Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Binoculars.....6X vs 8X vs 10X

Messed around with 3 sets of binos today (in the field, not showroom). Gotta say I really like the stability and FOV with 6’s. Between the 8’s and 10’s it just might be a toss up unless a tripod comes into play. Hand held 8’s seemed to be a better gig than handheld 10’s and maybe the extra 2X is lost in stability. And maybe I need to have my eyes checked again.

Anyway, curious as to thoughts of the same from others.

This is how I roll 16, 8-32, 12-50's, 15-56's... Meopta. 8's are my favorite, most versatile.

I prefer an 8x

15's are swarovski, I've ran swarovski for 20 years, I like meopta the best, but will slum the 15' til they puke..

But I travel the West with leupold, so take it with a grain of salt... Grin

I love an 8x, easy enough to hold steady, and the FOV is bigger, and I've never had trouble spotting animals. But if you're trying to sort out what you're seeing in terms of headgear, and it's a ways off, my buddies with 10x can do a little better.

I've got 6.5x32's, 7x42's, 8x32's, 8x42's, and 10x42's. For most of my hunting I prefer the 7x42's. I really like the larger exit pupil and depth of field for use in the wood and still hunting. I ran some really good 8x32's this year as I wanted something lighter than the heavy 7x42's but in the end I prefer the 7x42's in every aspect except weight....but I've decided I'm willing to carry the extra.

Thinking hard about some 12x50's for the times I'm on ag fields. They might make a good pair with the 7x42's.

Get the highest power and largest objective you can hold steady with hands only and that is not a burden carrying around your neck all day. If you notice the weight of a binocular after a day afield, it's too heavy. For several years, I've found a Swarovski EL 10x42 ideal in all respects. There are likely others that will work about as well.

I really like the 8X. 10X is too much instability offhand for me. If I had to choose 6X or 10X, I would easily choose 6X.

Back in my bighorn sheep & mtn goat hunting days----I used a 7x42 Leicas. I could tell if they were rams with the binos. Then I put a spotting scope on them to really look at the horns. For elk-----I just used the Leicas---I could tell if it was a legal bull-----the me that's all that mattered-----I was looking for meat not antlers.

I used in them South Africa & AK. I shot a nice grizzly. Somehow they fell in the stream/river we had to cross to get the bear. I guess there somewhere out in the Bering Sea.

I’ve been using 8x allot more the last 2 years. I can’t convince myself to completely part with 10x but I can hold the 8s noticeably steadier. I’ve been really impressed with the 8.5x42 EL. So far, they have been about the perfect compromise for me.

TxHunter80, those 6’s are quite impressive. My brother and I both were shaking our heads.

I have used most of the Euro bins. These days I carry Minox 10 x 43 APO's and Swaro 8 x 20' s in my pocket.
I always carry a compact spotting scope as well.
I hunt sheep, firstly. Elk, goat, deer seasons run concurrently. Sheep hunters carry good glass.
I am always horseback so I take enough gear I use a Manfrotto monopod to steady the 10x. It works well for me.

Got an older pair of Minox 6.5's with IF, love them for up to mid range. As the magnification goes up so does the weight, hard to use as a hand held, 8x for me is about the max.

[quote=16bore]TxHunter80, those 6’s are quite impressive. My brother and I both were shaking our heads. [/quote

I thought so too. If somebody just handed me a pair, I would’ve guessed they cost allot more than they do. Great value

I like 8X binos for all around use.

I have 6.5x32, 8x32, and 10x42
I usually take two pair when I go hunting, one around my neck and the other in my day pack. Which two depends on the vegetation in the area. For any benefit from the 10x I need to be able to steady my elbows against something.

For scanners you basically have it, yes....

I love a 6-7x for scanners which is what it appears your post is about, chest bins.

I use a pair of 10x42 swarovski slc's for 98% of my hunting. I don't find 10x to be hard to steady, but if it was I'd have no problem going with 8x42's. I have a pair of 8x32's that I use some bowhunting but really prefer the full size binos, they feel better in the hand and seem to have a lot better field of view.

I run 10x42’s for most of my hunting though I do have some 8’s as well. I am almost always wearing a ball cap when hunting so I just hook my index fingers over the bill of my hat for stability.