Compact Binoculars for General Hunting: 8x20 or 10x25?
- Thread starter South Pender
- Start date
8x if those are your only choices. Field of view and exit pupil would be too small with a 10x.
If you're going to be doing a lot of glassing I would recommend stepping up to at least an 8x30 or 10x40.
If you're going to be doing a lot of glassing I would recommend stepping up to at least an 8x30 or 10x40.
never ever have I accepted the image quality of compacts
8x42 is my minimum
the objective lens diameter (42) divided by the magnification (8) gives the "pupil"
this pupil is the diameter of the image on you retina
the smaller it is the less you see
8x42 is my minimum
the objective lens diameter (42) divided by the magnification (8) gives the "pupil"
this pupil is the diameter of the image on you retina
the smaller it is the less you see
sillymike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I like 8x32... Had the chance to play with some Steiner 6x30, nice little thing... They have a pretty good military discount down South, wonder if they have something similar in Canada?
- Then again, I sure don't need another set of glass...
you must be a giant lol ...
TV-PressPass
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Mountains, Alberta
I’ve mentioned this in other threads:
I like an 8x32 for the “always on you” binos and a 10x42 for the “sit and watch” binos.
More magnification gets to be a detriment, any less glass is a handicap.
Even sharp zeiss/leica/swaros, I wouldn’t go down to the 25mm objectives
I like an 8x32 for the “always on you” binos and a 10x42 for the “sit and watch” binos.
More magnification gets to be a detriment, any less glass is a handicap.
Even sharp zeiss/leica/swaros, I wouldn’t go down to the 25mm objectives
- Location
- Western Manitoba
Exactly my experience with 10X or higher - gets to be like "work" to get steady enough to really work around within the image - way too easy to miss stuff due to tremor or movement by the user. My own are 8x32, they hang around my neck, so are not "pocket binocular" - which is about all the magnification that I can handle, and often need to be leaning or supported against something. My brother uses 10x40 or 42 Leica - normally he is prone to glass a hill side or similar - has to get steadied to see well. Is a "trick" to pinch your bino against the beak of your ball cap to try to stabilize it, for viewing through. Is glassing to pick out an elk rear leg among bazillion branches over there, or is that 5 point or six point at 800 meters, in the bush - and so on.
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Have Minox 8x40 for sitting and watching .... light enough, but still a bit cumbersome to carry around all day long. Picked up a relatively inexpensive Nikon (I think about 250 bucks on sale) in 8x30 which is just enough smaller to feel real handy. Not pushing the brand, just suggesting the size for consideration. I am with those suggesting avoiding the 10x25s.
For general hunting, I would recommend the 8x30 range of binocular. The minis, while small and handy, just aren't going to deliver the optical capacity to cover a wide variety of hunting scenarios you are going to encounter over the years. And they won't provide you with the detail you are going to need when trying to count points in low light, when that buck or bull is in the brush and you are trying to determine if the animal is legal before taking the shot. As stated above, you are going to need the improved exit pupil for letting the light and picture through the glass into your eyes, when it counts.
I will take the extra weight and bulk for this ability everyday. It is easy to learn to carry and use, and easier to hold steady when you need to, than the smaller binos.
If you do not like them hanging on the front of your chest, carry them over one shoulder so that it tucks away under your offside arm (left side for right handed shooters, and vice versa), as you see many PH's do in Africa. Just harder to tuck inside your jacket if it is snowing or starts to rain. Otherwise, on cooler days, your binos shouldn't be inside your jacket if you are hiking, as they will fog from your sweat and the lenses will have to be wiped before using.
I will take the extra weight and bulk for this ability everyday. It is easy to learn to carry and use, and easier to hold steady when you need to, than the smaller binos.
If you do not like them hanging on the front of your chest, carry them over one shoulder so that it tucks away under your offside arm (left side for right handed shooters, and vice versa), as you see many PH's do in Africa. Just harder to tuck inside your jacket if it is snowing or starts to rain. Otherwise, on cooler days, your binos shouldn't be inside your jacket if you are hiking, as they will fog from your sweat and the lenses will have to be wiped before using.
My main hunting bino for the last 20 years has been the Steiner 8x30 Nighthunter porro prism. Not quite as compact as the mini shirt pocket models but still relatively light and somewhat compact nonetheless. Great sharpness and brightness for the size, I love these little binoculars. I recently bought the newer redesigned Steiner Predator porro prism model in 10x42, very nice also but much heavier and bulkier than my older 8x30 Nighthunters.
