What size binoculars are best for hunting?
 

For Eastern whitetail hunting. 7x30, 7x42, 8x30, 8x40, 10x50. There are so many. Which would you pick if you could only have 1 pair for deer hunting?

RE: What size binoculars are best for hunting?
 

For hunting in the east, where you don`t glass for hours at a time...I like my nikon 10x25 mountaineers.

NRA,UBP,BASS Member
New Stanton,PA

RE: What size binoculars are best for hunting?
 

I personally prefer my 10X50 Bruntons. Formerly I carried 12X50 Bushnells. I really enjoy the clearity, low light and field of view of these.

Of the ones you posted, the 7X42, 8X40 or 10X50's.

<font color=blue>Good Luck and Good Shooting</font id=blue>

<font color=red>Rob</font id=red>

RE: What size binoculars are best for hunting?
 

I love my Swarovski 7x42. Of course they're clear as a bell and all that, but you can really pick a woods apart with them. I can shoot my bow with them on my neck. I'll have to srongly disagree with the mini binos someone mentioned. They will wear you out, let you down in poor light etc. Yes they can be clear on nice sunny midday hunts. b\ But next to something in the 7x42 through the 7,8x50s they'll flat fail when you really need them. The compacts just cannot deliver the needed light for prime time viewing.

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RE: What size binoculars are best for hunting?
 

davidmil, generally I would agree with you about the 10x25 mini bino`s. But, quality is everything.
I actually had guys borrow them in Colorado a few years back, because their cheap full sized ones were killing them.

I have several pair of full sized high quality bino`s, and while they are better than my trusty little nikon mountaineers, I think most people would be amazed at just how clear they are, and impressed with their light gathering capabilities.

Not quite up to challenging your Swarovski`s, but pretty good!

NRA,UBP,BASS Member
New Stanton,PA

RE: What size binoculars are best for hunting?
 

I don't think any more than 8 power is needed in the eastern hardwoods. You want a large objective to transmit as much light as possible. Being able to see, without straining, is really important, in low light. I use a pair of Minox 8.5 X 42. Get something waterproof and fog proof.

Phil.
&quot;Could you guys be quiet, my dad's trying to shoot.&quot;<img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: What size binoculars are best for hunting?
 

Big Country: It's a scientific fact.... not preference, that tells us the compacts CAN NOT possibably give us the low light viewing the larger binos do. It just can't happen.... no matter who makes the glass. The relationship between power and objective lens diameter is the prime determining factor in low light viewing. Divide objective lens by the power and you get a factor. Anything over 5 is prefered. So, a 7x42 gives you a factor of 6. For me it was a compromise between the ultimate &quot;7&quot; and size. The human eye can only go so far and anything over a factor of 7 is lost. Anything under 5 starts to get into the POOR or DAMN POOR range.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> Also, most people can not hold anything above an 8 or maybe at most 10 power steady enough for really picking horns or bushes apart. Compacts will blob out in brush where as a good set of binos will allow you to pick it apart to the point of seeing eyeballs blink. In clear good light there may indeed be little difference to some people... but in low light the best will shine. AGAIN... it's not MY preference or me saying this. It's science and all the TRUE glass experts. YES, CHEAP low class glass brings in some more factors. The better the glass, the better the binos. BUT, the size is the determining factor if glass is near the same quality.



Edited by - davidmil on 01/31/2003 07:54:51

RE: What size binoculars are best for hunting?
 

The factor david is talking about is exit pupil. You eye can dialate to a certain size and once that dialation is attained adding more light has no affect. For most people an exit pupil around 7 will work great. A good range is 5-8 according to the techs at Zeiss...but what do they now about glass...<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

&quot;What we do in this life echos an eternity&quot;

RE: What size binoculars are best for hunting?
 

Maybe a dumb question but just wondering what use you have for binoculars in the woods during archery season? Not trying to be smart.