Looking for quality binoculars

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Originally Posted by 86 inches

For birding, a 7 or 8 power is best.

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This is true, particularly for less experienced birders. 8x42 is a great set up for birders. Over the years, I've gravitated to the 10x so I could pick up more detail on difficult to differentiate birds, like sparrows and shorebirds. It seems odd, but until binoculars are used a lot, it's a lot harder to just pick them up and see what you want to see than it would seem. And every pair is different in that regard.

Look around and get a used pair of Swaro ELs. Warranty transfers ro you so your always covered

Upland Optics .... just bought a pair and better than my Vortex ....top of the line optics for around $1000

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Originally Posted by blakesfav

This is true, particularly for less experienced birders. 8x42 is a great set up for birders. Over the years, I've gravitated to the 10x so I could pick up more detail on difficult to differentiate birds, like sparrows and shorebirds. It seems odd, but until binoculars are used a lot, it's a lot harder to just pick them up and see what you want to see than it would seem. And every pair is different in that regard.

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Agree. Beginners assume more mag is better but most birders prefer lower power binos including authorities like Roger Peterson and David Sibley. Wider field of view and brighter. Far less hand shake. Easier to follow birds in flight and often easier to pick up detail.

That's not to say a 10x doesn't have it's usefulness. It does and some, like yourself, might prefer it.

Sometimes, I'll use higher powers and often I'll use one of my scopes. But I almost always have my 8x42.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 86 inches

Agree. Beginners assume more mag is better but most birders prefer lower power binos including authorities like Roger Peterson and David Sibley. Wider field of view and brighter. Far less hand shake. Easier to follow birds in flight and often easier to pick up detail.

That's not to say a 10x doesn't have it's usefulness. It does and some, like yourself, might prefer it.

Sometimes, I'll use higher powers and often I'll use one of my scopes. But I almost always have my 8x42.

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Good info - I've gotten so used to the 10x now, that I rarely carry my old trusty 8x42 anymore. Last year I made the hike up to try to spot the Himalayan Snowcock in the Ruby Mountains - that's when I realized how heavy a big spotting scope, tripod, and both pairs of binoculars were. My fat ass was gassed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 86 inches

Agree. Beginners assume more mag is better but most birders prefer lower power binos including authorities like Roger Peterson and David Sibley. Wider field of view and brighter. Far less hand shake. Easier to follow birds in flight and often easier to pick up detail.

That's not to say a 10x doesn't have it's usefulness. It does and some, like yourself, might prefer it.

Sometimes, I'll use higher powers and often I'll use one of my scopes. But I almost always have my 8x42.

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The new Swaro NL’s help with this tremendously. The field of view is unprecedented. I have the 8x42’s and have ordered the 10x42’s. I may pick up a pair of the 12x before my elk hunt this fall. They are worth the money.

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Originally Posted by DoctorJJ

The new Swaro NL’s help with this tremendously. The field of view is unprecedented. I have the 8x42’s and have ordered the 10x42’s. I may pick up a pair of the 12x before my elk hunt this fall. They are worth the money.

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The 8x42 have an incredible angle of view of over 9 degrees. Wow!