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

I wouldn't have all the ones I have except I got them all on sale or clearance.

I bought the Nikon 10x25 first, brand new, for $60. Regularly about $100.
Then picked up a. Bushnell H2O 8x42 for $30 at a pawn shop. These are the ones I loan out if asked.
Then the Leupold BX-3 Mohave 10x42 at a pawn shop on clearance for$75.
And then, I just couldn't walk away from the Pentax 8x42 DCF WP for $35. Also a pawn shop clearance.

I don't do a ton of glassing. So I really like the little easy carrying Nikon 10x25 for a quick close-up look in the field. And the Mohave 10x42 for the truck. But I'd surely love to replace the two 8x42's for some high end 6, 7 or 8 by 30, 32, or 35.

DollarShort,

The optics in the Pentax DCF SP are pretty hard to beat.

Yeah, they are really nice. From what I understand, they were a best buy when they came out 15 or 20 years ago.
I read about them on Cloudy Nights. https://www.cloudynights.com/BVD/Pentax-8x42-DCF-WP-with-Phase-Coating.php
An ounce or two heavier than the Mohave. But not real noticeable.
But I still wouldn't mind a Swaro SLC 7x30 if I ran across a deal. Or similar Leica.
I might reconsider, and let go of the Leupold since it would probably bring a greater return, if I decide that I have too many to use them all.

The 7x35 used to be the scope back in the days when everyone used a 4x rifle scope. I use the 6x Yosemite and 10x Leicas the most but wish for a good medium 7 x30 or 35mm. With 10x Binos I loose clarity if I don't have a rest of some sort. I carry shooting sticks for spot and stalk type glassing.

Age becomes a factor for some with less steady hands this is when a lower power is an advantage. I wouldn't mind a pair of the Pentax or Swaro's for general use. Another factor with aging is the Alpha binoculars help improve definition but the superiority over the middle tier of binoculars is lost somewhat to older eyes. Like the others I think two pair of binoculars is the way to go, or even three.

DollarShort,

In 2002 I had a new Pentax DCF SP 10x42 binocular, and a friend of mine from Virginia came out to hunt mule deer with me in the Missouri Breaks here in Montana. He'd just purchased a Swarovski SLC 10x42. Early in the hunt it became obvious that I was picking up detail in the Pentax that he wasn't with the SLC. We started switching back and forth, and while the difference wasn't much, it was in favor of the Pentax. Another Montana friend was also along, who had an older Japanese binocular of some other make, and he tried both of ours and came to the same conclusion.

Of course, Swarovski upped their game after that--as did the other Euro-companies, at least partly due to Japanese glass becoming so good.

Is it just typically appearance differences on the cloned models or is it common for companies to change coatings, internals, etc? I’m curious if some end up as substantially better products than others

I use a 7x42 binocular.

mmmmm.......Here I thought I was about the only dinosaur that still preferred 7x binos.

I have the 1st gen Bushnell Custom 7x26 compacts, updated 7x30 and 8x30 SLC's, and 10x42 SLC's. If I had to choose for general purpose hunting it would be one of the 7x's.

Something that hasn't been mentioned is 3D image/depth of field, a quality that I feel is important when finding critters to begin with. Although resolution is important in identifying or checking out antlers/horns (barring a spotter), I think a good 3D image is important and may be easier on our stereoscopic vision/eyes too. Lower magnification may be a function of 3D image.

The 7x30 SLC's have always been known to have excellent 3D image and when I had them updated I was afraid I may lose some of that, but the 3D image ended up being better than ever.

I like 10 powers

TxHunter80,

Sometimes there are diffierent tweaks in the lens and prism coatings, but sometimes they're the same binocular with a different outside.

Casey,

One of the interesting things about binoculars trends over the last 30 years or so is that roof-prisms became the In Thing, after phase-correction coating was introduced. But full-size Porro-prism binoculars provide more of the 3D effect, because their objective lenses are farther apart. Yet top-notch Porros haven't done very well in the market since phase-coating appeared, or at least the higher-priced models haven't. Mostly they're considered OK for "affordable" glass, like the 6x30 Leupolds and Kowas.

I agree with you Mule Deer on the 3D. My buddy has an older pair of Nikon SE's in 8x32, and it is absolutely amazing to look through. He tells me they are about 15 yrs old or so. He claims the biggest knock on them is that they aren't very waterproof.

And that's one problem with Porro-prism binoculars--though many of the newer models are sealed--as were at least the later SE's.

Have used my 6x30 Yosemite (at least a decade old) in various wet places from Alaska to Florida with no problems.

However, many not-so-old roof-prism binoculars weren't sealed either. Apparently many European companies didn't believe in sealing eiter binoculars or scopes until the late 1990s.

Now that I primarily hunt Idaho and do more open country glassing I've switched from 8.5x42 EL Swarovisions to 10x42s.

10X for me.....all the way....sometimes we have to count points on antlers......so all the power I can handle is fine.....I'd move to 12 X if I could find the right ones

Those Kowa BD II 8x42 Doug mentioned are awesome glass for the money. Same thing is true of the Kowa 6x30's. As I have gotten older, the 6x30's see more time in the field.....

Wonder how they might compare to the Zeiss Terra ED 8x42’s? I’m not sure I’m sold on 10’s yet.

Definitely like the 6x30’s

I hunt with a Burris Signature 8x32 semi-compact. 4.25" long, 16 oz., 19mm/0.75" eye relief with nice eye cups (3 pullout stops), but not quite as expansive FOV at 333 ft compared to others in its class having around 370 to 430 ft (which tend to be longer/bulkier, less eye relief. Always a tradeoff).

Decent glass, but not elite. Purchased in 2005 still compare favorably for bulk and weight, but lag cutting edge lenses. A lot of bang for the buck for just over $200. I've certainly gotten my money's worth out of them.

I have 6.5X32 and 10X42, I use the 6.5 most of the time.

Have done same and concluded same. 10x is lost on me if handheld. 6x does much more at distance than expected. Obviously someone with steadier hands may conclude differently and be correct for themselves.

8x with wide FOV is the middle of the road and most versatile for my use.