 25.7 ozs. and the light weight actually work against itself, as it is very difficult to handhold these and keep them from shaking all the time. They are 6.6" long.

They have phase coated, aluminum enhanced prisms and have Fully Mulit-Coated (FMC) lenses.

The Monarch weighs 41.6 ozs. (2.6 lbs.) and is 7.8" long. The heavier weight helps to dampen the hand "skake", but, these are quite large and cumbersome.

They also have phase coated prisms and FMC lenses. I find that the Monarchs tend not to be as sharp around the outer edges. (more noticable at the higher magnification)

High magnifications yield lower brightness levels, so, this is no doubt why Leupold chose 50mm for this Olympic 12x model, and Nikon chose 56mm for this Monarch 12x model.

Leupold now sells the Pinnacles Boone and Crockett Edition 12x50mm which weighs 30 ozs. and is 6.5" long. These are much higher priced.

Are you planning on using them for long distance varmint hunting, mainly?



Edited by Bird Watcher

Yes that is all they are used for. I had a pair of Nikon ATB 12x42 like them but wanted to try something else.

Myself, I prefer the 3D image representation of the porro prism binoculars.

If you like the 12x and just want to try something "different", I would recommend looking through a Pentax 12x50mm PCF WP II porro prism binocular. They have the FMC lenses (the Nikon AE ATB are only MC/Multi-Coated) and are sharper towards the edges than the Nikons.

The size and the weight of the Pentax makes them easier to handhold at 12x than the Leupold Olympic, with less noticable "shake". The PCF WP II's have aspheric elements, the same as the Nikon Action Extreme ATB series, but, for some reason have greater sharpness out to the edges.

I compared the Nikon AE ATB 12x50mm and the Pentax PCF WP II 12x50mm side by side, in a store, and the Pentax were noticably brighter and clearer, probably due to the FMC lenses. I ended up getting the Pentax, which, by the way, I have a total of three different magnifications, in that particular model.

The internal focus on the Pentax PCF WP II's make them more waterproof and dustproof than the competition, in that category and price range. (JIS Class 6)

The only drawback to the Pentax is the narrower FOV/Field Of View. Since they will be used mainly for varmint hunting you might not mind the smaller FOV.

Here's something I just stumbled across:

http://www.bigbinoculars.com/1250.htm

Edited by Bird Watcher

Yea, FOV is what i'm looking to increase. Going with the Leupold the FOV is about the same as the Nikon I had. I have a friend with the 10x50 Leupold they seem to have better glass. 12x has never given me a problem of holding them still. Thanks for all the Help.