357smallbore
Member
Are 10x42 bino's good for glassing game? Been using 8x50. I hunt Arizona and Wyoming usually 95% of all my shots are 300yds in. The binoculars I am looking at are fully multi coated, rubber armored.
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10x42 binoculars ?
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The specific binoculars will be more important than the magnification and objective size. At least to a point. If you divide the scopes objective size by the magnification the number you get is called the "exit pupil" rating. Everything else being the same the larger the number, the better for use in low light and somewhere around 5 or up is where you want to be for use in low light.
A set of 10X42's will have an exit pupil rating of 4.2. Your 8X50's will be 6.25 and should be better in low light. But that assumes equal quality. A $100 set of binoculars with a exit pupil rating of 6 won't be as good as a $1000 set with an exit pupil rating of 4. Also much above 8X and binoculars get hard to hold steady.
My big binoculars are 8X42. That gets me above 5 on the exit pupil rating, but since those can get big and heavy I often use a more compact 6X30 or 8X32 if a lot of walking is involved in rugged terrain. I give up some magnification with the 6X's and the 8X's are less than ideal at 1st and last light, but they do fine in good light.
A set of 10X42's will have an exit pupil rating of 4.2. Your 8X50's will be 6.25 and should be better in low light. But that assumes equal quality. A $100 set of binoculars with a exit pupil rating of 6 won't be as good as a $1000 set with an exit pupil rating of 4. Also much above 8X and binoculars get hard to hold steady.
My big binoculars are 8X42. That gets me above 5 on the exit pupil rating, but since those can get big and heavy I often use a more compact 6X30 or 8X32 if a lot of walking is involved in rugged terrain. I give up some magnification with the 6X's and the 8X's are less than ideal at 1st and last light, but they do fine in good light.
It would depend on how steady you can hold them and see what you want. I personally stay at 8x or use stabilization. I have a nice set of Canon 18x50 stabilized binos which I love and at the other end a set of Leica 8x25 pocket sized as many in between but I generally just use those 2, Also Vortex makes some great monoculars should that interest you.
Here is a review of several stabilized binoculars:
https://fixthephoto.com/best-image-stabilized-binoculars.html
Here is a review of several stabilized binoculars:
https://fixthephoto.com/best-image-stabilized-binoculars.html
I won't say big, because I have larger, but my "medium" ones are 8x44 (Minox BV 8X44), so a 5.5 mm exit pupil. Very nice.
Higher magnification binoculars have their place, but for every day glassing 8 or 10 works very well if the glass is good, some can hold 10 very steady, while others prefer 8.
I have a very old pair of Nikon 7-15x power that are great, but 15x is hard to hold steady long, and like a lot of variable power glass, 10/12 is clearer.
For an all day tote around pair of binoculars, a smaller pair is nice and will do what you really need, show you what's out there. I have a really old small pair of Cabelas brand binocs that are light and handy, but they need upgrading, glass and coatings are so much better these days.
BigBL87
Member
Stopped by Menards today, they had some Barska Colorado 10x42s for $35 after rebate. Not a crazy high quality pair of binos, but as they're originally $80 or so I was tempted just to have a pair until I can afford nicer. Unfortunately, I have a huge head and a relatively wide interpupilary distance (in the 74-76mm range) and they didn't go wide enough. Looking through each side, though, if they would have worked for me they'd have been a steal for $35.
I have a pair of Bushnell Forge 10X42. Got them at a Bushnell Outlet in KC for a really good price.......about $350 as I recall. I'm a prairie dog/coyote hunter and glass long distance prairies. I use a stabilizing prop and it works well. I have a tremor so need the stability. I also have a Leupold 10X42 that works very well, but I like the adjustments on the Forge better. Glass quality is about the same
Glass quality is important , but size means a lot. I've got a couple smaller pairs of glasses which I use more often. I also have a larger pair of higher power glasses,
and they have great magnification, but they weigh a ton. The smaller glasses are 80% of the visual clarity, with less than half the weight.
and they have great magnification, but they weigh a ton. The smaller glasses are 80% of the visual clarity, with less than half the weight.
I have a 10x42 lower end leupold and wish they didn't have that much power. It is hard to hold them steady enough for an old man like me.
Believe it or not I went to an auction a few years back and gave $16.00 for a 6x30 Jap glass with individual eye focus and they are my favorites right now.
Believe it or not I went to an auction a few years back and gave $16.00 for a 6x30 Jap glass with individual eye focus and they are my favorites right now.
JFrank
Member
I just replaced my Binoculars with Vortex‘s Diamond Back 10x42 line from Cabela’s
Couldn’t be happier with the glass plus weight is minimal
Couldn’t be happier with the glass plus weight is minimal
Bwana John
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For hunting "on the go".... (When you have to wear them)
8X x(~32-40mm) for unsuported viewing, 10X x(~40-50mm) when you have time to lean against somthing
No more than than 7X x(~28-35mm) when on horse back or in a moving vehicle.
There is the "Order of Magnitude" rule for the price and use of binoculars.
In order to notice an increase in quality the price must be raised by one order of magnatude., if you have a $20 pair and you want better ones they will cost $200, if you want better than the $200 pair they will cost $2,000.
If you spend Less than 10 minutes a day looking through them, $20 ones will work fine, 1 hour a day you need $200 ones. If you look through them 10 hours a day, spend the $2000.
A couple of tests for binoculars.
Scan a level horizon with them, and see if the edges of the view bends at all as you scan.
Look at something far away through them and notice the color saturation, now take down the glass and compare the colors.
Look through the binoculars and start to point them towards the sun, how close can you get before the picture glares out. DON'T look strait at it!
And... Learn how to use the diopter! Set them for you own eye width. If you share binos know your personal diopter setting and eye width for that particular pair.
8X x(~32-40mm) for unsuported viewing, 10X x(~40-50mm) when you have time to lean against somthing
No more than than 7X x(~28-35mm) when on horse back or in a moving vehicle.
There is the "Order of Magnitude" rule for the price and use of binoculars.
In order to notice an increase in quality the price must be raised by one order of magnatude., if you have a $20 pair and you want better ones they will cost $200, if you want better than the $200 pair they will cost $2,000.
If you spend Less than 10 minutes a day looking through them, $20 ones will work fine, 1 hour a day you need $200 ones. If you look through them 10 hours a day, spend the $2000.
A couple of tests for binoculars.
Scan a level horizon with them, and see if the edges of the view bends at all as you scan.
Look at something far away through them and notice the color saturation, now take down the glass and compare the colors.
Look through the binoculars and start to point them towards the sun, how close can you get before the picture glares out. DON'T look strait at it!
And... Learn how to use the diopter! Set them for you own eye width. If you share binos know your personal diopter setting and eye width for that particular pair.
oldfortyfiveauto
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Generally speaking any of the name brands will give good service. The main thing is get a pair that works for you. Their feel on handling and your eyes will determine that. As a bino junkie I enjoy binos from $100 to $3000 and enjoy everyone of them. As with guns if you know how many you have you don't have enough.
Well said and sound advice.
There isn't a one size fits all. What works for a person that wears a size 7 hat might not work for someone that wears a size 8 hat. Everyones head/face is shaped different.
I was given a pair of Leupold BX-1 Roque 8x25 binoculars and like them quite a bit for the size and weight. Plus they are nice and clear and work well out to 250-300 yards for my field uses and work good at the range out to 100 yards to see the target. I have seen the Leupold BX-1 selling for $95 to $120 online lately.
Like scopes or basically anything else, try out as many different brands as you can. Go with what works the best for you that is also within your budget.
The wife and I did the same last year. GREAT binos for the price. I would absolutely recommend them if somebody was looking. Now the only way I can ever really tell if I like an optic (riflescope/binos/spotting scope) is to look through them. I recommend finding a store or buddy that has what you're interested in and checking them out before buying!
For hunting "on the go".... (When you have to wear them)
8X x(~32-40mm) for unsuported viewing, 10X x(~40-50mm) when you have time to lean against somthing
No more than than 7X x(~28-35mm) when on horse back or in a moving vehicle.
There is the "Order of Magnitude" rule for the price and use of binoculars.
In order to notice an increase in quality the price must be raised by one order of magnatude., if you have a $20 pair and you want better ones they will cost $200, if you want better than the $200 pair they will cost $2,000.
If you spend Less than 10 minutes a day looking through them, $20 ones will work fine, 1 hour a day you need $200 ones. If you look through them 10 hours a day, spend the $2000.
A couple of tests for binoculars.
Scan a level horizon with them, and see if the edges of the view bends at all as you scan.
Look at something far away through them and notice the color saturation, now take down the glass and compare the colors.
Look through the binoculars and start to point them towards the sun, how close can you get before the picture glares out. DON'T look strait at it!
And... Learn how to use the diopter! Set them for you own eye width. If you share binos know your personal diopter setting and eye width for that particular pair.
Another test I use is how far I can read a license plate from as they are a fairly standard size.
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