10X or 8X binos, what is your choice?

[schmalts]

Just want to see what most guys use here. 10 or 8 power binos, and angled or straight on a spotting scope

[Elkwhisper]

I can tell you that from a sales stand point, here in Montana, it is at least 3 to 1 when it comes to 10x vs 8x. And probably close to that when you compare straight to angled spotters.

Interestingly enough, however, some of the better (hardcore) hunters I know use 8X. And as a general rule of thumb, the higher end a spotter is, the more angled eye pieces you will sell.

That said, I still use what I have always used. 10x binos and a straight eyepiece spotter, though I am considering going to an angled spotter. I have also been playing arround with the Leupold Switch/Power 7.5 /12x32mm binos. The versatility of having both maginfications is pretty handy.

Elkwhisper

[Big Fin]

8X bino. Straight spotter.

[BuzzH]

I used 9 power leupold binoculars for a lot of years and I still like them.

I also have the 12-40 straight leupold spotter, like that as well, for a couple reasons, one being that its compact and packs easily...and 2 the optics are very good...way better than what you pay for them.

Last year I bought the 10x42 swaro's...and for all purpose binoculars, they have no equal, IMO. They may not be quite "enough" glass when looking at extreme distances for coues deer, although not once did the guys I was hunting with spot deer that I couldnt see with the 10x's (they all had 15x's). Its amazing the difference it makes glassing with your binoculars on a tri-pod and the 10's work awesome for that.

I suppose if you were mostly hunting and glassing close range all the time, like say in Western Montana, the 8x could be better and more practical. But, I think if you only want to buy ONE pair of glasses, to cover a wide range of hunting from AK to AZ, the 10's are going to be tough to top.

It wouldnt suck to have one each of: 8, 10, and 15 power binoculars, as each have specific uses that they are better suited for...but it would suck when you hit the cash register.

Same with having two spotters...one for back-packing and one for the truck and/or short hikes.

[Randy11]

I voted 10x and straight spotter. Both what I use.

Don't really plan on ever switching to an angled spotter, but would like to try a pair of 8x glasses.

[noharleyyet]

10x, straight spotter...

[Drake4]

10x and 12-40 straight Leupy spotter. I'm with Buzz, I love that spotter for packing. I see the price on them just went up over $1000.

[schmalts]

Last year I bought the 10x42 swaro's...and for all purpose binoculars, they have no equal, IMO. They may not be quite "enough" glass when looking at extreme distances for coues deer, although not once did the guys I was hunting with spot deer that I couldnt see with the 10x's (they all had 15x's). Its amazing the difference it makes glassing with your binoculars on a tri-pod and the 10's work awesome for that.

.

Those 15X on a tripod are really nice for long distance glassing. Just not very light and pack freindly. I kind of wish I kept my old Doctor 15X:(
It is funny how the guys in AZ are for the most part the only ones that do the 15X and tripod gig

[BuzzH]

If I lived in AZ and hunted coues deer more...I'd have a pair of 15's. I think you could get by with the 10 powers, but the 15's are nice when glassing in the shade of juniper trees, etc.

The guys I hunted with in AZ didnt use a spotter at all...I had the only spotter.

[schmalts]

If I lived in AZ and hunted coues deer more...I'd have a pair of 15's. I think you could get by with the 10 powers, but the 15's are nice when glassing in the shade of juniper trees, etc.

The guys I hunted with in AZ didnt use a spotter at all...I had the only spotter.

The field of view is so much nicer on those binos compared to a spotter, and even better yet is less eye strain from having both eyes in use

[Greenhorn]

10X and straight.

Schmalts, don't try to convince anybody you're straight.

[schmalts]

10X and straight.

Schmalts, don't try to convince anybody you're straight.

You were pretty drunk that last night in Vegas, I would be carefull what you accuse me of

[BuzzH]

Schmalts,

I still think you need a spotter...even with 15's. Not enough glass to accurately judge coues deer and antelope, IMO.

Also, I think theres less eye strain with 10's than 15's. I used a pair of 15's for about 4 days on my coues hunt. Also, the bigger field of view with 10's allows you to pick up movement better.

[schmalts]

Schmalts,

I still think you need a spotter...even with 15's. Not enough glass to accurately judge coues deer and antelope, IMO.

Also, I think theres less eye strain with 10's than 15's. I used a pair of 15's for about 4 days on my coues hunt. Also, the bigger field of view with 10's allows you to pick up movement better.

Sure, you need a spotter, but I usually went to it after you locate your prey. Not sure why you think there is less eye strain on 10 vs 15, splain....:confused: Power of zoom for me really is dependent on how far I am looking for game.

[BuzzH]

Schmalts,

Not sure why I get more eye strain looking through 15's...but I do.

You bring up another good point...you tend to not glass closer country with 15's. I glassed up a lot of deer up close that the guys I was with were "over" looking with their 15's.

It sucks glassing inside 500 yards with 15's, it really does. But, from 1/4 mile to maybe 1.5 miles...cats ass.

[Spitz]

I've never tried 8x binos as I've always been happy with 10s. Could be missing something though.

Just got rid of the angled spotter I had for years and got a straight one. Sure I could use a shorter tripod with the angled but it was a pain in the butt with a window mount and on a few occasions a pain to spot the game I had already located.

[IdahoBugler]

I'm with everyone on this one. 10x with a straight spotter. It will take a hard sale for me to change. Unless like some have said I own 8x, 10x and 15x. I have no use for an angled spotter.

[Oak]

10x and straight. I hate using angled spotters.

[Ridge Runner]

10 and straight here also. Never could get used the angled spotters.

[Khunter]

10x straight.

[hardscrabble]

I will break the trend... 10x and angled.

I would say it really depends on the kind of hunting you do as far as wich spotter to get. I very rarely use a window mount and I like to use a short, light tripod so the angled works for me.

[Moosie]

I'll break it further : 8x and Angled

[elk_hunter]

I'm in the majority...10x and straight

[Danvet]

8x and 10x and straight

I don't use the spotter that much, mostly the 10x on a tripod. A comment on the eye fatigue with 15x: with me it's not so much fatigue as it is getting just about cross-eyed from moving my field of view from one place to the next and watching the landscape fly by. Probably, shouldn't keep looking as I move from place to place but sometimes you are able to pick out something as you're scanning over to a new area. I guess I should just slow down but I'm trying to maximize my time and the amount of ground covered.

[rosco]

10x. straight

[Grady]

8X...cause that's all I have.

Can't imagine the 10X's are THAT much better. Are they?

Straight spotter. Easier to use- unless you're shooting paper at the range.

And I think someone needs to remind Schmalts" what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas"

: )

[Dinkshooter]

Grady
A friend came on a elk hunt with me once. He had 8x SLCs. He was just tagging along for the fun of it. Heading down a ridge he glassed up some elk a ways out. There were 4 of them. He waved me back and said "there are 4 elk on that hill, can't tell how big they are but I know they are bulls".

I pulled up my 10's and said. "4pt, 5pt, broken 5pt and decent 6pt". He looked at me like I was crazy. We ran down there and killed the 6pt 10 minutes before dark.

He now has 10's and laughs about that day.

[AZ402]

I use 10X's and 15's. I don't use my spotter that much, eye piece is angled, will buy a straight eye piece next time around.

[shoots-straight]

10X, which are usually 9X, and straight.

[deerhunterMO]

10x and Straight. All Bushnell.

[mtmiller]

10x and straight.

Swaro EL and a cheap Nikon spotter.

[noharleyyet]

...wondered when they do this after the EL Swarovisions came out,.


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[Breaks Runner]

10X42 Ultravids and Zeiss 65T* straight..

[Layin_It_Down]

8X42 Leupold binos for clarity & extra light, 12-40x60 Leupold HD spotter for clarity @ long range.

[1_pointer]

10X42 Ultravids and Zeiss 65T* straight.. Does the Vectronix binos hold a candle to the Ultravids? Also, where can one get the Vectronix? I've looked a bit online and found lots of sites talking about them, but none listing a price.

[Breaks Runner]

The Vectronix "VectorIV" is the one I have. They only come in a 7X42. The optics are the best I've ever looked through, including my Leica Ultravids...but they are way too heavy to take along in the mountains. It has the fastest and most precise range finding capabilities I've ever seen as well. The problem is what they cost.

Check out: vectronix.com

[Grady]

Cool binocs.... couldn't find a price on the website, though. I would guess upwards of two grand.

But like with most things, Pointer; if you have to ask how much it is, you can't afford it.

: )

[Breaks Runner]

I lucked out and picked up my Vector on ebay....would have hated to had to pay full retail...$12,700.

If I was'nt being paid to hunt I damn sure would'nt have them...

It's the same system our armed forces are using to range the enemy in Iraq and Afghanistan to make those 1500+ meter shots.

[1_pointer]

WOW!! $12K+ is a bit steep for binos. Thanks for the info. They look like a great unit, but I'm not thinking I can slip that one past the wife. Looks like I'll just keep saving my money for a pair of the Zeiss RF binos, the Ultravids, or whatever Leupold comes up with.

[krshunter]

10x and straight although I'm considering 8x in my next pair. I will be stepping up in glass quality hopefully and some of the "hardcore" hunters and guides say the 8x are brighter and the magnification is not significant enough for them to jump to 10x and lose the brightness......any thoughts?

As an aside I have spent quite a bit of time looking through higher end glass lately and I came across a pleasant surprise.....at least from a cost standpoint. Meopta Meostar.......Again, any thoughts, comments? I have been looking at the 32mm variety and chose to look at Leica Ultravid, Swaro EL's, Zeiss Conquest/Victory and recently Meopta. Right off the bat I noticed that neither Zeiss pair were in the same class as the rest and it wasn't even close. The nearly $2000 Victories were no better than Bushnell Elites and some others half the price. I was having trouble telling any real difference between the Swaro's and the Leica's (maybe there is some difference in lower light). Then this last go around I had the opportunity to look throughMeopta and I have to say that for my eyes they were noticably crisper edge to edge and had better contrast than any of the others and I do mean it was a noticable difference. Does anyone else use these? They are priced at $799 compared to $1699 and $1999 I think for Swaro and Leica.

[awapiti]

8x, 10x and tripod mounted 15x. Don't use a spotter often, could never get used to the angled spotters. I tend to use the 8x more than the 10x, just depends on what type of hunting I am doing.

[ben300win]

8x Leica Geovids. I would have proabably bout the 10x if they had been available used at the time. Straight Leupold 12-40 spotter. One other thing that was not in the poll that I use that has a place here for me is the rifle scope. I use a 6.5x20 as I feel like the 20x serves as a spotter for most occasions and saves me alot of extra weight in my pack when I dont really need a spotter. Dont get me wrong a spotter has its place but not where I hunt thusfar.

[Khunter]

8x Leica Geovids. I would have proabably bout the 10x if they had been available used at the time. Straight Leupold 12-40 spotter. One other thing that was not in the poll that I use that has a place here for me is the rifle scope. I use a 6.5x20 as I feel like the 20x serves as a spotter for most occasions and saves me alot of extra weight in my pack when I dont really need a spotter. Dont get me wrong a spotter has its place but not where I hunt thusfar.

No offense meant but for me, guys using a rifle scope to glass spook the heck out of me. Helped a guy hunt this year and every time he glassed the trerrain with his rifle scope I cringed. In his case it was a 4x fixed scope and he HAD binos of higher power!

[Calif. Hunter]

I did that once, and scared both me and a guy in full camo as I glassed him with my scope and tried to figure out what I was seeing on opening day of deer season. This was many years, ago, and I've never done it since. I was so embarrassed and probably would have deserved whatever he might have dished out.

[noharleyyet]

How many of you guys use your scope for elk in the thick stuff....fess up.

[Jimbow65]

I think it depends on the terrain you are hunting. here in Pennsylvania, I use 8X binoculars and sometimes they are almost too powerful for early season brushy woods. But when hunting in later season open woods with snow, 10X works better. If I were a western hunter, I would probably opt for the 10X.
Jim

[mconway951]

I have both 8 and 10 binos I use the 8s when bowhunting the timber here in MN and WI and the 10s when gun hunting and I use a straight spotter never have liked the angled

[NChunter]

In thick woods I use tiny 8X binos, in open woods or open areas I use 10X42. I have a straight eyepiece on my spotting scope. At closer ranges, I may use my riflescope if I can clearly see it is what I am hunting and just want to sizeup the antlers.