Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics A survey of hunting binoculars, 8 vs 10 power

Went from the Swaro 10x42 ELs to the Leica BRF 8 power and prefer the 8x.

8x32 trinovids for woods
10x42 ultravids for open spaces.

lov'em both but if I could only own one it would be 8x

10 x 42 Classics. love them.

I have:
1) Zeiss Conquest 8X40mm ABK
2) Nikon Monarch 8X36mm

My Zeiss are $700 mid-range glass and they are pretty good for the money. Very clear and bright.
The Monarchs aren't too far behind in clarity and resolution, but I can definitely see a difference with brightness (Zeiss).
The Nikons are surprisingly clear and I like their focus knob and diopter adjustments better. They are a bargain at $250!
(I've spent a lot of time recently comparing the views and the little Nikon isn't bad).

Presently have two in the stable, as follows:

8x42 FL's- Bright,sharp and clear as a bell, but not much character or charm.

8x32 BN's- Most pleasing view that I have ever experienced. They are still my favorites. The little rascals are just right in every way, even more so than the brighter Ultravids and FL's. They exude character and charm...they are my hunting partner and will resolve as well as any 10x.

10x42 SLC's are my primary bino's

Have both the 8X and 10X Leica Geovids.

I use primarily the 10X's. Since their essentially apples to apples glass wise, the 10X's help me to discern animals/headgear a bit better.

My primary binocular is a 10X42 Leica. I'm usually glassing from my seat utilizing a nifty tripod made by outfitter Tony Diebold of Nevada.


When I'm on the move I glass with the aid of a long cedar staff with a squishy motorcycle handlebar grip at the top of the staff, works great.



I also have a 8X30 Swarovski that is used mostly when I bowhunt.

It I were buying today, I'd probably purchase the Leica 10X42 Ultravid; although I do really like the Swarovski 7X42 SLC...it's very crisp to my aging eyes.

I like 8x. With high quality bins, it's plenty of power. Resolution is MORE important than power. I've used them many times on the plains in Wyo.

Love those Leica spotters.........mine's the 62mm with the 16 X 48 eyepiece.

Great pic BTW.

I've had both and I like 8s...I like the wider field of view and like you I dont notice a big difference in power.............547.

10x42 Trinovids for me for everything, everywhere.

10x = sometimes
8x = always
6x or 7x = soulmate

To use Dakota's formula mine should read...
6x = heavy timber, limited range evaluation (sometimes)
8x, 10x, 12x = open country, long range evaluation (often)
Big busted blondie = soulmate (always)

I have been using predominantly 8x binoculars for hunting though I have also used both 6x and 7x in recent years.

Have 8x32 Pentax ED's and 10x43 Bushnell Elites....the 8x32's have seen the brunt of duty thus far...

I've pretty much always been a 10x guy. I can't give a great reason as to why I prefer them over 8x's. If I carried a spotter more I would probably go to 8x's. 10's seem to strike a good balance for me.

I thought I'd bump this thread as I tallyed up the score to this point:

21 hunters use eight power as their primary binocular.
9 Hunters use ten and,
3 or 4 use less than eight power.

I use 10x more than anything else.

Add another for the 8's......