Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics One set of bins, or two?

Binos, avagadro..... binos......

One set would be leica ultravids 8x42.
But I have 2, so it's 10x42 ultravids amd 8x32 trinovids

If I had a choice and money was no object, I'd buy a BN rather than a lighter Ultravid. I am very glad I bought a BN, instead of a Ultravid in the 12X50. E

ONE high quality pair of 7x30, 8x30 or 8x32. Zeiss, Swarovski or Leica. I wouldn't go 10x or a 40 or 42mm obj. You will never regret a 30 or 32mm objective east of the Mississippi.

End of the hunt. If you want to spend some more cash on a cheaper pair AFTER you get the high end ones, then get some of those Leupold's.

As you know, high end binos are money well spent. You can use these 365 days a year and will get tons of enjoyment out of them.

Oh yea, IMHO.

You will never regret a 30 or 32mm objective WEST of the Mississippi either.

I've never wished to have a 40/42mm objective anytime, ever. I do like the 7x42 but still wouldn't trade-in the 8x32 for the extra weight and size to get its picture window view.

If I were going to schlep around a 42mm bin it'd be a 7x42.

I have a Swaro 8x30 SLC that lives around my neck when I'm hunting. Love them. Not saying they are the best; but they sure do work for me. And they are about as big as I'm willing to hang around my neck.

I would like to add a "big" binocular when I can. From what I've looked through, it would probably be a Leica or Swaro.

But a compact, high-quality bino like the ones above, or the Leicas Brad talks about, are mandatory in my book. With those and a decent spotter I'm at least "in the game".

-jeff

+1, can agree with that totally. If they made it however I'd own a Leica 7x35 and I'd never look further . . .

You should be able to find a Swaro 8x30 SLC for between $900.00 and $1,000 or one of those refurbished 8x32 Ultravids from Doug for a little more. I would be happy with either of those forever.

The Nikon Primier LXL has a great reputation as does the Nikon SE thought it isn't as water proof or durable.

I wish Leica made an 8x32 Geovid....

Right now I own two sets of binos and don't believe I need any more at the moment. The two that I have are 8x32 Leica Ultravids and some 10x42 Swaro SLCs. Someday I will probably purchase some 15x56s but right now I'm happy with what I have.

I've been happy with Leica Ultravid 10x42's for years, but I'm straying a bit from my faithful companions with a pair of 7x42 Zeiss FL's that I couldn't pass when Natchez put them on silly cheap.

I thought the 7x42's would smoke the Leicas in low light, but they don't. They're brighter, but the dimmer view with greater magnification of the Leicas make it a horserace. Depends on distance and what kind of detail to determine what I like better.

I thought the Leica 10x42's would kill the Zeiss 7x42's in magnfication of detail at greater distance in good light. Not really the case - not nearly as much difference as I expected - I can see just about as much detail with the 7's.

Why? Image stability. I knew the 7's would shine, but I'm steady with the 10's and used to them, so I didn't expect much difference in actual use for me. Wrong again. The steady image of the 7's helps with detail at greater distance because stuff shakes less. This is a factor even when supported with both units - although I'm sure on a tripod the 10's would be better; however, I don't use my hunting binos on a tripod, ever.

I've learned a lot with these honest comparisons. There's a fair likelihood I'll let the Leicas go and get more magnification in Big Eyes or a spotter to complement the FL's. I think I'd need a significant step up in magnification from the 7's to see worthwhile improvement. The 10's aren't different enough to carry with the 7's IMO.

BTW - I believe the 7x42 FL's have that "it" factor described in the Campfire Review of the 8x42 FL's. The color, sharpness, brightness - truly spectacular.

DJ

Went through the very same dilemna here some months back and the end all be all for me was the 8x42 UV's. I got the 8x32's first and sent them back to Doug in exchange for the 8x42's, couldn't be happier. If I need more I always have my spotter.

I love my Swarovski 7x50's and Swarovski armored spotter. I also have an array of small bino's like IOR's, Weaver Grandslam 8.5x25's and 10.5x25's, and Bushnell Legends. If I'm hunting small local areas, I take a compact set and leave the Swaro's at home. If I head out west or where there is more country to cover, the Swaroski's go with. Works for me.

I live and hunt in New Hamphsire, but I travel the country for work and vacations. I spent the better part of a year stopping in at every store that sold binoculars for my 20 weeks on the road that year. For my dollar and my style of hunting, I went with an 8x30 Conquest and couldn't be happier. I use it extensively in NH and New England, but have been in the woods of northern Idaho and Northeast Washington State with them and haven't wanted any more magnification or, or anything for that matter, from my bins.

If I truly need to see something with much more magnification, I'll take out my spotter with a 25LER eyepiece and call it good.

Handle as many as you can, but if they're going to be sitting around your neck all the time, look hard at the 30/32's.

Mike.

E,

To counter the weight of the Meopta, couln't something be done with a wider bino strap to better distribute its weight.

E-Curious, more robust?

Bino buddies.........

I used a much wider strap for many years. Didn't do much for me. Some like the bino harnesses. I don't. What works for me is carrying the heavy bino over my left hip, crossbody. Takes more movement and effort to get them to my eyes, but they ride very well there. If I had to choose, I'll take a heavier 8X42 with cross body carry than an 18-20 oz. 8X of any kind around my neck. Simply because they are much easier to see things with over a long day of binocular use.
Where I don't like the weight is when I'm moving very slowly through heavy cover. I'm always bending and twisting slowly around, or over things I need to step carefully on, or around. At the same time, I am always bringing my binocular up and trying to look throught the cover around me. For that, and to keep it under control, afterall you don't want it swinging away from you at a difficult momment, I much prefer it as close to my eyes as possible. This is where a light 6X30 binocular like the $80 Leupold Yosemite really shines. I don't care how good the optics are on an 18-20 oz. 8X32. The image shakes a good bit. That increases eye strain and robs me of the ability to see those fine details easily. All of this is greatly reduced with the light 6X30's.
When I break into the open country again, I simply swap the 6X30 for the heavier 8X32 or the still heavier 8X42. E

For me, hunting out west, I've settled on a standard-sized bino (choose your poison from any of the above) for all-around work, and a 15X on a tripod for specialized work.

The ideal kit for me actually includes two tripods: one very sturdy and too heavy to pack far, and that stays within, say, 1 mile or 1000 vertical feet of the truck, roughly. The second is much lighter and portable, not as steady, and would go in a backpack.

The more I hunt (particularly mule deer) with 15X on a tripod, the more I try to hunt with 15X on a tripod.

Great minds think alike Rick.