Can you havr too much magnification on binoculars?

[Elliott]

I was at Cabelas today and looked through a few binoculars, I really liked the vortex viper HDs. I liked the 15X50 's. My question is, is that too much magnification for say the woods in Winthrop? Any input?

[MtnMuley]

With 15 power, I'd definately use a tripod.  That and weight are the only downfall's of higher powered magnification.

[fastdam]

it depends on how far you you want to see.

[fastdam]

And how much your willing to carry.

[RadSav]

Depends on how stable you are and how you plan to use them.  For me 15 is too much unless I'm using a tripod.  Even in the Swaro 15's my eyes get tired quickly.  8X or even quality 10X don't bother me nearly as much.  While still hunting I'm always looking through branches focusing beyond them.  Quite often that leads to spotting deer and elk very close to my position.  The wider field of view and the easily steadied lower powers do this better than the high power glass.

I will take a 15 power bino over a 25 power spotter any day though.  Especially when I'm spending long days looking at goats or sheep.  I also prefer the 15 power at 3-D shoots to spot the money ring.

Myself I keep buying 10X binos but find I'm using the old 7 & 8X more often.  And I can count points and judge goat horns better with my old high quality 7X than most average 10X glass too.  The 15X Swaros spend most days in my pack never to be used.  And when I'm cutting weight I keep my water and dump the 15X.  If I had it to do over again I'm not sure I would buy them.  Even though there has been many a long difficult and dangerous stalk opportunity on goat that I avoided by being able to field judge with the 15X realizing I didn't really want that animal.

If you are only going to have one pair of binos for hunting I would go 8X or 10X before going with the 15X.  My  for what it's worth.

[Bob33]

Heavy, much narrower field of view are drawbacks. Very difficult to handhold. 8x or 10x is better for general purpose.

[jackelope]

They are great on a tripod. They are not great handheld.

[Skillet]

 
I have 12x's as my standard bino glass and feel that I  almost always want to use a rest of some sort.  15x's would almost require a tripod.

[mountainman]

Vortex Razors combined with the doubler and a tripod will cover everything!

[ADAHY]

Vortex Razors combined with the doubler and a tripod will cover everything!

.      Please interprit  I'm new.
I was looking at the same binos at sportsman's today, I'm pretty steady but after a minute or so they went crazy. I'm gonna get the 10× much steadier.

[mountainman]

You have your 10X bino for glassing, snap on the pocket sized doubler to either eyepiece, mount it on the tripod and voalla, you now have a 20X spotter!

[Kola16]

I have a pair that is 10-30 power, and I love using the 30 power. But it is really cool to be able to switch through the powers.

[thinkingman]

With 15 power, I'd definately use a tripod.  That and weight are the only downfall's of higher powered magnification.

Higher power means smaller exit pupil(darker image).
High power requires extremely precise grinding and coating to be useful and not cause eye strain.
The tripod is pretty much mandatory as the magnification amplifies any shaking of your hands.
High magnification usually means bulky....Big 'nocs are not as easy to carry and be ready in a second as smaller.

[OOptics]

Depends on how stable you are and how you plan to use them.  For me 15 is too much unless I'm using a tripod.  Even in the Swaro 15's my eyes get tired quickly.  8X or even quality 10X don't bother me nearly as much.  While still hunting I'm always looking through branches focusing beyond them.  Quite often that leads to spotting deer and elk very close to my position.  The wider field of view and the easily steadied lower powers do this better than the high power glass.

I will take a 15 power bino over a 25 power spotter any day though.  Especially when I'm spending long days looking at goats or sheep.  I also prefer the 15 power at 3-D shoots to spot the money ring.

Myself I keep buying 10X binos but find I'm using the old 7 & 8X more often.  And I can count points and judge goat horns better with my old high quality 7X than most average 10X glass too.  The 15X Swaros spend most days in my pack never to be used.  And when I'm cutting weight I keep my water and dump the 15X.  If I had it to do over again I'm not sure I would buy them.  Even though there has been many a long difficult and dangerous stalk opportunity on goat that I avoided by being able to field judge with the 15X realizing I didn't really want that animal.

If you are only going to have one pair of binos for hunting I would go 8X or 10X before going with the 15X.  My  for what it's worth.

I completely agree.  Summed up, there is a time and place for higher powered binoculars.  I would venture to say that in the woods around Winthrop 15X will be too powerful.  If it were me, I would not go that high unless you are in more open areas.  It gets pricey, but you may want to consider two pairs.  One that is higher power and one lower power (say 7X).  This will give you options!

[Elknut1]

In a nutshell anything over 10X will require tripod use for best results, hand held over 10X is shaky at best for most hunters.

  ElkNut/Paul

[Steve C]

Yes you can get too much magnification in a binocular.  In fact it is a pretty common mistake that people make in thinking more is better.  There is a reason why the vast majority of binoculars for general purpose viewing are typically 8-10x.  The image will be brighter at those levels, the glass will be smaller, the field of view larger, and the lower power is much easier to hold steady.

You enter a whole new world when you hit 12-15x.  That is usually way too much for most people to even remotely hold steady by hand.  Put it on a tripod, where it belongs at that level of magnification, and you will start to see things that will remind why high magnification has its place.

Comparing lower 8-10x glass with 15x or so and the comparison really becomes more apples to oranges.  15x optics are different tools than 8-10x optics and will have different uses.

I would say 15x is way too much for the woods distances.

[bearpaw]

I like my 15x but most people who look through them do not like how hard it is to hold them steady. I also do not pack them too far from the vehicle, I take 10x when I am hiking very far due to the much lighter weight factor. Hope that helps.

[pope]

I took my 8x42 Monarch binos in the woods in Winthrop last year and didn't see the need for greater magnification. In the early and late hours you'll want glass that will operate in low light, especially in dense trees. Higher magnification operates better over longer distances with plenty light, provided you can hold the optics still.

[boneaddict]

10 power has always served me well in Winthrop.  You lose field of view and they get shaky

[carpsniperg2]

10x is all I have ever need in bino's. I have bought with higher magnification only to sell them and down size. If I want or need more then 10x I will go to a spotter and tripod.

[jjhunter]

15's on a good tripod are magical.  I've been on hunts where you would be severely handicapped without a pair.   10's around the neck and 15"s in the pack for me.

[Bean Counter]

I mostly hunt open areas and when I moved from 8x to 10x I was very happy. I don't ever find myself wishing I have 12x though. Above 10x I like my spotter