Binos

[bigmike23]

I got my first pair of Swarovskis in 2019 in 8.5x power, then upgraded to the NLs this year. I have never ever in 100s of uses needed more than 8 power. Even if you hold 10 steady, just think how rock solid 8 will be then. Don't agonize over it. 8s all day.

 

[eightballwoody]

I don’t doubt that I can invest in great glass. Unfortunately, that budget has already been allocated to my thermal which in my opinion makes even the Swarovski glass a few notches below due to what it does. So my main objective is finding the correct magnification. Even from the comments on here it’s almost pretty even.

Trying to find deer in the thermals job. Seeing exactly what it is will be the binoculars job for me.

I’m definitely leaning that 8x power atm.

 

[Kayl]

My routine is unique. I use a thermal monocular to scan for deer. Once I locate a heat signal, that’s when I grab the binos. That’s kinda where I am in the process.

How thick is it where you hunt? I use thermals at work sometime and they aren't as great in thick cover.

 

[eightballwoody]

How thick is it where you hunt? I use thermals at work sometime and they aren't as great in thick cover.

Fairly thick. I use a pulsar thermal. Mine cost about $2500. So it really finds deer that most people miss even with the best binos. There is no guess work with these bad boys.

 

[chanson_roland]

I'd go with 8x42 all day. The 5mm exit pupil is just too much too give up, IMO.

 

[JC3]

If you can afford them, and as BigMike stated, the Swarovski's can't be beat.
For the past 2 years I have been using their 10X25 CL Pocket series binos from the JX3.
An acquaintance of mine let me use his for a couple of hunts and I was surprised how versatile they were.
The ability to see at dawn and dusk was surprisingly good, even with the 25mm lens.
The 10X is easily steadied on the tether, and their small size makes them unnoticeable around your neck.
These are not the bino's for western glassing, but for eastern whitetail woods and occasional fields.
There is also an 8X25 model.

 

[eightballwoody]

If you can afford them, and as BigMike stated, the Swarovski's can't be beat.
For the past 2 years I have been using their 10X25 CL Pocket series binos from the JX3.
An acquaintance of mine let me use his for a couple of hunts and I was surprised how versatile they were.
The ability to see at dawn and dusk was surprisingly good, even with the 25mm lens.
The 10X is easily steadied on the tether, and their small size makes them unnoticeable around your neck.
These are not the bino's for western glassing, but for eastern whitetail woods and occasional fields.
There is also an 8X25 model.

Like I said earlier. I have thermal monoculars that are a couple of notches above even the Swarovski's. They do the finding. Once I have found the animal, its game over.

So basically my Swaro budget is in the pulsars.

 

[Nutterbuster]

8x42 for me. As mentioned, better light transmission, wider FOV, and less perceived shake and eye fatigue.

8x is plenty of magnification for most work. I use mine for scouting ducks mostly and can pick gadwall out of a flock of a thousand coot at a quarter mile.

 

[eightballwoody]

8x42 for me. As mentioned, better light transmission, wider FOV, and less perceived shake and eye fatigue.

8x is plenty of magnification for most work. I use mine for scouting ducks mostly and can pick gadwall out of a flock of a thousand coot at a quarter mile.

Ya. I went ahead and ordered the 8x42 diamondbacks

 

[Hillbillyfab]

Ya. I went ahead and ordered the 8x42 diamondbacks

I think you did welll here. I was having this conversation with some coworkers today, as they were discussing Bino deals. I told them once I again I wished I’d bought 8x diamondbacks instead of my 10x.