Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Who's using an 8x32 for their primary bino?

I picked up a pair of Leica 8x32BA's a couple of years ago on eBay for $499 and they have served me well. They seem a good compromise for most situations and their weight and waterproof and bulletproof construction are perfect for woods hunting. You've got to love a company that recommends that you clean their binoculars by submerging them in water. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I have the Pentax 8x32 DCF WP, which I am extremely pleased with. I have not found a situation where they didn't allow me to see effectively even a little past legal shooting hours, and this size is a great compromise between the portability of a compact, and the brightness of a full size. I did the side-by side comparison of the Petax to Swarovski and the old Zeiss Classics in the same size, before I purchased them, and found the Pentax to be a little brighter.

John

I'll be getting the Bushnell 8X32's this week. Their optics are awesome and they are phase corrected as well. Gander Mountain has them for, I believe $249.99, and that's a bunch cheaper than the European models costing almost triple that amount!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I suggest you compare binoculars by stacking them rather than "side by side". It doesn't sound like this would be important, but it is. What happens is the tester can go quickly between them, and, after a few minutes, the difference in image quality will become apparent. Even really optically close comparisions can be discerned this way.
I had a chance to compare a 8X32 DCF WP to an old 1958 vintage B&L 9X35 Zephur last year. The owner of the Pentax and I both agreed the old B&L were significantly better. I was quite surprised. I thought the newer Pentax would be better. Apparently the 8X32 size is really tough to get right. Something Leica and the Nikon Premiers do much better than the less expensive binos. When it comes to the larger 42mm sizes, the differences are much closer. E

I use Leica 8x32s. Have tried less expensive binos, but since buying the Leicas I look no more. Incidentally, the thing that caused me to buy the 8x32 was my purchase of a Geovid. I bought it for its rangefinder capabilities, but the optics are so stunningly clear I went out and bought an 8x32 for general purpose hunting.

The other thing I like about Leicas is that they are tough. I am sick of $200 binos comming out of collimation.

Ever heard this: "Yeah, I paid $1000 for a binocular, but it really was not worth it so I sold them and now I am using a $200 model."

Me either.

I won't say that I spent $1,000 and went to using $200 binoculars, but it is close. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I started out with a pair of Leica 8x42 BN's. These are great binoculars! Their light gathering and clarity is incredible. The size is a little on the large side, but I have equipted them with a Vero Vellini bino strap and that took about half the weight away. They are still large.

I then picked up a pair of 10x32 Leica BA's. What a perfect size! They are incredibly clear and very handy. I keep a pair of Leica 10x25's in my truck's center console, also. Can you say I'm a Leica addict?

Recently, I picked up a pair of ANIB Minox 8x32's for $200. These were a real surprise. Granted, they are not quite as nice as my Leica's, but they are darn close. I stacked them against my 10x32 Leica's and could not tell any measurable difference. In low light they were equals. The Leica's will have a exit pupil of 3.2mm vs. the Minox at 4mm, but the clarity was virtually the same. This was to my eyes.

On all of my hunts, I will first take my Minox. I will take my Leica's as a back-up in the vehicle if I need them. I do not know how durable the Minox are compared to the Leica's, but I bet they are close. Anyway, I just won't feel quite as bad banging up the Minox.

Oh! I just ordered a Minox 62mm ED spotter from The Sample List. It just looked too good to pass up. I ordered the variable eye piece along with the fixed 22x eye piece. I'm anxious to see how it turns out.

Every choice is a compromise weighted in one direction or another... my compromise's are weighted toward's weight and size. I use a pair of Leica 8x32's for all my BG hunting.