10x or 12x Binos

[GummyMonster]

Good day,
Well, I've made up my mind and am getting the Bushnell fusion 1 mile rangefinding bino's.Now I'm wondering if I should get the 10x42 or the 12x50 size. My concern is being able to hold them steady.They will get their most use predator hunting,so I'm thinking I could learn to rest them on my bog pod or pack.Or can a guy get steady enough sitting with arms rested on knees.
Just looking for some input as I have no experience with higher mag. bino's.
Thanks' in advance,
Ken

[Jamie Black R/T]

8x are pretty well perfect.

save a few more bucks and buy a set of used Leica Geovids in 8x42

I had the 10 power fusions and sold them to fund a set of leicas. Going on 4 years now with the geovids with 0 regrets.

[Okotokian]

If those are the only two choices, I'd go with the 10 powers. I upgraded from 8 to 10 this year and was able to hold them steady. 12's... not so sure. And I imagine steadiness is really required if you are trying to range something.

The other thing to consider is field of view. I mentioned I went from 8's to 10's, but that was from a Nikon Monarch 3 to a Nikon Monarch 7, which both have very wide field of view. I'd be more hesitant to move up if it was with a bino with a fairly narrow field of view. Just makes it harder to spot game.

[Bearbreath]

I used a pair of 12's for a bit and found it hard to hold them steady.

Went back to my 10's.

[Walkin]

Like what was once said by a much more respected and well known authority than I;

"A rifleman is used to holding steady.....is he not?"

[nelsonob1]

8x

[roger]

i agre with jamie.save the money buy the best optics.
8's for walking, to take abuse and /or possible loss

hi end 12's go with window mount in truck for long distance scouts, and hopefully not get get stolen.

better quality glass and higher power go hand in hand.
i have swaro slc 10x and they are too heavy to pack a great distance and not quite a spotting scope.
my wife has zeiss 8x and are much much user freindlier

[Mudzbogger]

I had a cheap set of bushnell HD 10x42's and decided to upgrade to the geovid hd-b version and my concern was the same as well they would be able to RF freehand. Quite frankly it comes down to what field of view you want more than the RF as I have been able to freehand easily out to 1800 without any issues what so ever.

In my case I stayed with the 10x42's.

[222rem]

Definitely 10 power .

[horsepower]

I had the same decision to make 5 years ago. I went with 10 due to opinion of 12 being hard to hold steady. I always had a tinge of regret. 3 years later I purchased a set of used 12's. Now my 10's barely come out of the closet. It was not difficult to hold steady and to find ways to brace myself to hold steady. I just had to learn better techniques.

Now I hunt mostly mountains and prairie where animals can be a long way off. I can see a bit more detail than my hunting partners with 8 and 10 power, but much less than partners with 15 swaro's. When I hunt bush country my 10's come out and would use 8's if I had them.

I would taylor my optics for the terrain that I hunt in. Holding steady is an afterthought as there are usually techniques to aide oneself.

[Snm]

I prefer 10.

[cfinn]

10x

[bsmitty27]

I like my 10's

[35 whelen]

8X zeiss going on 20yrs now ,

[Smokinyotes]

10x42's. I find the 12x50 too big and heavy.

[blgoodbrand1]

I run a pair of 12x45 zeiss.
No complaints other than extreme low light, but hey they were free so I'm happy as a moose in a willow bush.

[chinchaga]

10x

[Puma]

Weight VS magnification is the question you need to solve.

I went with 10x42. Best compromise in my opinion.

Lower weight/good magnification/best low light gathering.

As stated above, go with the best you can afford. A good set will last a lifetime.

Puma

[twofifty]

Originally Posted by horsepower

.....
.....

I would taylor my optics for the terrain that I hunt in. Holding steady is an afterthought as there are usually techniques to aide oneself.

horsepower, could you share some of those techniques?