It amazes me that so many new buyers are hesitant to choose a midsized binocular. They way some of the mid-priced lines (Pentax, Celestron, EO, Bushnell, Kahles, Minox) are laid out, with the smaller bins getting the wider FOV I would choose them 9 times out of 10 over a full-sized equivalent with the narrow fields of view, the exception being if I desired a 10, becuase the FOVs are much closer between the sizes here and I probably want to see very very very far. For top models the difference is much less, but for the most part the manufacturers of mid-priced bins stick to narrow eyepieces for the 42mm models.
In my book, about 400' @ 1000yds is minimum for 8ish x and at least 365' for 10x.
As experienced birders we need to stress that large objectives do not a superior product make and that a narrow field if view can lead to more frustration. The benefits of a wider field ar far more important than larger objectives (unless you do your birding at the county museum).
[QUOTE=Robert Ellis]It amazes me that so many new buyers are hesitant to choose a midsized binocular. They way some of the mid-priced lines (Pentax, Celestron, EO, Bushnell, Kahles, Minox) are laid out, with the smaller bins getting the wider FOV I would choose them 9 times out of 10 over a full-sized equivalent with the narrow fields of view, the exception being if I desired a 10, becuase the FOVs are much closer between the sizes here and I probably want to see very very very far. For top models the difference is much less, but for the most part the manufacturers of mid-priced bins stick to narrow eyepieces for the 42mm models.
In my book, about 400' @ 1000yds is minimum for 8ish x and at least 365' for 10x.
As experienced birders we need to stress that large objectives do not a superior product make and that a narrow field if view can lead to more frustration. The benefits of a wider field ar far more important than larger objectives (unless you do your birding at the county museum).[/QUOTE]
Robert:
IMO it is all a personal preference. I have an 8X32, an 8X42 ,and a 10X50. A wide FOV is not all that important to me. The only time I get frustrated with my 10X50 is when trying to track warblers at they jump around. On the other hand I get very frustrated in trying to find a bird in a wide FOV; sometimes it is like looking for a needle in a haystack. I find it easier to put the binos on the bird than to find the bird in the FOV. Also, there is no way a high quality 32 is going to be as sharp as a high quality 50.
Good birding,
Lew