Why a 6x32?

[lulubelle]

Be gentle!! I have only ever used an 8x42 for birding. When I first started, it was what was recommended to me and for the most part I have been happy with it. After reading through the posts here, I notice lots of discussion about 6x32, 8x32, etc. What are the advantages of using this bin when out birding?

[Steve C]

For the most part an 8x42 is hard to beat for a general purpose binocular. A 6x is however more useful than most would think. It is far less prone to image shake and generally fine for closer in work. Although some will insist on better detail provided by a larger image. 6x is a popular close range binocular for archery and Turkey hunting. They are ususally quite light, compact and bright. I got int the 6x simply because I had to see what all the fuss was about when Leupold introduced the 6x30 Yosemite. Kind of a specialized use binocular. I like it and use it a lot.

[Kevin Purcell]

6x is very useful for:


use from a vehicle on the move (including a boat on pelagic trips) (think Rommel ;) )
a wide FOV e.g. in woodland or other environment where you expect close birds or a large group of birds to monitor or need to scan a wide horizon
when you might be shaky e.g. when hiking or climbing bin if you are hiking hard or just as folks age
a large exit pupil with a small objective lens; large exit pupils make aligning the bin and your eyes an easier task.
kids with poor pointing ability (bigger FOV) and weaker arms (less shake) e.g. Leupold Yosemite 6x30. Same is true for people unfamiliar with using a bin so they can make good guest bins.


6x in twenty something mm objectives would be excellent too ... a 6x24 would make an excellent compact with the lower magnification helping the both the compromised grip and increasing the size of the exit pupil from smaller objective (the two common complaints with compacts).

This is one area the bin makers have not strayed into but I believe Zeiss and maybe others have 6x20 in the good old days. The German WW1 military had 6x24 porros that were used into WW2.

7x on smaller objectives would be nice too. Still used the world over by militaries for similar reasons to the above list (apart from the kids!).

Lower magnifications can be rather useful ... perhaps not the only bin but they do fill a role that the choice of only 8x or 10x misses.

[Pinewood]

Hello Lulubelle,

All the above and some models make an excellent theatre glass.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur

[Tero]

If you use 8x, I suspect you will be happier with 7x. But there are not that many models. The 7x36 and 9x36 mentioned in another thread brought some excitement from people.

Personally, I use 8x and the birds are small enough at 8x for me.

[BobinKy]

6x is very useful for:

use from a vehicle on the move (including a boat on pelagic trips) (think Rommel )
a wide FOV e.g. in woodland or other environment where you expect close birds or a large group of birds to monitor or need to scan a wide horizon
when you might be shaky e.g. when hiking or climbing bin if you are hiking hard or just as folks age
a large exit pupil with a small objective lens; large exit pupils make aligning the bin and your eyes an easier task.
kids with poor pointing ability (bigger FOV) and weaker arms (less shake) e.g. Leupold Yosemite 6x30. Same is true for people unfamiliar with using a bin so they can make good guest bins.

--Kevin Purcell


The above is an excellent summary. Please digest it slowly.

I might add a Leupold Katmai 6x32 is my "go-anywhere" binocular and most frequently used of my 10 pairs of binoculars. The size is just easier (and comfortable) to keep in my hands.

While the 6x32 comes into its own in close observing and on-the-go observing--it is not the equal of 8-12x models for observing landscapes, shore birds, or hawks where detail is required at distances.


--Bob
Kentucky, USA

[ceasar]

Regarding hawk watching; here is a quote by Jerry Liguori from his book HAWKS From Every Angle, at page 10. "The magnification one choses should be based on what is most comfortable. I use 7x (magnification) binoculars for watching hawks because I prefer an extrawide field of view; however, many birders prefer the added powers of 8x or 10x binoculars. .......................In truth, skill level in identifying birds is more a matter of experience than of high powered optics."

Personally speaking, my skill level isn't all that great but I have used my Eagle 6 x 32 Platinum Ranger at the Hawk Mountain hawk watch site on numerous occasions with much satisfaction. I like them although, admittedly, their optics are not as good as my Leica 7 x 42 Trinovid. But they are much lighter and I usually have them with me when I am fishing. They focus very closely and with their wide FOV are excellent in identifying hatching insects and in observing Dragon and Damsel Flies.

They are a very versatile, all around binocular. I used to have a Leupold Yosemite 6 x 30 until I loaned it to my brother. He won't give it back. It's his deck binocular now.
Bob

[mooreorless]

Bob, My Brother-in-Law took one look through my leupold 6x30 Yosemite and wanted to buy it, well trade for small Pentax. He bought it. I bought another 6x30 Yosemite off Frank D. at a very good price. He was very kind to offer it to me.
Regards,Steve

[ceasar]

Steve,
I wonder if Frank has another one for sale at a "very good price?" The 89 bucks or so that they sell for new is OUTRAGEOUS!!!:eek!:;)
Bob

[BobinKy]

. . . they [6x32] are much lighter and I usually have them with me . . . They are a very versatile, all around binocular. . .

The above describes the benefits of the 6x32 size--light, easy to keep with you, and versatile.

However, if you need detail in views over 250 yards (meters) distance, there are better alternatives than the 6x32 configuration, in my humble opinion. Don't get me wrong, I use my 6x32s more than any other binocular. I really like them. However, they just do not deliver distant detail like a 7x or stronger. There is a threshold--6x32 are on one side, while the 7x? and greater are on the other side.

Yes, if you can get close enough--the 6x32 will deliver. But that is not always possible.

--Bob

[FrankD]

Sorry Bob. I only have one left and my son uses it. :-) The one I sold Steve was a cherry unit in my opinion. Excellent optical characteristics (sweet spot in particular) with spot-on alignment.

I would agree with you though on the benefits of lower powered (6-7x) binoculars for hawkwatching. I have Jerry's book as well and noted that bit of a quote in the early part of the book. Both my 7x42 FL and the 6.5x32 Fury saw time up at Bake Oven Knob in recent years.

[Kevin Purcell]

I think plenty of people overrate magnification (or perhaps my original typo: magnifiction).

Binoculars "bring the birds closer" as the old saw goes.

If you have a bird at 40 yards (a typical maximum for passerine birding by field marks) then

a x6 brings it to 6.7 yards
a x7 brings it to 5.7 yards
a x8 brings it to 5.0 yards
a x10 brings it to 4.0 yards away

The difference between each magnification is very little. The change from 6 to 10 might be considered significant.

But you can try this yourself with a bird model or photo or painting (last years Sibley calendar? The Wood Thrush, Tufted Titmouse and Barn Swallow are about life size) and place it out at the difference distances and see the difference with "perfect bins" (i.e. your naked eyes). Is it significant? Sometimes I think so and other times perhaps not so much.

The issue is what other factors come in at higher magnifications: clearly the ultimate acuity of a tripod mounted bin is limited by the eye so higher magnifications will see more (by the amount of magnification when looking at a resolution target.

But what about "in real life". With the real birder's visual system, tracking and briefly recognizing a oddly orientated bird, through a handheld bin (that you've been holding on an off for hours) after hiking up a hill. That brings up many other effects rather than just the improved acuity at higher magnification.

I suspect 7x might be the optimum but I also suspect it's a broad optimum and the optimum shifts depending on a lot of conditions (those shore birds are stationary but 100 yards away unlike the buteo that's soaring 100 yards away at 30 degrees elevation).

But then there's observing seabirds from a ferry (e.g. on Puget Sound). The birds can be distant and ferries are quite big but they do vibrate with the engines running. And that vibration shakes the view. I find even on these boats that a lower magnification (even less than 8x) is better though 8x works. A 10x in this case becomes very annoying very quickly.

Seems like the (well, one) reason we have more than one bin?

[falcondude]

6x comes with wide angle. But I find my favorite is still either 8x or 10x. 6x is just little too short for me.

[FrankD]

Kevin,

Your comments really hit a chord with me today. I was tinkering with some different magnification eyepieces on my scope. I was surprised by how little extra detail was apparent in a specific magnification range. As always I tend to prefer the lower powered eyepieces as the wider field of view, brighter image and easier eye placement always bring a smile to my face.

[lulubelle]

Thank you so much for the info. I really appreciate it. I actually have a pair of Yosemite 6x30 that I purchased for my son. They lay around unused 99% of the time. I had considered putting them in the car to use as my backup pair, but because of the lower magnification, I decided not to. Perhaps I should take them out one morning and give them a try. I may be surprised.

Thanks so much again!

[BobinKy]

The issue is what other factors come in at higher magnifications . . .

--Kevin


I think one factor that comes into play is the size of the objective (30mm, 40mm, or 50mm). Other things being equal--and they never are--a binocular with a larger objective tends to let in more light and conceivably more detail.

One exception to this objective rule are the coatings of the lenses for different binocular models. For example, the amazing lenses of the Nikon SE 8x32, in my opinion, surpass 8x40s and larger.

My "threshold" comment in a previous post to this thread is aimed at the configuration of 6x32 (magnification and objective size). Whether it is the magnification, objective size, or some other factor such as coating or prism quality--my experience has been this configuration limits detail pulling ability after a specific distance from the target (200 yards). This, again in my opinion, is not the case with 7x42, 7x50, 8x44 or larger. It would be interesting to look through a quality 6x42 and compare it to a quality 6x32. Unfortunately, I have never had this opportunity (and probably never will).

My two cents for what it is worth.

--Bob

[FrankD]

Perhaps I should take them out one morning and give them a try. I may be surprised.


I think you will be surprised with how much they actually show you.