Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Can 8x32 Binos Do-It-All (almost)?

I think I'm tired of carrying the weight of the 10x42.

Will 8x32s do it all, almost?

Meaning - will the performance drop from an alpha 10x42 to an alpha 8x32 be small enough that:

A) I won't care or notice
B) I'll be happy to have shed some weight and heft

Mostly interested in the Ultravid 8x32 and the Swarovision 8x32. Both feel beautiful in hand. Favoring the ELs for the nod to Swarovski's history of impeccable customer service.

Certainly they will.

A. You may not care or notice...I would.
B. Of course.

I have had to use my wife's 8x30 Swaros on a couple of hunts, and I missed my 10x42s--especially as the sun went behind the mountains. But then, as a working biologist/ranch manager, I carried the 10x42s every day and used them constantly--in the pickup, on horseback or afoot. Still do even though I am pretty much retired.

BTDT - and had the earlier versions of both optics you're considering. And went back to 42mm as my main optic.
You will definitely notice a difference in performance at dark-thirty.

Are you currently using a harness or neck strap?

Harness

I think it depends upon your hunting methods. For desert mule deer, we used to drive the ranch two tracks, looking for targets. You could see for miles. I used a Swarovski 8x30 SLC successfully to spot deer, a spotting scope to evaluate them, then stalk, sometimes around two miles, carrying the 8x30 and my rifle. I was happy with my tools. I also used the same binocular while hunting white tails, unless I was using a small pocket binocular. Your method may or may not be compatible with a smaller glass.

Best wishes,

Jack

Last fall when I had to send my 10x40 ClassiC's in for service I used my SLC 7x30 which I normally use for back east woods hunting.

Really worked well out here in the west and I wondered why I need 10x40's.

Method for whitetails is elevated box blinds and picky shooting. Rarely shoot near last light unless its a deer that was out earlier for evaluation of age class, etc. Same with first light. If a deer slips off before I can evaluate, then he slips off.

I'm an oddball and like the 8x42 Swarovski SLC. My belief is slightly more depth of view and brightness. But that doesn't solve your shed weight requirement. 8x32 Alpha likely pretty good, just never owned any.

I have Leica 7x42 and Nikon 8x32. Neither have been as good to my eyes at seeing far as a fair bino in 10x42. Now I love the 7x42s for timber/brush hunting and still us them for all hunting because I don't have any 10 powers. The Leica's are still heavy by todays standard to. Bought them 10 year ago.

I brought the 8x32 Leica binos and the 10x25 Swarovski binos for birding and while I like the fov with the 8x32's, the one that I take on my walk every day has been the 10x25's.

I’ve used nothing but 8x30/32’s for over 30 years... so the answer is “yes.”

EL’s don’t work for my eyes (rolling ball effect), but if the overly flat field doesn’t bother you, it’s a superb glass. I use Ultravids, but Leica is slated to release an 8x32 Noctivid this year. Might be worth the wait as the finest 8x32 yet.

I use 8x32's [finally got a set of Leicas] for most hunting and have mostly satisfied.

I only miss the 10 x 42s when I am trying to verify racks on small bucks at 200 yards or more. I don't hunt much country where that is a problem.

Good input Brad. Looks like I need to wait and see what Leica will bring.

Dancing Bear --- I guess I break a rule here, as that kind of distance would usually mean I'm tossing up a scope to get a better look. Bc all my scopes are min 10 power or more.

Fair number of folks recently talking about the weight of their binos......

Like Brad, my primary binos for the past 25 years are my 7x30 or 8x30 SLC's which have both been updated, or (drum roll) my 1st gen Bushnell Custom Compact 7x26. With my SLC's I've glassed a lot with other folks who have the 42mm alphas and don't feel disadvantaged.

I've tried the 42mm binos, but decided I don't like big honkers around my neck...........

I'm a died in the wool 10x42 guy, and have been since 1971. I will have to admit, the more I use my 8x30 SLCwb, the more I like it. I also really like the Cabelas Euro 8x32HD. If you don't mind dropping the coin, that Leica Brad refers to is supposed to be top notch, as is the Zeiss FL.

I have owned and hunted with many high end bino's in 10x25, 8x30, 8x32, 8x42 and I like My Swaro EL 8x32's the best, to Me they are the best of both worlds not too heavy and very good optics........Hb

I too prefer 10x when hunting western country. but I do have some of the 8x32 cabelas euro HD's, now that I don't wear glasses anymore, holy crap they have great optics I also have some 10x32 HD's as well, trying to decide which ones I am keeping. the thing I like about that model of Euro HD is they seem to fit the eye sockets in my face, better than the larger x42 binoculars out there. If I wasn't carrying RF binoculars all the time, ie my EL range swaros, I might just go with either the 8 or 10x32 binculars. They are way way smaller, very handy. so to answer your question on 8x32's yeah they can do it all, but I think you need to shell our more money for quailty than a 10x42.

A 32mm objective cannot surpass a 42mm objective at 1st and last light. With that said there are fine x32's available and the Leica and Swarovski certainly are at the top of that list, however, i would stongly suggest you take a look at the Kowa 8x33 Genesis. Here is a Kowa Genesis 8x33 vs Swarovski 8x32 EL Binoculars review posted on another forum.

As always, please feel free to give us a call to discuss what may be the best option for you.

I have the Leica 8x32 HD and they are probably as good as some older generation 8x42. I carry 8x20 Leica for "emergency" and when I intend on glassing, the 8x32. I have bigger glass, but my fetish for weight reduction keeps those in the truck.