8 or 10 power binos?

[MichelD]

Do you find 10 power binoculars practical to use?

I borrowed a set once for a hunting trip and found that without a firm support, I wobbled too much with them.

I find 8 power way more manageable.

What's your experience?

[rocksteady]

Depends on what you are used to and what you are using them for...

I usually pack a pair of 10 by 50's....Heavy, yes, but when you need the extra power to be sure if an elk has a 6th point or not, they are great. In general open season, where points don't matter (deer) I usually don't lug them around. I use an old pair of 8 by 42's (they have since bit the big one) so I replaced them from BSA243, Burris.....

I like the 10 by 50's for long range spotting (mtn goat, from the valley bottom, etc) but not once I put the stalk on....

As far as shaky, you learn to stabilize with different posture/stance/arm positions etc...Not a big deal, just takes some getting used to...

[Gateholio]

10x42 Leica Ultravids..

I'd use 8x if I didn't hunt in wide open areas, as it is the 10x works well for that, and not so bad in the thicker areas. I'm also used ot them, as I haevn't used 8X for years..

I prop my thumbs against my face to eliminate wobble if I am in a non supported position.

[Steeleco]

I've used 10x42 Monarchs for 1 year now and have had no trouble holding steady, I do similar to Gatehouse if i need to be more steady, or if I'm huffing!!

[MRP]

10x50 or nothing. I don't care if I pack them all day it's worth it. A $100 pair of 10x50s will out preform $1000 pair of 8x25s or 30s in low light and save on eye strain when glassing for a long time. Get a new pair every year or two, have one in the car, truck, house, boat.

[todbartell]

I like 10s, but nothing wrong with 8s either, and they're nicer for unsteady situations like in a boat, etc

[tuchodi]

I have used both and own both but have quit using the 8's as I dont have much problem holding the 10's steady. I just like the extra power to check on the 6th point on the elk.

[todbartell]

10x50 or nothing. I don't care if I pack them all day it's worth it. A $100 pair of 10x50s will out preform $1000 pair of 8x25s or 30s in low light and save on eye strain when glassing for a long time. Get a new pair every year or two, have one in the car, truck, house, boat.


compared a $1800 pair of 8x32 Leica Ultravid and they will blow the doors off any 10x50 under $1000, let alone a hundred bucks :lol: lay off the crack

[Fisher-Dude]

10x42 Leica Trinovids. With good quality glass, you can see definition much more clearly even if you are a bit shakey (excitement! :lol: ). I've never had a problem steadying my Leicas well enough to count points or find animals. With good glass you can watch from a distance, find a rest, and still count points. With cheap glass you end up sneaking closer to count points (if you can...and if you don't spook 'em in the process). One trick to steadying your binos besides those mentioned above is to grab your hat brim with your binos.

That being said, you will still see way more with an 8x35 set of Swaros, Leicas, or Zeiss than a 10x42 or 10x50 pair of Crapanese binos of any make, in any light, at any distance, or at any "shake rate". There is THAT big a difference between German glass and all the imitation wannabes.

PS - I second Bartell's crack comment.

[bigwhiteys]

I've got a set of Swarovski 8x30's... I think they are perfect for the hunting I do. They were just sent off to Swaro for warranty work... They are updating them to the newest version and recharging them with Nitrogen Gas as well as adding the emblems back on that I lost in the bush somewhere... Gotta love the warranty.

Try steadying a set of 12x50 Zeiss binos... now that's a bugger! They weigh like 3 pounds but DAMN are they ever clear and awesome in low-light... Just not practical to pack around.

Happy Hunting!
Carl

[Will]

If you compare a set of 8x42 VS the same in a 10x42, the 8's theoretically will produce a sharper and clearer image........especially in low light.

Now having said that.....doubtful that one's eye could tell the diff in a Quality set between the two. The 10's give abit more range...depends what you do with them.

Now back to my Tascos................:-(
:lol:

[Tack]

Hi,
Another consideration when choosing between 8 and 10 power binoculars is the exit pupil size. Calculated by dividing the power by the objective lens size will give the exit pupil size. For a 10x50 binocular this is 5mm. This size exit pupil is fine but anything smaller will not provide all the visual information the human eye can handle. Therefore if you chose a 10x40 binocular the exit pupil would be 4mm and so would be inefficient optically. This effect also increases as one gets older. After about 40 years old the human eye needs larger and larger exit pupil sizes to provide optical efficiency.
Regards
Tack

[MRP]

compared a $1800 pair of 8x32 Leica Ultravid and they will blow the doors off any 10x50 under $1000, let alone a hundred bucks :lol: lay off the crack
Their you go your 2mil and $800 over the limit I set.:lol:

But if I loose mine it won't hurt as much as loosing yours.

No crack, like you I get high on fresh air and wild outdoors of BC.

[todbartell]

no $1800 Leicas for me, yet :lol: I get by ok with my $400 Nikon 10x42s :D

[Rock Doctor]

I've been using my Leupold 10x28 binos for yrs with no problems. (other than the original purchase price :wink: )
I never sat beside a hunting partner and had them point something out that could not be seen just as well through mine as theres(binos):smile:

[Fisher-Dude]

But if I loose mine it won't hurt as much as loosing yours.

No crack, like you I get high on fresh air and wild outdoors of BC.

What will hurt is your body hiking up and down mountains trying to get close enough to game to see if it's legal, or looking for game that you would have seen from afar with good binos, or frying out your eyes squinting through cheap glass (I once got an eye twitch that lasted 3 months after looking for hours for elk and sheep through Trashco binos on a long trip).

When you spend $100 ever year or two on crap, you spend $3,000 - $5,000 on said crap over your hunting career, and still have nothing but crap (not to mention the cost of worn out boots!). When you spend $2,000 ONCE for a pair of good ones, you need not spend another dime for 30 - 50 years of hunting and having the best optics. Who's pocket book is hurting more in the long run?

[Fisher-Dude]

no $1800 Leicas for me, yet :lol: I get by ok with my $400 Nikon 10x42s :D

You spend the rest on crack?

[tufferthandug]

I'd recommend the 10x42's. I replaced my B&L 10x50's with a pair of Leica 10x42 Trinovids after the B&L's started seeing double. What a friggin difference. Big game don't stand a chance.

When people say that their cheapo 10x50's work great, they are usually the ones that their wives said "NO" to the $1800 dollar pair.

[Ferenc]

I have both the 10x40 and the 8x30 in Ziess classics I use the 10x40s when I hunt the Peace River country,and when I hunt the bush [still hunting ]I use the 8x30s in the less open country

[brotherjack]

8's are way easier to handle, 10's get you more distance and most guys think they aren't unreasonable to handle. Take your pick based on which of those two ideas you like the best.

I use some 8x42 Legend porro-prisim's myself - werks great for me.

[BlacktailStalker]

Yup, 8x32 Zeiss classics are what I find my game through, never needed 10x but then again I spend most my time in the timber or areas with a lot of ground foliage so long distances arent really a problem. I guess for the mainland the 10x might be good but really, you have to get closer for the shot anyways so whethere or not theres a hammer elk on the opposite ridge and whether or not you can count the points, you still have to get close enough for the shot :):) And 8's will work just fine then with reduceds neck fatigue (get the crooked horn bino harness, best $25 investment of my life) and be out of the way more as they are smaller. A huge feature if you bow hunt often.

[huntcoop]

What are your thoughts on the Leupold Olympic 10x50? I am currently using a compact pair of Nikon 8x23, my archery pair, awesome binos but can't see sh!t at any distance.
Wanna upgrade for the season....

[sillybear]

I much prefer 8 over 10 power. My current binocs are 8 x 42 leicas. When hunting with a full pack on and a rifle in one hand 8 power is much easier to take a quick one handed look than 10. My hunting partner has the same binocs in 10 power and I wouldn't trade. Just my 2 cents worth.
Sillybear

[todbartell]

Leupold Olympic 10x50s are pretty nice and not overly heavy or bulky, pretty good binocs for $600

[Krico]

I'm sure it's already beens stated, but it really depends on what you will be using them for. 8x will be brighter and easier to hold steady, with a wider field of view, so are the better choice for bushy terrain. 10x give you a little closer look at your target and are the better choice for big country.
Not sure what BlacktailStalker is talking about, 8x are not smaller than 10x. Sizes change accordingly with objective lens size.

[J_T]

Regardless of what I'm hunting or where. 10 x's are the only way to go (for me), unless of course you have a pair of high end binos, then I've seen the 8x's as quite comparable.

The aperature opening letting the light in is critical. Gotta be able to see at dawn and dusk.

He who sees at first light, gets the worm.

JT

[huntcoop]

I would need them for open long glassing, like 150 - 700 yards. I'm looking to spend between $400 - $600.

With my current 8x23 Nikons I'm having a hard time counting points with anything over 300 yards. I think the 10 power and a bigger light gathering end will help immensely....thoughts.....

[brotherjack]

huntcoop - for longer range glassing, a spotting scope and a ultra-light tripod kicks the snot out of any bino's I know of. Not that 700 yards is really all that far, but it's far enough that even 10 power's aren't going to get you up close and personal with what you're looking at.

[huntcoop]

Okay, I may have exagerated a little on the 700 yards but I would want something a little more compact than a spotting scope. I have the nice bino straps that keep them really steady. I like how binos are nice a quick to grab and use.

[elkguide]

used a lot of different binos over the years, I now use swaros 10x42 ( best I've had ....got em as a tip) but I ALSO HAVE a pair of bushnell Legends and they aren't bad....where you really notice is low light and if your looking through em for a long time. If a guy can aford it get the Zeiss with the image stabalizers ( tried some last fall ....i think they were 20x ...wow could almost count hairs on the moose the dude shot).

[brotherjack]

Then maybe some 10x42's are in your future. :)