Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics 7x42 Binocular ?

This is not a size that I see mentioned much. Anyone here have much actual experience using one? If so, what are your thoughts on this pro or con? I don't need a lot of magnification for where I hunt and am considering one.

gldprimr-

I'm a big fan of the 7x for a lot of the hunting that I do - rifle/shotgun/archery for deer. I have a set of Leica Ultravids in 7x42 and I'm pretty happy with them - larger than compacts yet smaller than nearly all other 42's. My only complaint is that they're not 6x....

I really like both the SLC and Zeiss FL 7x42's that I've handled. To me the Zeiss 7x42 has the best glass I've ever looked through. The only downside to the FL in that size is it's just large.

If you don't need compact (i.e 30/32) - 7x is it in my opinion.

Mike.

one of my hunting buddies has a pair of brunton 7x42 eternas, one of the brightest and clearest binos ive seen!

Mike-
You're right on the FL's - they're awesome, if they were similar in size to the Leica's, I likely would have gone with them - man, they're big.

My Swarovski porro prism 7X42's are the binoculars I judge all others against. They are superb but my wife's laid claim to them. I prefer the a more compact roof prism for carrying around my neck but none surpass the performance if the Swarovski Habicht porro. Ward

I have the Zeiss 7x42's and a pair of 8x32 el's. Tha 7x42 is the best glass that I have looked thru. YVMV

My eyes told me to buy the Swarovski 7x42 SLC's.

I did and from Doug at CameraLand. No regrets.

For me, good glass has made hunting fun again.

J_Scott

I have a B&L Discoverer 7x42 and they work great for me. I'm sure the higher end binos work even better.

My experience is a little different than Wards, but we both agree that the swar. 7x42's are very good glass. I have the slc's and my dad has the poro. It is pretty clear that the slc's are brighter and clearer. If weight is not a big issue get the slc 7x42 and dont look back. They are great. Dean

7x42 SLC are some sweet glass, no eyestrain and takes care much, albeit they are the size of a tank.

I own a set of Zeiss FL *T's in 7x42mm. They are the best bins I have ever looked through. The big advantage with 7x is a wide field of view, extreme brightness, no eye strain and less jitter from movement. Low light capability is awesome. 7x is plenty for general hunting use and for glassing for hours for game, I would not want any other (unless very long range glassing and then 15x is needed on a tripod).

Buy the best quality glass you can afford and you will be set for life.

I've used the 7x42 SLC as my main glass since they were brought out. I totally love them, clear, user friendly and tough as all get out.

They get my vote of one of the better glasses made.

Oh and I almost forgot, I've carried them on the flats and in the mtns from Alaska down to Sonora and I've always totally enjoyed them.

Dober

Give me any of the big three in the 7x and I'll be giddy as a school girl. They're all pretty special and each has its indiosyncracies that make them appealing to each individual and their peepers. I like the Leica's for their size - the view is pretty good too.

I tend to agree with SKane. Each of the three big 7x42s are simply wonderful to look through. Each has their own specific strong points but I would not have a problem using any of them exclusively. The 7x42 FL is my favorite of the group because of its brightness, sharpness and wide field of view.

Also consider the Meopta 7x42. Very ergonomic with superb optics and at half the price or less of the other 7x42s mentioned.

I ended up buying a pir of Swaro 7x42 SLC's and a pair of the 7x42 Meopta's that Frank mentions.
Like Scott Kane said, if I could have gotten them in 6x, I would own them today. The swamps dicatate what to use, not the other way around, and 6x's would be King of the Swamp... At least in Northern Michigan, right up there with fixed 4x scopes too, or better yet, a newly designed fixed power 3x scope.

Don

Zeiss 7x42 FL's are probably the best glass I've looked through. They just have some kind of sharp, bright, color, image combo that elicit a "Wow!"

DJ

This is just me but, I hunt the Minnesota swamps a fair bit yearly and if this was the place that I hunted the most with an occaisional trip west no doubt slam dunk the bins I'd carry would be the $99 Leo Yo's.

I've been using mine here for 2 or three years and they're wonderful and if I didn't hunt the west most of the time I'd save all the big name bin cheddar and go with the Yo's.

Dober

That's a good point Dober.

How's the bruin chasin' season treating ya?

Been treating me very good, saw two absolute toadz and more than a few others.

Looked at 3 last night, gonna be heading to the hill with the 12 year old in an hour or so. He'll slap one around soon...for some reason or another I have a very good feeling about this.

Later
Dober