Best 8x42 Binoculars (1 Viewer)

[morrisos]

Hello,
I have a pair of the old 10x42 Nikon Venturers which are great but heavy. I am interested in getting lighter bins. The optical quality of the Venturers is excellent so I want the same excellence in a lighter 8x42 bin.

So, what do people recommend these days?

Thanks in advance for advice.

Morrisos

 

[Tero]

You are not going to get anything much better, and lighter. The high end binoculars tend to be heavier. If you want a light casual pair, get any 8x42 you can locate and try out, Nikon, Pentax, Minox etc.

If you want high end and light, go for 8x32. I can't help much with that.

 

[Robert / Seattle]

Optically, Leica Ultravid is probably the best -- certainly second to none. And the Black Leather Model (BL) is the lightest high end 8x42 on the market. I own an assortment of Leica, Zeiss and B+L bins and these Ultravid BLs are top of the pack!

 

[morrisos]

What about the 8x32's?

Thanks for the advice. This question doesn't quite go with my title but...

Do the 8x32 of any top end bins make sense as an alternative to the 8x42's or will I lose brightness, field of view or whatever?

Thanks.

 

[morrisos]

My apologies as there is another post with the same question. No need to respond about the 8x32's.

Morrisos

 

[Tero]

No need to apologize. You can have your very ownthread. We can take your quest to 7x26 if you wish. I just do not have any great advice for 8x32. I have never seen the Nikon 8x32 for instance. Nikon Premier LX L 8x32 Binoculars run $950 and probably are a pretty good deal. I was not looking for 8x last pair I bought, so never sought those out.

 

[ceasar]

The Nikon 8 x32 LXL is outstanding optically. It's a few ounces heavier than other 8 x 32's and it also focuses very fast. Too fast to suit some people.
Bob

 

[Alexis Powell]

The Nikon 8 x32 LXL is outstanding optically. It's a few ounces heavier than other 8 x 32's and it also focuses very fast. Too fast to suit some people.
Bob

And it's that time of year again, for REI members, when buying these is a very attractive deal. They are $950, but if you got a dividend from 2006 you also got a coupon for 20% off any single item, which means you can pay $760 for them (not sure whether you also get back $76 in 2008 dividend too or not; probably not).
--AP

 

[falcondude]

And it's that time of year again, for REI members, when buying these is a very attractive deal. They are $950, but if you got a dividend from 2006 you also got a coupon for 20% off any single item, which means you can pay $760 for them (not sure whether you also get back $76 in 2008 dividend too or not; probably not).
--AP

awesome! though I may not spend another thousand bucks on optics in the neat future. But it reminds me not to waste the 20% still in my waste bucket.. Thanks

 

[Tero]

Heh, I blew my 20% REI discount on a 35 dollar camping mattress. I think I am done buying binoculars for the years, though.

 

[ceasar]

The lightest weight 8 x 42's are the Swift Ultras (Roofs) at 24 oz. About $300.00. Better yet, for $50.00 more are the Swift Audubon 8.5 x 44 Porro's at 24 Oz. See Eagle Optics Web site www.eagleoptics.com for more info on them.
Cordially,
Bob/

 

[passerine]

Tested all of the top end 8x42's a few moths back and the Zeiss had the edge on the rest in terms of brightness. The Nikon's shared with the Zeiss the same razor sharp image, with the Leica Ultravid's and Swaro EL's a shade behind.

 

[morrisos]

Thanks for the advice. Seems like, as expected, the optics are superb on all the top guns. So that leaves the ergonomic/weight compromise as the next primary factor.

Any thoughts on comfort between the Nikon, Leica and Zeiss? After lugging the Venturer's around for years I am really looking for comfort in the field.
That's why the 8x32's are intriguing but these will be my primary bins and need to be good in all light conditions.
So I am open to 42's again if they are comfy and light or 32's if they have the fov and lower light capabilities. Sounds like I want it all doesn't it? I realize perfection isn't out there but I might as well make the bet informed decision.

Morrisos

 

[morrisos]

Comparisons and final decision

I've been on a mission to move to lighter 8x from my Nikon Venturer 10x.
Interesting journey with unexpected results.

I tried Swar EL 42's and 32's. Also tried the Leica Ultravid 42's and 32's.

Both the 32's felt too small optically if that makes sense. I felt myself wishing I had more of a viewable area. The eyecups seemed to crowd my view and I felt I was struggling for a "bigger" view. The Swaro's surprised me with violet fringing around edges of view. Just didn't look or feel right. Disappointing since I thought I could make the move to a much smaller and lighter package for all around birding.

The Leica 42's were sharpest and were very nice. The Swaro 42's just gave me a unencumbered total view. Not quite as sharp as the Leica but very pleasant overall view. Very impresssive. Handling was great though the indents didn't do too much for me. I would buy the Swaro's if I was in purchase mode. Wish I would have tried the Nikon Premier LXL 8x42 and the Zeiss FL*T's but they didn't have any. The sales guy didn't speak too highly of Zeiss period.

I was bound and determined to get lighter bins in 8x. So my decision surprised me completely. My Venturer's 10x are the best view I've ever seen. Heavy? Yes but I can't see spending $$$ right now for 8x42 with comparable optics and 6 oz. lighter. So I am keeping my Venturer's, using a harness to distribute the weight on long days and considering a new scope. Oh and I'll spend a little dough and buy my youngest daughter a decent pair of bins. Can't justify spending that much $$ for a measley 6 oz.

Ended up right back where I started.

Morrisos

 

[Alexis Powell]

An excellent decision I'd say--the Nikon 10x42 LX are an awesome binoc and hard to better.

I know what you mean about the view seming crowded or constricted in some way in the 32 mm binos. I think the issue is one of exit-pupil size and how free you are to move your eye around the view rather than keeping your eyes the center of the image. That's why I prefer full-sized binos. The relatively flat field of the LX also makes them more comfortable for such off-axis viewing in comparison to the other top-end brands.

If you get a chance some time, you still ought to give one other 32 mm bino a try--the Nikon 8x32 (or maybe even the 10x32) LXL. Don't know where you are in MN, but you can try the 8x32 at the main REI store in the Twin Cities. In comparison to Leica and Swarovski, the 8x32 Nikons are a bit heavier, but they have better eye-relief and (for me) the eye-feel or eye-ergonomics (???) is more like a full-size than the others. They are very comfortable and they have the nice Nikon sharpness out into the edges of the view that you are accustomed to.
--AP

 

[Babzz]

Sorry to intrude, but I didn't really catch the answer to whether 8X42 or 8X32 were preferred, and how much brightness was lost by reducing optical. Thanks

 

[Leif]

Wish I would have tried the Nikon Premier LXL 8x42 and the Zeiss FL*T's but they didn't have any. The sales guy didn't speak too highly of Zeiss period.

I would be suspicious of any salesperson who expresses an opinion on items they do not stock. I had one make disparaging remarks of a Leica scope which he did not stock. When I tried one, I concluded that it was the one I liked the most.