Are 7x binoculars becoming more popular again? If more models, higher prices, and out of stock inventories are any indications, then the 7x may be challenging the 8x. After reading an interesting thread on “8x vs 7x for forest birding,” I decided to check 7x models at a popular online optics vendor here in the U.S.
Do you use a 7x? What do you like about this size? Are there disadvantages?
… Bob
Kentucky, USA
. . .
7X at popular online vendor (U. S.)
Roof 7x36
Two of the three models out of stock . . . Hmmmm?
Bushnell Excursion EX Roof CF 7x36
7.0 FOV, 6.5 ft close focus, 20.3 oz, 19.0 mm eye relief, 5.1 mm exit pupil
***Out of stock***
Swift Eaglet Roof CF 7x36
7.1 FOV, 5.9 ft close focus, 20.6 oz, 16.0 mm eye relief, 5.1 mm exit pupil
Vortex Diamondback Roof CF 7x36
8.0 FOV, 5.9 ft close focus, 23.4 oz, 20.9 mm eye relief, 5.1 mm exit pupil
***Out of stock***
Roof 7.5x43
Interesting size . . . look at the close focus!
Brunton Epoch Roof CF 7.5x43
7.0 FOV, 3.0 ft close focus, 26.0 oz, 20.0 mm eye relief, 5.7 mm exit pupil
Roof 7x42
Would love to own one of these, but why are they so expensive? Might be nice to try the cheaper Meopta brand--if it ever gets back in stock.
Leica Ultravid HD Roof CF 7x42
8.0 FOV, 10.8 ft close focus, 27.2 oz, 17.0 mm eye relief, 6.0 mm exit pupil
Meopta Meostar Roof CF 7x42
7.8 FOV, 9.8 ft close focus, 30.4 oz, 20.0 mm eye relief, 6.0 mm exit pupil
***Out of stock***
Nikon EDG Roof CF 7x42
8.0 FOV, 9.8 ft close focus, 28.6 oz, 22.1 mm eye relief, 6.0 mm exit pupil
Swarovski SLCnew Roof CF 7x42
8.0 FOV, 13.0 ft close focus, 33.5 oz, 19.0 mm eye relief, 6.0 mm exit pupil
Zeiss Victory T* FL LT Roof CF 7x42
8.6 FOV, 6.5 ft close focus, 26.1 oz, 16.0 mm eye relief, 6.0 mm exit pupil
Porro 7x35
This once popular size is still available, but prices appear to be rising.
Eagle Optics Triumph Porro CF 7x35
9.2 FOV, 12.0 ft close focus, 20.4 oz, 12.0 mm eye relief, 5.0 mm exit pupil
Nikon Action Extreme Porro CF 7x35
9.3 FOV, 16.4 ft close focus, 28.2 oz, 17.2 mm eye relief, 5.0 mm exit pupil
Nikon Action Porro CF 7x35
9.3 FOV, 16.4 ft close focus, 24.3 oz, 11.9 mm eye relief, 5.0 mm exit pupil
Porro 7x50
Many choices are available for this size—long popular in military, marine, law enforcement, and astronomy environments. However, these models generally are not popular with birders because of the size, weight, and many models are individual focus.
Hi Frank,
That chart is very helpful. I just got to test a 7x42 Ultravid BR against my 8x42 BR, I was surprised to see very little difference between the two. The 7x42 was green, but if it was black like my 8x42 you could have handed them back and forth to me, and it would have been very hard to tell which was which. The 7x42 was a little easier view and I know that larger exit pupil would benefit younger guys at dusk. I guess you could look at this two ways, 1) Why not go for seven power if the additional magnification of the eight isn't noticable, and you get the benefit of the larger exit pupil with the seven, or 2) Go with the eight because there must be some extra resolution from the greater power, even if it's not noticable in general use.
Despite the unbelievably sharp view of Leica optics, I now know that there is something about Leica optics and my eyes-face that make them a little more difficult to view than either Swaro or Zeiss. I picked the Ultravids originally because I prefered the Lieca view in a pure sense, I probably would have been happier overall with one of the others, though this is really picking at straws. Anyway of your list I would go with the Zeiss as it's the lightest of the Alphas and I know it is a wonderful, easy view.
Of course it would seem to make more sense to build a 7x32 with a 4.6 mm EP over a 10x32 with a 3.2 mm EP. A seven power alpha with a reasonably large E.P at around 20-22 oz would be a wonderful bin to carry in the field. I still don't get why all the alphas build a heavy 7x42 instead.
John
I'm considering getting a 7x. I have a compact 8x20 Zeiss Victory and would like to get a full sized binocular with more light. Initially I thought I wanted either an 8x or 10x, but the other day I pulled out an old 7x50 that is inferior to my compacts in every other way and I was surprised how much I really liked it. The main reason I am now considering a 7x is there is less disturbance with hand shaking. It's really nice and relaxing to have that more stable image. I don't think I have super shaky hands, but all those unavoidable minute movements destroy the image more than I realized. In my opinion the lack of shaking more than makes up for the lower magnification and provides the ability to see just as much detail as with the 8x.