10X42 or 12X50?

[trigger7mm]

What do you feel is the better binocular power for general hunting on the prairies? 10X42 or 12X50. Thanks for your input.

[ram crazy]

Better eye relief with the 10 power binos. I find the 12 are good for shorter periods of time. I get headaches from extended periods of use with the 12 powers.

[graybeard]

My son and I both use Leupold Cascades 10 x 42.....I really like the power. For us, anything stronger was too straining for both of us....
Good luck,

[sns2]

I agree with the above posters. If you need more magnification than a 10x bino gives you, It is time to break out the spotting scope.

[Scott N]

Higher power binocs will also magnify your hand shake, making them not as clear as you might expect. I'd go with 10X myself, or even 8X.

[straight]

I use 8x40 more often for prairie and 10x42 - for mountains.

[Tronneroi]

I like my 12x50's but I prefer the FOV of 10x42. Next pair I will go back to a 10x42.

[waldedw]

I use 8x40 probably 35 years old Bausch and Lomb, I tried a friends 10x50 Leopold's this fall when we were out hunting, got eye strain in 10 minutes, i'll stick with my old bino's, still very clear and easy to focus.

[owlhoot]

I can use 8x42 all day long, Anything stronger I can't hold them steady and get eye strain over time. There's a formula dealing with the eye's pupil size and exit pupil of the bino's

[bobtodrick]

As others have said...10x42.
-Wider field of view
-Longer eye relief
-Shake (12x bino's have a tripod socket for a good reason)
That being said I've sold a few pair of 12x50 Swaro SLC to members this year who swear by them.

[Pathfinder76]

8x32 or 8x40

[Dean2]

I use a set of Leica 8x12x42 Duovids. Best of both worlds. They are not a zoom, they either work on 8 or 12 so don't suffer from the typical zoom Bino fuzziness.. Most work is done on 8 power, use the 12 for judging horn etc. They also can be mounted on a Tripod. If I could not afford these I would have 8x42 and a spotting scope.

[58thecat]

I use 8x40 probably 35 years old Bausch and Lomb, I tried a friends 10x50 Leopold's this fall when we were out hunting, got eye strain in 10 minutes, i'll stick with my old bino's, still very clear and easy to focus.

The ol'legacy bino's...use mine all the time but recently got a pair of Nikon 8252 ACULON A211 10-22x50 Zoom Binoculars....

https://www.amazon.ca/Nikon-8252-Aculon-10-22x50-Binocular/dp/B00B9Z24J0

gonna give them the ol beat'em and use'em try....see if they last 30 plus years too.

[Salavee]

8x32 or 8x40

These. I find them much steadier . My shakey old hands couldn't handle the 10's.

[FellSwoop]

I have a cheap pair of 12x50s for the truck, Celestrons I think. And I carry / quad with 10x42s. Just bought the Bushnell Forge. Having the choice has worked for me.

[Pastaman]

10x42. More FOV


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[john-brennan]

I agree with the above posters. If you need more magnification than a 10x bino gives you, It is time to break out the spotting scope.

I agree

[nimrod]

My 15x45 zeiss are great for me at all times, I can see more what my buddy sees with his 10x42