10x30 IS or 8x32 Bino

[Mac308]

Used all of the best made. It's just physics. You can make up for light you won't let in.

I've hunted all over NA with 8x30/32 glass going back 40 years. Given identical glass quality, the only time the extra 10mm of glass makes a difference is about the last 3 minutes of light. That's it. And nice thing with a 32mm, you don't need some binocular bra strap system to keep them comfortable. Tuck them under your arm and go.

Most hunters use a 10x40/42 - same exit pupil as an 8x32. No one I know would argue the 10x42 isn't a perfectly acceptable all-around hunting binocular.

I will say however, the only worse idea than a 10x32 is a 10x25.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

I have some 10x25 swaros that I chose to keep.
They have drawback obviously but way way better than any of the typical Nikon,bushnel etc pocket binos.
They are great if going lite,great to have in fanny pack hiking or on vacation.
Kramer even has a tripod setup for them I heard is decent for what it is.

 

[Mac308]

I have some 10x25 swaros that I chose to keep.
They have drawback obviously but way way better than any of the typical Nikon,bushnel etc pocket binos.
They are great if going lite,great to have in fanny pack hiking or on vacation.
Kramer even has a tripod setup for them I heard is decent for what it is.

Given equal glass quality, I find that 7x or 8x are far better magnifications at the 20-25mm size than 10x. The 10x has a very small exit pupil, narrow field of view, and are harder to hold still. Frankly, I find 10x overrated even in a 42mm binocular. In all my years, I've never found the need for more than 7 or 8x in a binocular, and if I need more, I need a LOT more than 10x and pull out a spotter. Obviously everyone will see this differently and you only have yourself to please. I just think most hunters have been brainwashed (excessive group think) in terms of binocular power.

Obviously stabilized binoculars are changing some of this, so just talking normal non-stabilized bins.

 

[Buglebrush]

I absolutely love my 8x32 UHD paired with my 18x56 UHD

 

[chicoredneck]

I used to run 15x56slc paired with 8x32 binoculars. It is an awesome combo, giving you a wide field of view for quick glassing and picking apart brush up close, then setting up the 15s on a tripod from a glassing point.

I have since transitioned to using 12x42 Zulu6 IS binoculars paired with the 15 SLC. The image stabilized binoculars are superior at medium to long range when glassing by hand over the 8x32 Zeiss I was running. The IS makes finding game much faster.

That being said, if you are hunting heavy brush and glassing 200 yards and in, I would still take the 8x32 over the sig Zulu 6s due to the much wider field of view. The narrow field of view of the Zulu 6s sucks for close on brush glassing.

 

[Mac308]