10x42 vs. 10x50 Binoculars Pros and Cons

[Dust1n]

10x42 vs. 10x50 Binoculars Pros and Cons

If the extra length and weight worth the extra cost?

What’s some Benefits to having the larger object lens? FOV?

What’s some Cons to having the larger objective lens? Size

 

[Moserkr]

All things being equal, 10x50 would be better. Bigger lens = more light, bigger fov. Marginal weight, size, and price difference for a good benefit.

That being said, Id buy a 10x42 with better glass over a 10x50 with lesser glass.

 

[Blue72]

You will see a lot more in low light conditions and at night with 10x50

only get the 10x42 if you want a smaller binocular to carry around.

 

[recon493]

Some of the higher quality glass with a 42mm objective could have a better view than the cheaper and larger 10x50's. You pay more but get a smaller package. The FOV may not be impacted as much as you think. The FOV has more to do with the eye piece side of the set as opposed to the objective end.

 

[Hoodie]

It's counterintuitive, but a 10x50 will generally have a smaller field of view than the same model in a 10x42 configuration. This confuses a lot of people.

Benefits will be increased light at dawn/dusk due to larger exit pupil, very slightly better resolution at the same magnification, and better eye relief.

Cons are less FOV than in a comparable 10x42, bigger size, more weight.

I think the Maven B6 10x50 does a good job of playing up the benefits, while mitigating the drawbacks. It has a really good FOV for a 10x50 and handles like a 10x42. Think it weighs right at 30 oz.

 

[Moserkr]

It's counterintuitive, but a 10x50 will generally have a smaller field of view than the same model in a 10x42 configuration. This confuses a lot of people.

Im confused. Care to explain? Lol

 

[Hoodie]

Field of view has to do with focal length, not objective lens diameter.

Binoculars with smaller objective lenses tend to have shorter focal lengths, so they usually have a bigger field of view.

Examples:

Zeiss Victory SF 8x32- 465 ft FOV
Zeiss Victory SF 8x42- 444 ft FOV

Tract Toric UHD 10x42- 341 ft FOV
Tract Toric UHD 10x50- 304 ft FOV

 

[Xmotoxr]

Great info.

 

[307ArrowSlinger]

It's counterintuitive, but a 10x50 will generally have a smaller field of view than the same model in a 10x42 configuration. This confuses a lot of people.

Benefits will be increased light at dawn/dusk due to larger exit pupil, very slightly better resolution at the same magnification, and better eye relief.

Cons are less FOV than in a comparable 10x42, bigger size, more weight.

I think the Maven B6 10x50 does a good job of playing up the benefits, while mitigating the drawbacks. It has a really good FOV for a 10x50 and handles like a 10x42. Think it weighs right at 30 oz.

Excellent info on this thread thank you for the great explanations. I’ve been trying to decide between Maven B6 and B1.2 and you sure helped my decision.

 

[perryg1]

I’m not sure how relevant the effect is but depending on our age, the ability of our own pupils to dilate declines.

Us older folks may not be able to benefit then from the widest bino exit pupils whereas younger folks do.

You’d almost have to take an infrared photo of you eyes in the dark to see how large your own pupils can get. Not sure how to measure pupils accurately from the photo image.

 

[Sundodger]

All things being equal I would be surprised if you got more than a few more min at first light/last light going from a 10x42 to 10x50. The odd edge cases I can think off the top of my head were there could be a difference (like hunting the rain forest) you wouldn't probably want either of those options.

 

[bowhiker88]

FOV is not an outcome of larger objective, light gathering is. FOV is driven by length of the binocular in most cases, think about taking a toilet paper roll and a paper towel roll and looking through them at an item 50 ft away.

There are not many benefits other than light gathering and sometimes eye box forgivness. I’d go with the lighter more compact and easier to hold pair before considering the benefits of a 50mm vs 42mm. Now if you look at the maven b6 and a razor HD not UHD I’d go with maven.

 

[TaperPin]

Young eyes won’t benefit much - maybe old eyes won’t either. Go to a store at dusk, look out a window and see for yourself.

I used to love tiny compacts in my 20’s and never felt it was much of a hinderance - by the time the binoculars were too dim, legal shooting was usually over. Maybe larger exit pupils help some young guys.

I’ve heard the National Institute of Health say that the difference in light gathering between a 20 year old eyes and 60 year old eyes is 3x different.
We get smaller pupils, cataracts, and the retinas change and have fewer rod cells.

 

[csrichardson97]

I have Vortex diamondback HD 10x42. My brother has the diamondback HD 10x50.
We did back to back comparisons, and both felt the differences were minimal...
I would estimate that his are ~5% brighter picture than mine.

But, I do really enjoy the size/weight of mine to his.

All in all I wouldn't sweat the decision. I would put them on the same playing field unless you feel strongly about weight (favors 10x42), or more light (10x50).

I would buy nicer 10x42s over cheaper 10x50s.

 

[Reed104R]

Good information presented here. The benefit for me is the extended eye relief with the larger objective. Too bad it adds so much bulk and weight.

 

[ultrarunner]

10x50 are objectively better in every metric OTHER THAN weight / size. But depending on which binos you're comparing, the wright and size increase can be marginal.

Edit: FOV will be diminished, I totally forgot about FOV DOH!

On that note, the Backcountry Podcast JUST dropped a show on binos. Highly recommend you check it out. lot of good info in there.

 

[Reed104R]

10x50 are objectively better in every metric OTHER THAN weight / size. But depending on which binos you're comparing, the wright and size increase can be marginal.

In any given model, 10x50's will typically have a smaller field of view than 10x42's.

 

[ultrarunner]

Fair point, I wasn’t thinking about FOV.

 

[TheGDog]

Honestly man.... no BS... I'd say seriously consider only getting a 10x42mm in a good well known top tier glass man.

Then... AFTER... you've given that a good year or more... THEN, if you STILL happen to *THINK* you need more oomph, maybe re-visit this topic then.

A good set of top-tier 10x42 binos will cover the VAST majority hunting needs. And for the other stuff, maybe consider if an Ultralite Spotter might be a needed secondary tool or not.

Do you happen to have a particular specific use-case scenario in mind that you're wanting the best tool for?

Maybe take a second to elaborate on how you intend to use it and why you want X and Y benefit. Maybe somebody else who does similar hunting to your style can chime-in?