Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Mule Deer - 7 x 42 or 8 x 42 Leica Ultravid?

Mule Deer if you need to be able to see detail into the woods for deer at low light mainly out of blinds which of the above 2 binos would be better.

I think in one of your posts you recounted that you preferred the 7 x 30 SLC to the 8 x 30 as the larger exit pupil allowed you better resolution.

For the same hunting situation would the greater exit pupil or the larger magnification be more beneficial between a Pentax 8 x 43 DCF SP vs a 10 x 50 DCF SP?

Regards
JohnT

I've been using my 8X42 Leica BA in our very dense, second growth fir forests for some time now. We get nights so dark I can't see more than 15-20 feet in front of me as I sneak down an old logging road prior to legal shooting time.
It works before out legal shooting time, which is one half hour before sunrise to beyond one half hour after sunset. But it won't work on dark days much beyond that.
I suspect there isn't enough difference in exit pupil of the two Pentax binos to affect twilight performance. But the 10X50 would effectively put you closer to the target and, therefore, should allow you to see more. E

Dont waste your money! All you need is a pair of Leupold Windriver binoculars, see them here http://www.riflescopes.com/store/departments.asp?dept=319 only $399.95 The german made binoculars will not give you much more light gathering advantage to warrant the high cost. And besides, you don't need to see anything before legal hunting hours anyway. If Leupholds binoculars are anything like their scopes, then they will be nothing lest than astounding. One thing more, Before you go afield I would recomend that you test your new binoculars first by submerging them in hot water just to make sure they don't fog on you while hunting. And please excuse my spellig and grammer, I am not as smart as most of you. One down 4,000 to go

I have to respectfully disagree. With binoculars, you want the best you can afford and seeing game before legal light has kept me from making some blundering mistakes.

I do prefer a 7 or 8 power binoc as they allow, for me anyway, tireless glassing. I just don't get that with 10 power glass of the same make or quality. But, my brother thinks I'm nuts and wouldn't trade his 10's for the world.

Chuck

I'll have to respectfully disagree also. Leupold scopes are excellent. However their bino's are NOT. I would put them above the Bushnell and B&L's but they don't even Hold a candle to the Swaro's, Leica's and Zeiss. My Swaro 10x42's are THE best purchase I've made yet.

ThomasAZ, Leupold's scopes are a completely different ballgame than the Wind River line of binoculars. For one thing, the Wind Rivers are imported from Japan. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing because it's not, they're simply not made by Leupold. I suspect they come out of the same plant as the Cabelas Alaskan Guide Series and a few others.



Secondly, while the Wind Rivers are certainly good glass, especially for the money, they're no Leica, Zeiss, or Swarovski. Do I think everyone needs to drop $1000.00 or more on a pair of binos, of course not. However, my opinion is, if a guy is spending big money for a hunt, makes his living behind his binos, or spends a minimum of two weeks a year hunting, seriously hunting, I think he should get the very best binoculars he can afford. For some that might be the Wind Rivers, while others will spend what it takes to get a Leica Ultravid or a Swarovski EL. Me, I'm somewhere in the middle. I own a Nikon Venturer 10x42 and a Zeiss ClassiC 10x40. 7x and 8x binoculars have never tickled my fancy.

I have the Leica 8X42 Ultravid, a very nice binocular with excellent contrast and resolution. I've owned the 10X42 and 8X32 BA series and must say that this particular binocular is brighter than either (and should be). The 7X was almost my first choice, but I like the somewhat larger image of the 8X for some of my pursuits.

The 7X Ultravid is a very bright binocular, most interior forest hunters would never notice the difference in magnification.

The Nikon Venturer LX 42mm series is excellent, and a lot of users feel that it presents a better image. It's a little heavy in comparison to the Ultravid if that sort of thing is an issue.

ThomasAZ

I think they missed the point. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

JohnT, I don't think that you will be disappointed with either the 7X or 8X Leica Ultravids. I owned the Pentax 8 x 43 DCF-SP's for a short while and I decided that they lacked the edge-to-edge clarity that I experienced with previously owned Zeiss and Leica binoculars. I returned the Pentax's and bought the 7 x 42 Leica Ultravids. I could not be happier. I recently spent a long weekend hiking in the desert with the Leicas and I could easily identify small lizards, birds, kangaroo rats, etc. at distances around 200 yards despite their natural camouflage to the terrain. Deer in the woods are obviously different, but I think you get my point about the ability to distinguish details.

I like the Leicas the best, but I would not feel shortchanged in life if I had to choose the Swarovski EL's or some models of Zeiss. I recommend that you choose whichever of the "big three" that you like best. I cannot comment on the Nikon Venturer LX, because I have no experience with them.

Best regards,
Phil

...second (or third) the vote for the leica ultravids...tho i have the 10x42br's...

...imho, the ultravids are (to these eyes) brighter, sharper, more natural-looking and offer better contrast than my 10x42bn's...and again imho, are even sharper than the televid non-apo 62's at a 16x setting...

You won't see much difference between the 7x42 and 8x42 Leica's, but I would tend to go with the 7's.

In my experience, with two bincoulars idential in all respects except a slight difference in magnification, the lower power is best, not just because of the bigger exit pupil, but because the same size objective combined with slightly lower X tends to produce a slightly sharper image.

All that said, you wouldn't be unhappy with either!

As for 8x43 vs. 10x50, I'd go with the 10's. Here the exit pupil is slightly larger on the 8x (5.375 vs. 5.0 for the 10x), but the extra magnification of the 10x50 will make the view through it appear noticeably brighter.

JB

Mule Deer,

Thanks very much. I sincerely appreciate your expert counsel and you taking the time to reply.

Much appreciated.

Regards,
JohnT

You can allways get two fixed m8-6x rifle scopes and make big eyes out of them. Cost you about $800. Then you will have the ultimate Binoculars. BTW leupold uses the same glass in their binoculars as the rifle scopes. Both made in japan!