-
Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.
Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
7x50 vs 8x42 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Jake21
- Start date
Vespobuteo
Well-known member
7x50 is common for nautical purposes, stable image and good light gathering,
or for star gazing but a 10x50 might be better for that,
8x42 is pretty much an all-purpose bino,
smaller and lighter,
works well in daylight as well as in lower light,
8x42 would be my choice,
of the two,
but since I love the stability of 7x binos,
I mostly use a 7x42 for birding,
but then I also use a scope in open areas,
if you don't have a scope, 8x or even 10x might be better,
if your hands are steady,
The larger exit pupil of 7x50 makes the eye positioning less critical than 8x42. And when it comes to brightness many people can't make use of 7mm exit pupil in ages above 30-40 years age, though that's also individual.
So if one want the brightest image in many cases 8x42 will perform as good as 7x50. For astronomical use 8x42 often performs as good as or better than 7x50. For me approaching 50 years age I can't justify using a heavier 7x50 because the 8x42 will do it better, probably under all circumstances.
So if one want the brightest image in many cases 8x42 will perform as good as 7x50. For astronomical use 8x42 often performs as good as or better than 7x50. For me approaching 50 years age I can't justify using a heavier 7x50 because the 8x42 will do it better, probably under all circumstances.
Last edited:
8x42. Better all around format. 7x50 is a nice easy view with it's big exit pupil but you really don't need it in normal birding most of the time. A 7x50 would be advantageous on a ship moving on the ocean at dusk or dawn with a young person that has young eyes.
Pinewood
New York correspondent
Hello Jake,
I have several 7x50 binoculars, all but one is individual focus, hardly ideal for bird watching. The one 7x50 centre focus is almost seventy years-old, but a stellar performer in the category. A good 8x40/42 will have a wider field of view and might be more useful in twilight because of the greater magnification. Any 7x binocular is more stable than an 8x. The Zeiss Classic 7x42 is just about the best compromise with a wide FOV, a 6mm exit pupil, and a stable 7x. It has two drawbacks: not waterproof and not very close focussing. Among the top makers, i believe there is only a Nikon and a Leica in the 7x42 category.
In answer to your either/or question: of equal quality, the 8x42 is better for bird watching, with its smaller package and greater field of view.
Happy bird watching,
Arthur Pinewood :hi:
I have several 7x50 binoculars, all but one is individual focus, hardly ideal for bird watching. The one 7x50 centre focus is almost seventy years-old, but a stellar performer in the category. A good 8x40/42 will have a wider field of view and might be more useful in twilight because of the greater magnification. Any 7x binocular is more stable than an 8x. The Zeiss Classic 7x42 is just about the best compromise with a wide FOV, a 6mm exit pupil, and a stable 7x. It has two drawbacks: not waterproof and not very close focussing. Among the top makers, i believe there is only a Nikon and a Leica in the 7x42 category.
In answer to your either/or question: of equal quality, the 8x42 is better for bird watching, with its smaller package and greater field of view.
Happy bird watching,
Arthur Pinewood :hi:
Last edited:
brocknroller
porromaniac
Generally, 7x50s have a narrower FOV than 8x42s. I had one 7x50, a Celestron Nova, with 10* FOV! But usually they have between 6*-7.5* FOV. 8x42s can start at 6.3* for entry-level roofs (and top shelf Pentax EDs), but increase to about 8* in WF models. They are usually lighter than 7x50s. Generally, 8x42s have a closer focus than 7x50s, which tend to have long close focus distances.
So for general birding, 8x40/42s are usually more useful than 7x50s.
Unless you're young and your entrance pupils can open to 7mm, you won't be able to take advantage of the huge exit pupils, anyway, so a good quality 7x35 can get you a WF, lower power for greater stability, and a 5mm exit pupil that should suffice in most situation with most people's eyes. Unfortunately, the 7x35 configuration, which at one time was very popular, has now been relegated to the realm of inexpensive porros.
If a top manufacturer came out with a 7x35 roof (or 7x36), it wouldn't just sell like hotcakes, it would sell like blueberry pancakes with warm maple syrup at a Fireman's Bazaar. The sales of the ZR 7x36 ED2 showed this, and it wasn't near top quality, but there was such a demand for this configuration that it still sold well.
Brock
So for general birding, 8x40/42s are usually more useful than 7x50s.
Unless you're young and your entrance pupils can open to 7mm, you won't be able to take advantage of the huge exit pupils, anyway, so a good quality 7x35 can get you a WF, lower power for greater stability, and a 5mm exit pupil that should suffice in most situation with most people's eyes. Unfortunately, the 7x35 configuration, which at one time was very popular, has now been relegated to the realm of inexpensive porros.
If a top manufacturer came out with a 7x35 roof (or 7x36), it wouldn't just sell like hotcakes, it would sell like blueberry pancakes with warm maple syrup at a Fireman's Bazaar. The sales of the ZR 7x36 ED2 showed this, and it wasn't near top quality, but there was such a demand for this configuration that it still sold well.
Brock
Rathaus
Well-known member
Just some thoughts -
As you said, a big exit pupil isn't just about accommodating a huge dilated pupil, it also gives a hugely forgiving view during the daytime. This also contributes to the 7x50 stability...perhaps more so than the magnification. Your head and hands can be moving or trembling and you still have this huge exit pupil window to absorb all of this.
The other great thing is the huge depth of field. With fujinons anyway. In many ways it's the perfect birding binocular because the focus knobs are virtually redundant from fairly close proximity through to infinity. Flock of birds 5km away and a single bird 30ft away all in perfect focus. Makes focusing seem like a slow compromise.
Rathaus
The "perfect focus" theory ONLY applies to folks with excellent eye accommodation. It's simply untrue for countless birders with aging eyes. A big, bulky 7X50 is nothing but a pain to carry and use, especially when it has IF.
brocknroller
porromaniac
So...which did you decide to buy? (or course, the next question would be which 7x50 or which 8x42?).
Brock
I already own a nice and stable Nikon Aculon 7x50. I have just recently got into birding and this was the first decent pair of binoculars I got. It was at a very reasonable price of 100$ and had great reviews. Im thinking I may upgrade in the future and I just wanted to hear your guys opinions.
Rathaus
Well-known member
....and taking things further - not wanting exclude our beloved nonagenarians, my very elderly grandmother is semi blind and the only bino she can get a view through (bionic like!) is the 7x50 Fujinon. Looking to the future Pileatus, you may feel very differently about this binocular.
Yes true it's nearly one and a half kilos. It makes me wonder if there is a heavier 7x50 binocular on the market?
I use mine from an elevated deck with my elbows on a table or a small tripod.
Last edited:
Pinewood
New York correspondent
Hello Rathaus,
Crikey!
That makes the Zeiss Marine, at 1200 gm, a true lightweight.
Happy bird watching,
Arthur :hi:
NDhunter
Experienced observer
Do I have this correct...you're recommending a 53-ounce, IF binocular to folks approaching their 90's. No, having seen the 7X50 Fuji, I will never consider it. I plan on walking until I fall over dead.
Rathaus
Well-known member
No recommendations were made. Also, a nonagenarian is a person aged between 90 and 99.
...like I stated, my grandmother is in her 90s. Unfortunately she can't walk very well, yet she remains alive! Some folks are afflicted with this condition. She certainly wouldn't be able to carry your little binoculars....but she can enjoy something of a view through the big fujinons when they're on a small table top mounted tripod! That's a good thing :t::t:
Other than that, I have no overall preference re 7x50 vs 8x42. They can both excell in given environments.
