Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics 8x32 vs 8x42 or ????????????????????

Ok, ok, I am convinced that I need to upgrade my optics, particularly my binoculars. I have just ordered JB's book and look forward to reading it.

I have heard the "stack" test described and believe that I understand the concept. However, I am looking for people with experience to provide opinions as to which "powers" I ought to stack to compare the models offered by various manufacturers.

Situation: live at high altitude in the Rockies and hunt at high altitudes (9000+) in areas that have some dense timber as well as meadows. Species that I pursue (should I ever get drawn) include elk, mule deer, antelope, sheep, ibex, oryx, javelina. Weight could certainly be be a consideration. To complicate matters further, I also hunt whitetails in the heavily wooded river bottoms of Nebraska.

Am I asking a single set of binos to do to much?

7, 8, 10 or ??? power
32, 42, ???? objectives

Thanks in advance for your experiences and advice.

Gene <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I backpack hunt quite a bit so I like less size and weight around my neck. For my purposes I like the 8x32 Leica BN... it's sort of the "30-06" of bino's. I've never found the need for more bino on the plains chasing pronghorn, in the black timber or in the high country... when I do need more magnification I've found I REALLY NEED MORE and pull out the 20x spotter. If they made the BN in 7x32 that's what I would have gotten as 7x is my favorite bino magnification. For pure, uadulterated viewing pleasure I'd look no further than the 7x42 or 8x42 Ultravid's... abolutely the finest binocular made and have to be seen to be believed...

Everything is a compromise. If you get the larger objective lens size you add weight. If you get the smaller size lens you have a smaller exit pupil size and they are less forgiving on eye alignment. If you will glass a lot the larger size binoculars will be better. If you walk a lot and glass short amount of times the smaller glass will be better.

Unless weight is an overriding consideration, I'd get the 42mm objectives. In 8 power this translates to a 5mm "hole" to see through, and maximizes light for most of us.

I have Zeiss Victorys 8x40s and am very happy. I'm sure the new Leicas are just as good or better.

BTW, I was varmint hunting last two weekends, and there were some people there in the same area with inferior binos and scopes (I use S&B) to what I and my son were using. We shot at least twice as many varmints as did the others because we could see more targets in the binos because of superior contrast. And then it was easier to pick up the sight picture again in the scope when it came time to shoot. The more I hunt, the more I've come to realize it's a game of glass. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Try reading the article by Barsness," Looking Long" on the home page of this web site. He says it well.
I've used a 9X35 for many years and all the habitat types you describe. Add the wide open desert ranges of the great Southwest as well.
A good bino works suprisingly well in heavy cover. You focus out the near cover and look through it while still hunting.
I upgraded several years ago to an 8X42 Leica BN. I had a hard time choosing between the much more popular 10X42 size and the 8X42. I'm convinced the 8X42 suits me better. Much more user friendly. My partner uses a 7X42 Zeiss Classic. He and I like it much better than his dad's 10X42 Zeiss Classic
I understand that in some brands the 8X32 size is not nearly as clear as the 8X42 size. Leica and Nikon's Premier LX are the exception.
Another great option appears to be the Pentax DCF SP. They are much lighter than many 42mm binos and feature super hard coatings.
I find in heavy cover, the 8X42 Leica just barely works all the way to and slightly beyond legal shooting time. I suspect the 32mm size will work not quite as well.
I think Big Stick said it best, "nobody looks through a top quality bino and says, "what's all the fuss."" E

Go 7 or 8 in a 40 or 42 and a crooked horn suspender. Don't be surprised if you like 7 best.

I would have to say that mrmarklin brought up one of the most important issues when it comes to binos. The pupil of a person that is over the age of 40,can only dilate to approx 5mm. Where as a child's pupil can dilate to approx 7mm. The function of the pupil is to regulate the amount of light that enters the eye. I've read that the formula to determine the proper size objective lens to the power is to devide the size of the objective lens by the power. This will give you a numerical value to get the proper diameter objective lens ratio to the power. For example. If we have a pair of binoculars that is a 10 power by a 50mm objective lens , that gives us a numerical value of (5). This would give us the optimal amount of dilation to gather light for those binos, which would be 5mm. Therefore a pair of 8x32 binos would give us 4mm and a pair of binos 8x42 would give us a value of 5.25 which would be a little over the 5mm but could be better for low light situations. But keep in mind that 8 power is probably the highest power that you can be comfortable with off hand. I have a pair of Nikon 8x42 ATB's that work wonderful for low light situations when I'm doing surveillance at night time trying to put the sneek & peek on the bad guys. Thanks to Nikon I've made many great late night drug arrests. Great hunts!

Glass quality and ergonomics,outweighs all the hypothetical bullshitt,IMHO.

MUCH to be said for a glass that don't suck your eyes outta your head and one needn't be a contortionist to manipulate.

Then there are the assorted creature comforts,like eye-relief,depth of field,focus range,field of view,gross weight,IP flexibility,weather resistance,lens coatings,body coatings,lanyard receptacles,lens covers,and the all important Ahhhhhhhhhh factor.

Numerical designations mean dick(IMHO),in comparison to something that is a true optical wonder and a great ergonomic fit to boot.

Side by each comparisons are powerful testimony and it become apparent rapidly,that numerical designators do NOT equate to optical brilliance.

The proof is ALWAYS in the pudding.....................

Lemme be a touch more succinct.

Despite like numerical designators,not all women 5',4" and 115lbs,strike the same visual appeal.

There lies the "fault" in numerical evaluations,upon subjective matters. Relative beauty(quality),often lies in the eye of the beholder,but there is often overwhelming consensus in the "also rans".

Once one gawks at the best,he has little cause to trumpet the rest.......................

I have both Leicas, the 8X32 and 8X42 BA, bought about 5-6 years ago. Both are excellent quality binoculars.

4mm vs. 5mm exit pupils - to be honest for most of the day you won�t see any difference optically. Both will let you distinguish features such as seeing ears in the leaves, counting antler tips, that sort of thing, during legal shooting hours.

The 8X32 is smaller and lighter (duh <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> ), both binoculars are as bullet proof as a binocular can be, and both would serve you well.

But, for one binocular to do it all I�d get the 8X42 and never look back. It is not that big or heavy, and if you use an over the shoulder carry a large binocular will not hinder you in any way. I�ve carried my 8X42 this way �strap over one shoulder, the binocular hangs under the opposite arm, like a woman would carry a purse � and it is out of the way, well protected from bumps, does not weigh on your neck at all, and it still instantly available. JJHack showed me this carry method and it completely eliminates any weight advantage of a smaller binocular. Believe me, I�ve carried heavy binoculars around my neck and they weigh you down mightily. I�ve tried the slings and other gizmo�s and they take the weight off of your neck okay but can get in the way of a pack, plus when you want to low crawl the binoculars are under your body and in the way. Under your arm they do not interfere with lying on the ground. This method is just superior to every other carry method I�ve tried.

Don�t concentrate so much on exit pupil size (it is important but you could get a 7X35 and have the same exit pupil) but do think about the advantage of the 42 mm objective. Can�t give the scientific explanation but in layman�s terms it is pulling in more light to begin with. The larger objective just gathers more light to focus into your eye. Providing the optical quality of two binoculars is equal, which they are in this case, then the more light you grab out front, the more detail and resolution you get out the back end.

The larger exit pupil does give a benefit which I think is just as valuable, if not more so, than a teensy bit more light passing to the eye. It offers a larger �window� for the eye to look through � that is, one�s eye position does not have to be quite so critical so it is more comfortable to look for long periods of time. You can move your eyes around a bit and still get a full view. Seems like a silly millimeter would not be that big of a difference, but if you sit and glass for � hour or more you will definitely notice the difference. Looking through the 8X32 � that�s nice. Look through the 8X42 and it�s like looking through a picture window on the world.

Finally � in periods of low light at the beginning and end of the day, the larger objective and larger exit pupil will give you the edge in picking up details. I think it is more to the 8X32�s credit that the difference is slight, but it is there and is definitely noticeable.

We concentrate so much on riflescope brightness when their primary purpose is to align the barrel with the target. But a binocular�s sole purpose in life is for looking at stuff, and looking for long periods of time, so optical qualities are all important.

If there is some overriding reason to save 8-10 ounces in weight then get the 8X32. It is an excellent glass, but it�s only advantage is a small decrease in size and weight. If you want a binocular that can serve well for all the tasks that you mentioned, the 8X42 is the superior of the two.

A really good 8x42 beats a really good 8x32 noticeably during those twilight moments so often critical in hunting. I have tried such comparisons over and over, with the best binocs in the world, and it works every time.

Thanks to all who have replied. If I understand the posts, it seems that the consensus is a 42mm objective. Now to look at 7 or 8 power versions in that objective size.

Will now try to move on to a "stack" test, as in Big Stick's comments to find which fits the best, as well as providing the "best" optics for my eyes. Living in the boonies does have a down side, not easy to find a place with a wide selection of the bino's to compare. May have to wait for a trip to the nearest Sportsman's Warehouse. (one in Albuquerque is under construction)

At the moment I would put the Leica Trinovid and Ultravid, the Zeiss Victory II and Classics, the Swarovski EL and SLC, the Nikon Venture LX (Superior LX?) and Pentax DCF SP on the list to evaluate. Does anyone have other brands/models that I should try or provide other insights for cutting down this list?

Thanks again.

Gene <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

After you have chosen what seems to be your final choice, do what I did.

Compare them to a pair of Zeiss 7x42 Classics. I had my mind and eyes set on another brands 7x42. Someone suggested I try the Zeiss 7x42's. I did.
The next day I bought them. To my eyes and my needs, these are the best for me. They may be for you too. Give them a try.

FWIW,

J Scott

I thought Cabellas were the only ones with Zeiss Classics and they are 10x42. Where were you that you could compare a new 7x42 Zeiss Classic? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Gene

JB, re-read your looking long article on the front page of the website as suggested by E.

Seemed like you might also consider a 10 power bino in a 42 mm objective or did I misunderstand?

Thanks.

Gene

PS Thanks for posting on this forum.

Yeah, I like 10x42's as well, particularly in open country. But the reality is that with top-grade binocs there really isn't that much difference between 8x and 10x. There is between 8x and 12x, the reason my absolute all-around favorite is the Leica 8=12x42 Duovid. Most people don't want to spend close to $1500 on their binocular, however.

MD

MD other than the cost and a weight penalty is there any downside to a Duovid as opposed to a straight 8 x 42 or 8 x 50 of similar quality.

In practice do you find that you use the 12x magnification enough to warrant it being there? I mean this is similar to the fixed vs variable scopes discussion. Variable is more flexible but you don't really use it that often in the field. What are your views in relation to binoculars in this regard.

Regards
JohnT

I ordered a pair from www.eagleoptics.com

Then compared them to my hunting buddy's "other brand" 7x42.

We both agreed we liked what we saw better with the Zeiss.

Also, Zeiss has a "new" line of binoculars coming out this summer. Might be worth the wait to see what these offer compared to others. But for me, the view I see with the 7x42 Classics is nothing like I have ever seen.

Check out www.cloudynights.com and do a search. You will find a very good review of these there.

J Scott

JS, you should feast your eyes on the 7x42 Ultravid's... though pricey, there simply isn't anything like them.

Money is being hidden away for just that binocular.

Chuck