I know the majority of birders hover around 8x, with a big chunk also using 10x and a good following for 7x but would any of you consider using a 6x? After using 10x for my formative years, even 7x didn't seem to bring me close enough, now I am normally in the 7x to 8.5x range and have no qualms about those magnifications.
6x glass is hard to come by, relatively. I see plenty of surplus 6x30 porros floating about but not much in use, EO does a 6x Ranger, Leupold does a 6x Katmai, then there is (was) the venerable 6.5x ED Celestron and the new 6.5x Papilio (intended for butterflies primarily).
I suppose 6x would work for casual birding, but the lack of "bring the bird closer" detail might omit them from distance work (unless one is spotting ships).
Thoughts?
Robert, you have an addiction there (buying binoculars). As a smoker, i should be the last to judge you.
6x does not work for everyone and all birding. I did use one when surveying spoonbills and herons from a boat, but i would not use it for small birds or far away birds.
i imagine 6x wouldnt be too usefull if used as your main bino, too underpowered. i suppose they would be fine if paired up with a scope, and used as a wide angled tool instead.
i tend to stick to 10x for all my birding needs, but thats me, not you.