The big ones...10x50 or 10x56? (1 Viewer)

[randman]

What are the benefits of using a large objective 50mm or 56mm on a 10 power bino? I am looking for a high quality bino for of course the lowest of light with great detail. If am using a 10x bino is the extra objective size neccessary?

I will still carry them, hence I am leaning toward the 34 oz ultravids. Or the SLC swaros 40+ oz. Any others?

Would this be the ultimate viewing experience? I would like to glass for hours feeling comfortable (eyeball work).

 

[Swedpat]

The only case I can see that you can really benefit from a 5,6mm exit pupil compared to a 5mm it's in the darkest possible conditions or at astronomi. (That's under condition your dark adapted eye pupil reach at least 5,6mm).
Maybe at a boat at sea the sligthly bigger exit pupil can be an advantage.

You get a slightly better brightness at night, but a heavier and longer binocular, so I WOULD PERSONALLY doubt to get a get the 56mm version. One thing to also take in consider is that a 10x56 version usually has smaller field of view than a 10x50, I don't know which binoculars you are thought about.

Let see what other people has to say,

Patric

 

[solentbirder]

I use a Minox 10x58 ED for astronomy and it's excellent, but for bird watching and general observing I'd use a 10x50 instead. Once you go above 50mm the weight and size increases significantly. If you've got a specialist need (e.g. astronomy, dedicated owl watcher ???) these larger binos will deliver but it's a big price to pay for that extra bit of aperture and most of the time you wouldn't see the the difference.

 

[Wehr]

What are the benefits of using a large objective 50mm or 56mm on a 10 power bino? I am looking for a high quality bino for of course the lowest of light with great detail. If am using a 10x bino is the extra objective size neccessary?

I will still carry them, hence I am leaning toward the 34 oz ultravids. Or the SLC swaros 40+ oz. Any others?

Would this be the ultimate viewing experience? I would like to glass for hours feeling comfortable (eyeball work).

There are a lot of 10x50 and 10x56/58/60 bins on the market. Chosing high quality bins (expensive!) is much more important, than looking for bigger objectives. Many of the bins with 56/58/60mm objectives offer less light than high quality bins with 42mm objectives.

Speaking of equal quality 56mm will offer you 25.5% more light than 50mm. This is not a big difference and it needs a lot of observating experience and a side by side comparison to really see it. So it will very unlikely be an ultimate viewing experience.

Walter

 

[JCJ]

They are big and heavy but the view you get with 50s , for me anyway is the best of the best.

 

[Talon 1]

I have a 10x50 from the 1970's still in mint condition but you need a JCB to lift them.OUCH!

 

[xenophobe]

I have the 12x50 Trinovids, and I love using them at dawn/dusk and for skygazing at night... I find them bearable, but a little too bright during normal daylight and find myself wanting my 10x25 Trinovids or my Zeiss Classic 10x40s for regular daytime viewing. They are a bit heavy, too much for 'all day' viewing, though I can steady them pretty well for several minutes at a time. I am building a self-standing monopod system for it for extended use. The 10x50 Ultravids are 120g lighter than the 12x50 Trinovids.... if that means anything to you. I don't think that is very significant.

What exactly do you plan on using them for anyways? Describe what you mean by "lowest of light"...