IKLland Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 Do you guys use 10x42s, 8x42s, or other and why? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 (edited) My primary pair for the field are 10x42. I appreciate the greater magnification, am willing to tolerate a smaller field of view, and gained enough experience with binos in the Army that I'm able to hold them steady. My secondary pair are 8x42. Those are for use in the backyard, where almost everything I'm looking at is within 50 feet. At that range, I don't need 10x. Edited October 31, 2022 by Charlie Spencer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipperatl Posted October 31, 2022 Share Posted October 31, 2022 10x42 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonestranger Posted October 31, 2022 Share Posted October 31, 2022 We have 2 pair of 8x42 but I seldom use either of them. The Bushnells are MJ's go to pair, which are inferior to my newer Eagle Optics but she continues to use the older Bushnells. 🤷🏼♂️ I myself prefer to use my mirrorless camera with the electronic viewfinder as my view magnifier most of the time. Familiarity makes it easy for me to quickly focus where I want when AF fails me. The lens' zoom feature is handy but sometimes it's advantageous to use the viewfinder's zoom magnification too, taking the magnification well beyond any binoculars I've seen, with the bonus of image stabilization. The biggest advantage I find with my camera over binoculars is being able to adjust exposure. I can compensate for birds with bright backlighting or birds in dark shadows with the camera and see details that I'd never be able to see with binoculars. I can go out in near total darkness long before the sun is up and adjust my exposure so that my view is bright enough to see what my eyes can't see on their own. It's during those really early outings that I use my camera like night vision goggles and scan the trees for owls, unsuccessfully but I keep looking because I can. Since my scans of treelines and bushes are just scans and not viewing marathons, the weight difference isn't really a factor. When my viewing time is going to run non-stop for extended lengths of time, well, that's when I will reach for the binoculars and settle for what I think is a lesser view. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted October 31, 2022 Share Posted October 31, 2022 10x42 Out here in the wilds of country life, birds aren't near as tame as in cities, I am always amazed how tame birds are in a city, you can practically walk up to the ducks, and pet the Mourning Dove. Any way, that extra magnification is needed out here. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aveschapinas Posted October 31, 2022 Share Posted October 31, 2022 15 hours ago, IKLland said: Do you guys use 10x42s, 8x42s, or other and why? Thanks! Mine are 8X42. My first pair was very cheap 10X50s; I upgraded to Vortex Diamonback and I've been happy with them. There are fewer choices here and ordering online is expensive! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonestranger Posted October 31, 2022 Share Posted October 31, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, lonestranger said: I can go out in near total darkness long before the sun is up and adjust my exposure so that my view is bright enough to see what my eyes can't see on their own. It's during those really early outings that I use my camera like night vision goggles and scan the trees for owls, For those that haven't experimented much with high ISO, I suggest testing your camera's night vision capabilities if you're up before, or after, you can typically see details in your surroundings. It probably won't work in total darkness but you might be able to see things as the day starts to brighten but long before the sun hits the horizon. If you forget about taking pictures and just use your electronic viewfinder, or live view on the LCD screen, you may be surprised what your camera can see that you can't. If you put your camera on manual, set your ISO to maximum, set your Aperture to it's smallest number, and then crank your Shutter Speed way down toward minimum, you might be lucky enough to find something lurking in the darkness. I know that I am working with upper end equipment so others may not have the same results, but your individual results may just surprise you the way my results first surprised me. This first shot was taken at 7:57am yesterday morning just as the sun is coming up. This previous shot was taken 44 minutes earlier, at 7:13:06am, long before sunrise. After setting my camera to what I now call night vision mode and only 42 seconds later at 7:13:48am, this is the view I had of my surroundings. I know it's not something that everyone will try, but if you've always wanted night vision, this might be worth looking into as an alternative. The better your gear, the earlier/later you should be able to see in the near darkness. Edited October 31, 2022 by lonestranger 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiscalus quiscula Posted October 31, 2022 Share Posted October 31, 2022 I use 9x33 mostly. Works well for identifying warblers as well as scanning. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tbrown Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 17 hours ago, lonestranger said: For those that haven't experimented much with high ISO, I suggest testing your camera's night vision capabilities if you're up before, or after, you can typically see details in your surroundings. It probably won't work in total darkness but you might be able to see things as the day starts to brighten but long before the sun hits the horizon. If you forget about taking pictures and just use your electronic viewfinder, or live view on the LCD screen, you may be surprised what your camera can see that you can't. If you put your camera on manual, set your ISO to maximum, set your Aperture to it's smallest number, and then crank your Shutter Speed way down toward minimum, you might be lucky enough to find something lurking in the darkness. I know that I am working with upper end equipment so others may not have the same results, but your individual results may just surprise you the way my results first surprised me. This first shot was taken at 7:57am yesterday morning just as the sun is coming up. This previous shot was taken 44 minutes earlier, at 7:13:06am, long before sunrise. After setting my camera to what I now call night vision mode and only 42 seconds later at 7:13:48am, this is the view I had of my surroundings. I know it's not something that everyone will try, but if you've always wanted night vision(maybe as a part of your survival gear kit, this might be worth looking into as an alternative. The better your gear, the earlier/later you should be able to see in the near darkness. Really nice photos and technique. What's the camera you're using for those(was thinking about getting night vision anyway, so might aswell)? Been thinking about buying one for some time and since it's holiday season soon I might treat myself 😄 Regarding OP's post: I'm using Vortex 8x42, works pretty well for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonestranger Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 3 hours ago, Tbrown said: Really nice photos and technique. What's the camera you're using for those(was thinking about getting night vision anyway, so might aswell)? Been thinking about buying one for some time and since it's holiday season soon I might treat myself 😄 Regarding OP's post: I'm using Vortex 8x42, works pretty well for me! I use Canon's R6 with the RF 100-500mm. The camera's 102,400 ISO capability definitely helps with night vision viewing. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birds are cool Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 I use my nikon as binoculars. In my opinion, I can see farther with it, and if I cannot id the bird right then, I can review the photos later. My father uses Vortex crossfires 10*42, and he likes them better than his 8*32's. I once owned a cheap pair of 10*50's, and I liked them. IMO, 12*50 is hard to use when looking for birds. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connor Cochrane Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 (edited) I use a pair of 10.5 x 45's Edited November 1, 2022 by Connor Cochrane 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 19 hours ago, Connor Cochrane said: I use a pair of 10.5 x 45's Who makes that combination? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connor Cochrane Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 6 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said: Who makes that combination? It was an old Nikon model, the Monarch X. I really like them but they were discontinued pretty quickly after release due to problems for people with glasses. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 Just now, Connor Cochrane said: problems for people with glasses. Okay, that rules me out anyway. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted November 3, 2022 Share Posted November 3, 2022 I have the smallest binoculars of everyone here - they are 8x21. I like them because they're very light and very small. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted November 14, 2022 Author Share Posted November 14, 2022 Anyone here use 10x50s? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted November 14, 2022 Share Posted November 14, 2022 40 minutes ago, IKLland said: Anyone here use 10x50s? Maybe my next pair … Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake Fingers Posted December 22, 2022 Share Posted December 22, 2022 I use 10X40. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipperatl Posted December 23, 2022 Share Posted December 23, 2022 On 11/14/2022 at 11:06 AM, IKLland said: Anyone here use 10x50s? My first birding pair were Nikon 10x50 zoom. Horrible minimum focus distance. I had to stand back from the window to look at birds on feeders. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake Fingers Posted December 23, 2022 Share Posted December 23, 2022 18 minutes ago, chipperatl said: My first birding pair were Nikon 10x50 zoom. Horrible minimum focus distance. I had to stand back from the window to look at birds on feeders. Oof Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipperatl Posted December 23, 2022 Share Posted December 23, 2022 On 11/14/2022 at 11:06 AM, IKLland said: Anyone here use 10x50s? You do a bunch of seawatches, so those might work for that, but not everyday walk around. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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