Best all around binocular powers?
 

I'm not necessarily interested in brands, just powers. I'm looking for a good set of bino's with great resolution up close and that can also reach out to long range. What's good and what's too much in your opinion?

RE: Best all around binocular powers?
 

I think 8x or 10x are the best. I have two cheaper 8x that I kinda like, but it starts geting hard to count points at about150 yards away. My next set willbe 10x. Over that, the shake gets too bad for most people to use. So if you hunt fields, I say 10x. If you usually hunt in the woods, then 8x should be fine.

RE: Best all around binocular powers?
 

So when the description of a certain set of bino's says "10X25", does that mean they're 10 power with a 25 sized objective?

RE: Best all around binocular powers?
 

yes

RE: Best all around binocular powers?
 

Okay. Thanks!

RE: Best all around binocular powers?
 

I like my 12x45 Conquests.

RE: Best all around binocular powers?
 

8x42 is about perfect for whitetails, and most other types of hunting. I have 10x42 Leupolds, but borrow my dads 8x42's during archery season when I'm in the woods. 10x is sometime too much magnification and it can be hard to transition between your eyes and the bino's.

RE: Best all around binocular powers?
 

In my opinion the 8X42 or 8X43 is the all-around best choice for hunting mixed cover. What I mean by mixed cover is the type of ground I hunt here in West Tennessee. One day you are in the woods with 75 yard max shot and then that afternoon you may be hunting a 250 acre cut corn field.

I have the Pentax DCF-SP in 8X43. In three years of owning this bino I have never felt underpowered at any viewing range. I use them for every type of hunting (deer, turkey, coyote, waterfowl) and sports viewing. I looked at the 10X before buying the 8X43s and quickly decided against it because of the following

1. 8X will always be brighter than 10X in binos of the same objective size. The exit pupil (the diameter of the light stream exiting the ocular lens) is 5.375mm for my 8X binos vs. 4.3mm for the 10X. This is a significant and noticable difference in brightness, especially at lower light levels.

2. Wider field of view with 8X

3. I read that is is more difficult to build a good 10X bino at the lower and mid-level price pionts compared to a 8X. I would consider my Pentax SPs as a mid-level binocular.

4. Excessive imageshake with the 10X. I simply can't hold them still enough for any extended period of time. How does one expect to count the points on a distant deer when the image is shaking and fuzzy????

5. The step-up in magnification from 8X to 10X is far less than you may realize. A deerviewed at 500 yardswith a 10x bino appears to be 50 yards away. That same deer viewed with an 8x bino appears to be standing 62.5 yards away. In order to gain those additional 12.5 yards of magnification at 500 yards viewing distance I was unwilling to sacrifice all the other advantages that an 8X glass has over the 10X (FOV, more stable, better image quality, brightness)


Mouthcaller

RE: Best all around binocular powers?
 

Greatinfo fellas! Thanks!

RE: Best all around binocular powers?
 

IMO, a 7x or 8x by 42ish, is a great match. If I need 10 or more, maybe I need to be thinking good spotter. In wide open Antelope country, I do like 10x, but did not feel short changed using my 7x42 Bushnell Discoverers.

RE: Best all around binocular powers?
 

Another vote for high quality 8X or 10X - 40ish mm.

RE: Best all around binocular powers?
 

Thanks for the input fellas! I've all but settled on a set of Nikon Monarch 8X42's.

RE: Best all around binocular powers?
 

A hunter really needs 2 pair of binoculars. IMO 8X is the proper magnification for both. Then buy the best quality glass you can afford.

I have a set of 8X56 binoculars for my fixed position stand hunting. They are very heavy. But in a fixed position weight is not an issue. And the larger binocular is the best dhoice. I also have a quality pair of 8X30's. These binoculars are very lightweight. You almost do not know they are hanging around your neck. Make sure the glass is of high quality. The only time I miss the bigger 8X56 is the first moments in the morning, and the last moments of the evening. But for the other 99% of the time. They are more than adequate.

I do not know how much the Nikon 8X42's cost. But compare that binocular to the Zeiss Conquest 8X30(the ones I have), or the Connquest 8X40 before you buy the Nikon. IMO you will change your mind. Tom.

RE: Best all around binocular powers?
 

Nikon Monarch atb 8x42 is often thought to be the best sub $300 binos on the market. I have the 10x version on the way, I already have 2 8x's.

RE: Best all around binocular powers?
 

Okay, I went ahead and gave it a try..... I just pulled the trigger on some Nikon Monarchs on eBay. They are 8X42 and they're the camo ones. They're brand new and I got them for $236 shipped. Hopefully the transaction goes smoothy and the bino's are actually brand new.

RE: Best all around binocular powers?
 

How was the price compared to mail order houses?? Was the E-Bay retailer a reputable one?? If he has a good score then I doubt if you have anything to worry about. Tom.

RE: Best all around binocular powers?
 

Good deal. I think midwayusa and basspro sell them for 289+shipping, and I believe that was for the plain black ones. The camo ones were extra.

RE: Best all around binocular powers?
 

It was very low. I checked at all the retailers I could think of, even theopticzone.com. No one had a lower price. The eBay seller was very reputable. He had something like 64,000 transactions and his positive feedback was 100%. I looked at a lot of his feedback and there wasn't anything suspect.

The only downside is that I won't get the $50 Nikon Gift Card with these, but the price was so low I don't really care.

RE: Best all around binocular powers?
 

I am sure it will work out fine for you. I just unwrapped a new pair of Zeiss 8X30's that I ordered on E-Bay. I bought them for $385 shiped. This price was close to $150 less than I could find them anywhere. And the binoculars were as advertised-NEW. I got a great deal, as I am sure you did. Tom.

RE: Best all around binocular powers?
 

Sometimes I really wonder if I'm buying stolen goods when I get something on eBay.... How else could they afford to take that much of a loss on these types of items??? Even if they buy them in bulk, they still shouldn't be that cheap.

RE: Best all around binocular powers?
 

Retail has been a rip off for a long time, doubling the cost is common.

Hmmm, not a rip off exactly, that kind of sounds like a devilcrat. I think I will change that toretail is not a veryeffiecient way of distributing goods.