Thread: New binos - 8x42 or 10x42?

Originally Posted by Hermitage

Yeah, the reason that you should stay away from 8x42 is that you will next have to buy a bino harness as they are as heavy & bulky as the 10x42 and not as easy to sell (10x42 are the most common general-purpose size).

I personally would narrow the choice down to either the 10x42 or 8x32s, with both having the same brightness at low light as they have similar exit pupils. The mid-sized 32mm lenses make 8x magnification binoculars lightweight and compact without compromising too much on light-gathering ability (great FOV too). So there's little difference in practical use but only 2/3 of the weight of the 8x42mm class.

I own six binoculars and have found that 8x32s are the ones that end up going with me 60% of the time (30% 10x42 and 10% 7x21).

Weight isn't really a concern for me. Comparing the Vortex Diamondback HDs which I am looking at getting, the 10x is only 14grams heavier than the 8x. The Diamondbacks actually come with a front pack harness which makes things convenient.