Swaro 8.5x42 or 10x42’s

[sr80]

My 10x42 Zeiss conquests took a tumble down a rockslide on my sheep hunt and broke in half. I only found one side lol. Anyways I’m looking to replace them. Narrowed it down to these. My buddy loaned me his 8x30 SLC’s and I really liked how steady they were in hand. I hunt it all, bush, burns and alpine. I do notice the 10’s are shaky when hand holding them. But if I’m in anything big and open I have them mounted on a tripod. Also I own a good 65mm spotter.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Gone4Days]

Both are great… Personally, I use 8x42 SLC on my chest and 15x56 SLC on tripod in Arizona for coues hunting

 

[Wheels]

Had the EL 10x42’s and sold them, bought 8.5x42’s for the increased field of vision. Happy with the switch, the lesser power is negligible in my opinion. Also use SLC 15x56 on the tripod and a spotter.

 

[antlerz]

Had the EL 10x42’s and sold them, bought 8.5x42’s for the increased field of vision. Happy with the switch, the lesser power is negligible in my opinion. Also use SLC 15x56 on the tripod and a spotter.

Sometimes less is more. Surprising resolution on a tripod with the 8.5 with nice FOV.

 

[handwerk]

I have had both in the SV's and in the end kept the 8.5's, I hardly noticed a drop in magnification but it was certainly an easier/steadier view with the 8.5's. Pair that with a swaro spotter and you'll be set!

 

[sr80]

went with the 8.5's!

 

[maxracx]

Good choice, The lower power will provide a larger exit pupil and be better in lower light conditions.

 

[atmat]

I traded 10’s to go with the 8.5’s. Increased FOV, higher exit pupil, and easier to hold by hand. I like them much better.

Edit: I also have an ATS 65 spotter. There’s no situation I don’t feel prepared for with my optics setup. Hardwoods to out west is covered with these two.

 

[Matt G.]

I traded 10’s to go with the 8.5’s. Increased FOV, higher exit pupil, and easier to hold by hand. I like them much better.

Edit: I also have an ATS 65 spotter. There’s no situation I don’t feel prepared for with my optics setup. Hardwoods to out west is covered with these two.

haha i have been debating selling my kowa 774 for the ATS for a little weight saving. I went for 8.5s as well due to FOV.

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[Mark at EXO]

I traded 10’s to go with the 8.5’s. Increased FOV, higher exit pupil, and easier to hold by hand. I like them much better.

Edit: I also have an ATS 65 spotter. There’s no situation I don’t feel prepared for with my optics setup. Hardwoods to out west is covered with these two.

Same setup I have for binos and spotter. It is a killer setup that covers a wide range of scenarios.

 

[sr80]

sounds good guys, i also have a ATS 65 spotter.

 

[BjornF16]

I had 10x42 SLC and 8.5x42 EL side by side…I kept the 8.5s for increased FOV.

 

[Trr15]

Like them both, but found the 8.5x leave me wanting more in open country. Love them in the timber though.

 

[danwolf]

I love my 8.5x42 EL glass. Went from 10x42 and was hung up on going down To 8x. First of all I’m half blind and wear glasses. With glasses on field of view is much better, the focal distance is much longer then other binos so that helps. They give me more glassing time at dawn/dusk. Much more stable in the hand.


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[4th_point]

I have gone back and forth from 8x and 10x, and from 30mm - 42mm. I don't have an EL, but am enjoying 8x right now.

There are times where I feel 10x "seems" better at longer distance, say 1000 yards. But that is usually some wide open landscape and when I really start looking into shadows for bedded animals, if I can't see it with 8x the 10x aren't enough either. I've done this with multiple binoculars on hand, going back and forth with tripod. The extra 2x simply isn't enough, for my use.

I want 15x+ in those situations. And that can be as little as 400 yards under certain conditions!

FOV and brightness can seem better with 8x compared to 10x, with the same size objective. How useful that is to someone is up to them to determine. For me, the DOF is where I think the 8x are better. I don't think it is possible for any 10x to match the DOF of an 8x. I could be wrong there, but I haven't seen it.

 

[CApighunter]

I prefer 8x over 10x if you have a spotter and/or 15s.

 

[Brooks]

I had the 8.5x42EL for about 10 years sold them and bought the 12x50 EL. The EL’s are all great binos but I would take the10x42 and the 12x50 over the 8.5x42 if I didn’t have a good spotting scope but if you have a Swaro 65 spotter then I would go with the 8.5’s just because the the 65mm spotting scope is better than all the EL’s for really studying a critter. I have a Swaro 65mm spotter and they out do the 12’s.

 

[Boarmaster]

I would go with the 8’s.

 

[Sanman023]

I also have a pair of el 8.5x42, great glass

 

[tlaloc22]

Good choice, The lower power will provide a larger exit pupil and be better in lower light conditions.

Ahhh - just when I think I’m good, someone makes me doubt. 10x42 and a spotting scope should still do the trick right?