Originally Posted by
bigbulls
General purpose binoculars should be, IMO, 7 or 8 power.
I feel that 10 power binoculars offer too much magnification in the thick woods. Another thing about high magnification binoculars is that the image becomes increasingly unsteady as you go up in magnification. If I need more power than 8X then I need a spotting scope.
Stay away from the ultra compact binocs in the 8 or 10X25. They are a complete waste of money even in the ultra high end price range. Look for something close to 40mm for the objective lens diameter.
Agreed on all points.
I know it's cliche, but you get what you pay for, especially when it comes to stuff like optics. Of course, at every price level there are going to be models that stand out, but a quality binocular is an investment worth saving up for, especially for a hunter.
I have a Leupold Golden Ring 8x42 HD, which I think you can find for under $700 if you search around. I can't imagine a better binocular to take hunting in the woods. Their performance during the last 20 mins. of shooting light is unbelievable--you can tell that they were designed by hunters.