Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Best smaller(er) Binoculars for low light?

I currently have a pair of Zeiss 10x40 Victory T FL binos that I use for deer hunting. They are really large and cumbersome to use in a stand and I find that I wish they were a little brighter in low light as well as a little smaller.

I'm looking for a pair of small binos to use for deer hunting in the 8x32 range. I'd like for them to be really clear and serve as my optic of choice for scanning fields at last light. What do you recommend as the best binos for low light?

I'm open to Swaros but if there is a similar option for less $$$, I'd like to hear about them as well.

Try the Cabelas Euro HD 8x32s

Small objective binoculars and low light don't really go together. I doubt you're going to find a 32mm objective set that'll beat your 10x42 zeiss in low light.

I like my 8x32 ELS in low light.

devnull,



If we were good friends I would ask you if you've been smoking dope. But since we are only .com friends I will suggest there is NO 32mm optic better in low light than a normally healthy Zeiss 10X40 Victory T FL!

But I will do you a favor: I have a new Nikon Monarch 7 8X32 that has been on two hunts I will trade straight across if you want a smaller glass.

Exactly.

My wife has a pair of Zeiss 8x32 which seem to be good glass and smaller than the Swarvoski 8x32's. But the Zeiss were chosen for the easy of carry while hiking. Lecia's 8x32's are smaller yet.
To me the smaller bino's are harder to hold steady and the 32mm's give up a bit of performance to the larger objectives. I went with Leica 7x42 for my carry bino, because of its smalller dimensions. But, I soon realized when in extreme low light / more or less dark; I needed more power and more objective for detail. I purchased the Zeiss 10x54 HT's to see detail. The 10x54's stay in the pack until I reach my destination. To me there is no getting away from the larger size bino.
All eyes vary and mine are closing in on the 60 year old mark; and as they say I do not see what I use too.
For a smaller dimension full size bino, I would look at the Leica 8x42 Ultravid Plus. I "think" (from comparing what is listed on the websites) they are the same size as my 7x42 Ultravid. And that is the smallest full size bino that I am aware of, dimension wise not necessarily weight wise.

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Well you give up "brighter" in low light with a 32mm, but they are easier to carry. I have every size of alpha glass and the 8x32 HD from Leica seems to be the best trade off for me. hunting hours are dawn to dusk here, so super light gathering is really not a big concern. I still think they are adequate in lower light, and I was happy with them yesterday in the morning. I also have 15-56 Swarovskis, and I would never ever think of taking them in the woods to hunt in this terrain. The trade off on those don't fit the hunting here.

Crow Hunter nailed it, so I won't repeat what he's said, but I will reinforce it with my experience. Once upon a time, I owned a set of Zeiss Victory Compact 10x25mm or perhaps they were the 8x20mm, but either way they were sharp as a razor during the daylight hours, but during those twilight hours when it mattered most, a set of old $199 Nikon Action 7-12x35mm binos would out perform them every time due to the larger exit pupil.

In all seriousness if you wish to go smaller I have a set of mint Swarovski 8x30 SLC WB binos that I'd be more than happy to trade for your Zeiss; depending upon their condition.

I'm not interested in trading my Zeiss binos as I use them in the p-dog field.

I love my Nikon 8x32SE's, very light easy to carry and as bright as my Ultravid 8x42. I also have a pair of 10x42 SE's good optics but too large and heavy to carry. You can usually find the SE's between $500.00-$600.00 on Amazon.

I borrowed some cheap Sightron SII 7x50 binocs in October, and they were like night vision before hunting hours.

A couple times we shot animals right on the minute when it was legal to shoot. The dead animals are still really hard to find then:(

I bought myself a pair.

50 mm objective / 7 power = 7.14 exit pupil



Just made it.


http://www.adorama.com/SIIWP750.htm...iO4mb5dE0GvZJ9oPuBLrHwLhBtAcUaAgJn8P8HAQ

Let me know if you find that Unicorn and I'll buy the other pair if she has a sister-

I've got a pair of Vortex Viper 6x32's that see a ton of use in the woods.

Similarly, and don't laugh, but the 6x30 Leupold Yosemite I've used this season, go well into the gloom at first/last light. Less Xs might be your answer for smaller binos working well in low light.

Swarovski SLC 8x30 are amazing in low light

If you guys are considering 8x32's small, throw my Leupold BX3 Mojaves in the mix. They are damn good for the money. Last weekend I spotted some feeding elk inside the trees next to the edge of a big clear cut. They were ranged at 553 yards, but I could make them out very clearly even in the darkness of the shadows where they were feeding...