Sitting on the fence about a new pair of binos for a while now. Still not sure, but thought I would ask for opinions....
I have used a 10x bino for many years (Minox), but have always found they are just a little too much to hold steady - particularly when walking/hiking and trying to hold them freehand. It's not bad, but just not as steady as I would like.
I have considered 8x but, when I made the 10x choice many years ago, found 8x to be not quite enough magnification - or at least felt that way at the time. Wanted to be able to count those tines, or really look into that far off timber and 10x seemed to be a little better. Being propped up by sitting down, or against a tree, with 10x gives a steady image but there is a tradeoff with a less sharp image when not braced.
The set I had prior was a 9x Leupold. A decent set at the time, but certainly not great quality glass. Always thought that 9x was a good 'compromise' - I can hold fairly steady when not braced and has just that little bit of extra magnification over the 8x that I liked. To be fair, I haven't owned an 8x (except a compact pair that my wife uses on occasion), so that is an opinion without much real world testing. But, in the little I have used all different magnifications, I think the 9x might be a very good option.
I use my binoculars often and anywhere from wide open prairies, across mountain valleys to the thick timber of the northern Whitetail woods. Still thinking that 8x is not enough, but 10X is too much, but 9x is hard to find. The Maven 9x's seem interesting, but the size looks a little big. Aside from those, doesn't seem to be many others that make a 9x. Hoping for some opinions to help me make a choice of what could be best.
I have used a 10x bino for many years (Minox), but have always found they are just a little too much to hold steady - particularly when walking/hiking and trying to hold them freehand. It's not bad, but just not as steady as I would like.
I have considered 8x but, when I made the 10x choice many years ago, found 8x to be not quite enough magnification - or at least felt that way at the time. Wanted to be able to count those tines, or really look into that far off timber and 10x seemed to be a little better. Being propped up by sitting down, or against a tree, with 10x gives a steady image but there is a tradeoff with a less sharp image when not braced.
The set I had prior was a 9x Leupold. A decent set at the time, but certainly not great quality glass. Always thought that 9x was a good 'compromise' - I can hold fairly steady when not braced and has just that little bit of extra magnification over the 8x that I liked. To be fair, I haven't owned an 8x (except a compact pair that my wife uses on occasion), so that is an opinion without much real world testing. But, in the little I have used all different magnifications, I think the 9x might be a very good option.
I use my binoculars often and anywhere from wide open prairies, across mountain valleys to the thick timber of the northern Whitetail woods. Still thinking that 8x is not enough, but 10X is too much, but 9x is hard to find. The Maven 9x's seem interesting, but the size looks a little big. Aside from those, doesn't seem to be many others that make a 9x. Hoping for some opinions to help me make a choice of what could be best.
