Minimum Binocular power question.. is 7x too small?

[MDGrand]

REALLY trying to dive into Binoculars for a new buy..

I wonder if anyone here uses 7x or 8x as a standard magnification?

Right now I have 12x.. and they are too much shake.. I think even 10x might be a bit too much, unless you are constantly in a stand.

I am thinking about the Steiner Commander XP 7x50.. but wonder if 7x is just too far down as well.

... Seem like AWESOME binos though..

Thoughts?

[BIGINNER]

marking for later   

[vandeman17]

I would base my decision on where I was hunting and what kind of country it is. For open country I would say that personally, 7x isn't quite enough to make them worth carrying around. For whitetail hunting or blacktail where you don't expect to be glassing long distances then that would be perfect. 

[Bob33]

I have a pair of 6x30s, a pair of 8x40s, a pair of 10x42s, and pair of 16x70s.  I use them all.  If I had to choose one it would be the 10x42. There is no such thing as a perfect all-around binocular that is ideal for every situation.  If you do a lot of open country hunting, I would choose 8x to 10x.  If you're hunting timber, a 7x or even 6x would be better.  Also, the higher magnifications generally come in heavier binoculars.  If you're hiking all day, you'll appreciate lighter binoculars.

[MDGrand]

Good point.. and that is what I am considering..

Currently I have a pair of 12x.. thats too much.. too much shake after a long hike and not enough field of view.. I made a mistake and in seeing "more power" and went for it.

BUT.. I hear even if it is open country that 7x is good.. because after a long hike or moving, it aids in steadiness and if the glass is super nice, you can pick up animals just fine.. and if you REALLY want to see them up close and not move, bring a spotting scope.. I pack a Swaro when needed, so perhaps that is an option. I like the idea of getting less shake and still seeing the animal but thinking that 7x might be too little.

I hunt open country a lot but plenty of brush too.

[FC]

I have a set of Nikon 8's I really like, big FOV is really nice.

[carpsniperg2]

For me I want 10 power or better I like 10x42 or 10x50 myself. My range finder had 6or7 power and its not very much. I am always wanting more magnification in scopes and binos. Never, have I found myself thinking I have to much power.

[Rob]

I posted this else where, but this is what I started to do last season and I am hooked.

I got a nice range finder with great glass that is 7x.  I use that for all close range stuff.  I can see anything out to 300-400 yards good enough with that to enable me to decide if I need to slip into stealth mode and start a stalk.

Then I carry a Leupold compact spotting scope that is 15-30X.  I keep that rigged up in my pack attached to a lightweight tripod so that if it is something I want to check out at a further range, I can take it out and set up to view in more detail.  

The spotting scope and tripod combined come in right at 5 pounds.  Oh-I added butler creek scope caps to my spotter to protect the lenses and make set up faster.  Love that.  here is the set up on my back

[littlemac]

I use 8X32's in the Swarovski EL.  I have hunted New Mexico, Montana, here on the wet side and eastside as well as New Zealand and have found them to be universally a great size and not too heavy.  My only point in mentioning the locale is these have worked well for me in the brush and in the wide open spaces.

If you are going for a premium bino I think you would be well served with the 8X.

[Armadillo]

7x50 is best all around in my opinion, not only for open country on the east side but it is great for the deep dark woods on the west side. The 7x50 is super bright and never shaky (unless I see a buck). I use a 10x50 sometimes when I spot and stalk but for my style of walking the hills most of the day in broken country when hunting the east side, the 7x50's are king    

[uplandhunter870]

ive used 8's and they worked well, i put a pair af nikon 10x42s through its first season this year and really like them, for me 10's work the best, 12s just dont steady well with me and i end up not using them cause i cant get them still. my rangefinder is a 6x and it just isnt enough imo, i hunt everything from wide open flat wheat fields to the brush of the NE corner and the 10x works well for me

[wildmanoutdoors]

I use 7 x 50's also. Mostly on the West side. But even on the east they work fine for me.

[thinkingman]

I would base my decision on where I was hunting and what kind of country it is. For open country I would say that personally, 7x isn't quite enough to make them worth carrying around. For whitetail hunting or blacktail where you don't expect to be glassing long distances then that would be perfect. 

I think this post makes you think about intended use.
I have 8X32 with VERY GOOD glass and I think they're about perfect.
I downsized from 42mm objectives and lost a bit of twilight, but the portability of 32's is awesome.
I don't think I could ever get used to 50's hanging around my neck.
Swaro 7X's are amazing, If I only had to have one, it would be Swaro 8x.
Glass quality trumps power every time.

[Bofire]

 :)Also depends on if you are looking for a deer or a deers eyeball. You do not always get a chance to see the entire animal.
I use 10X40's in good quality.
Carl

[Wea300mag]

Another vote for 10X here

[Armadillo]

yeah the 50x is a pig when it swings around your neck, I bought a cheap shoulder harness a couple years ago and now they all feel the same 


http://www.amazon.com/Butler-Creek-Bino-Caddy-Strap/dp/B001AEAN2A/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1298428486&sr=8-14

thats the secret

[Steve C]

Lots of people get into too much magnification because, like most of us, at one time or another, have gotten sucked up the "more is better" pipe.  Magnification choice is largely personal and you will see two very definite camps for the 7-8x and another for the 10-12x.  Personally I have a 7x and 10x combo I use, so there is room for both.  If the gods decreed I could only have one, I'd take the 7x36 (mine's a ZEN ED 2).

There's a couple of things that happen with lower magnification.  One is that the shake is minimized with decrease in magnification.  You will see a LOT more with a clear, steady 7x image than a 10-12x wobbling around a lot.  You won't get as tired either, and you will have a lot less eye strain at the end of the day.  Then there is the issue of heat mirage.  The effects are magnified with magnification and times out in the Eastern Oregon Desert, I have been able to use the 7's and the 10's got left in the truck.  Image quality is usually easier to get right with lesser magnification (but higher ranges are getting batter, especially in the lower price ranges).  Another thing about a 7x binocular is that the depth of focus is another thing that increases with DECREASE in magnification.  Just means there is a lot more field in focus for and aft of the target and depth perception can increase dramatically in a 7x.  Personally I could not tell you if a binocular was 7x or 8x if it was not marked.  Just not enough difference to tell about, this is for me anyway, the side effect of depth perception (I think).

On the other hand 10x is 20% more magnification than 8x.  There are lots of people who can take full advantage of that and they should stick with what works.

Basically, don't worry much about loosing too much magnification at 7x.

[Maligator]

Get out there and try a few out. Place them around your neck and let them hang there, look at different objects in the store, see what feels and looks right to you. I went with 8X and haven't looked back. Very happy with my purchase.

[ZRS-8x42]

REALLY trying to dive into Binoculars for a new buy..

I wonder if anyone here uses 7x or 8x as a standard magnification?

Right now I have 12x.. and they are too much shake.. I think even 10x might be a bit too much, unless you are constantly in a stand.

I am thinking about the Steiner Commander XP 7x50.. but wonder if 7x is just too far down as well.

... Seem like AWESOME binos though..

Thoughts?

Although you will lose some magnfication power with 7x, comparing to 10x, the image quality and usability is much better with 7x binoculars due to stable image, wide FOV and deeper depth of field.  A lot of our customers have been very happy with our ZEN ED2 7x36

There are several lengthy reviews on 7x36 ED2 on our website.

http://www.zen-ray.com/shop/usersreview

I think Steve C also wrote an excellent review on this particular model, but I couldn't find the link any more.

Thanks

[MDGrand]

Went with the Steiner Peregrine XP:

[GlennGTR]

Meopta 6.5x35, fantastic hunting glasses for near, mid range and far. Then carry a spare in a 15x56 for spoting at long range or just get a spoting scope.

[huntnfmly]

nikon 10x56 for me they gather great light and good fov a little bulky but do-able i use a good harness and have no problems