Would you consider 6x ?

[Robert Ellis]

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?

[Otto McDiesel]

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.

[salty]

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.

[leicaeddy]

Robert, if you consider 6x binocular, you are a confirmed binoholic! (Just kidding). The image scale may be too small for birding. Interestingly one of my favorite bincular is Asahi Pentax 6x30 Mariner, fully coated optic. The glass was purchased from a "killer shop (the shop targets to tourists)" during SARS crisis 2 years ago. From my recollection the color rendition was not very good due to outdated coating technique. However, the image was extremely sharp and the overall view was highly stereoscopic! I regretted selling it for extra cash (although I did make some profit from it!) to finance Pentax 7x50 PIF (another excellent binocular and another best buy I made).

[steve johnson]

This is a good spot for yet another plug for one of my all time favorites - Leitz 6x24 with a 212 M field of view. Not great for distance, but well made, small and great field. I wish leica would make a 6x30 ultravid with a very wide field.

[Rob Smallwood]

Quite simply - No!

[Pinewood]

I would write that if you had a very unsteady hand, six power would make sense. The EO 6x32, which has a terrific near focus, lacks good resolution off center but it is brilliant and small. It happens to make an excellent glass for the opera as I used it when I heard Handel's Rodelinda with Renee´ Fleming. I have quite a collection of old, individual focus, six power glasses, which I would not use for bird watching as I have seven and eight power glasses.
Today an eight, and certainly a seven, power glass with multicoating might provide almost as much brilliance as an old six power glass with the same objective diameter. Why bother using a six, if you can hold the stronger binocular steady?

Happy bird watching,
Arthur Pinewood

[Rico]

Renee Fleming at 6 power... ahhh... so nice...

Oops! Sorry 'bout that. |:P|

[Kevin Mac]

All you have to do is look through a pair of 10x for a week. Then try some 7x. If the increase in field of view is like a god send, then buy them. If you miss the extra magnification and ability to ID birds (my personal bias here) then get 10x.

[Robert Ellis]

I have never missed an ID with 7x and I definately like a wide field of view. Personally a 10x image is jiggly enough that I lose detail. I also like the ability to hold steady and "watch" birds as opposed to a quick "spot and ID" that many listers are after.

I have come to the opinion that much of the "gain" in magnification is psychological when discussing the amounts birders often use.

[njlarsen]

The only time I would consider a pair of 6-7 x bins would be for a lightweight "shirt-pocket" sized pair to bring when I did not really bring bins. Otherwise, I am a 10x guy that possibly could be talked into an 8.5x pair if there was a significant saving in weight.

Niels

[elkcub]

The 6x was quite popular in times past, before coatings were improved. I used a vintage 1950s Canon 6x30 porro for a while, but now stick with 8x and 10x. My one-eyed friend loved them, because the depth of field and field of view gave him maximum depth cues.

-elkcub

[Robert Ellis]

Really, I think it all in our heads beyond a reasonable limit. I am thinking that limit is around 6x, when we see the bird "bigger enough" in our perceived image. Since it seems to me to be a mental and subjective preference I can easily see why some are satisfied fully with low power bins and some crave higher magnifications. Good for us that the companies give us the choices.

[Robert Ellis]

I forgot to add this last time. Cornell's top rated bin in the mid-priced roof segment was the 6x32 Katmai.

[Swedpat]

I would do it for such purposes. Actually, I own a pair of Bushnell X-wide 5x25. That is almost 6x...What can I say about these binos? Yes, the nearly 13 degrees real FOV makes them great for sports and other circumstances when you want to come closer without lose the overview. 5 power is low power, but here we can really talk about stable image! No need for stabilization...
They are in no quality aspect (sharpness, contrast, coating) in par to my Minolta 8x25 D WP XL. But the low power makes them night glasses in compact format, yet they are not real compact.

5x magnification and more than 60 degress AFOV means they are very comfortable and pleasant to use. The disadvantages are that they are "anti-aspheric" with a considerable "globe-feeling", and very strong reflections and ghost images, especially at night against street lanterns or car beams.

The stated eye relief is 12mm, but has to be more than that in reality. I can see the entire FOV with glasses on, thought they are best without glasses. The ocular lenses are huge 20mm diameter!

I am not satisfied with the optical performance of them, but a low powered binos of 5-6x has it's area of use. If a manufacturer would produce a real high performance binos of 6x30 model (preferably roofs), at least 17mm eye relief and wide angle, I would get them.

[Robert Ellis]

Swedpat, Eagle Optics has a 6x32 Ranger, but they won't ship to Europe last I heard.

[Swedpat]

Robert!

I recently ordered another roof prism waterproof 6x32 on a sales or return basis. It doesn't have wide angle, but seems to be nice in many other respects. I don't know if the optical performance will satisfied me, but will see in the middle of next week.

Regards, Patric

[gcole]

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? Iam thinking about purchasing a pair of 6x32 rangers from Eagle Optics... but Ive only read their review. Iam looking for a center focus, small , waterproof bino with low power to keep in the car and to use as a all-round bino and possible star gazing at night.Has anyone had the chance to look thru these?

[Steve Jones]

The point of binoculars is to bring whatever is being viewed close enough that it can be enjoyed in closeup and (for birders) ID'd sufficiently well.
My 10 x42's do this very well indeed (often noticably out-performing other birders 8X bins when finding distant birds) with my 8 x 32's performing less well in this regard (but good for lightweight 'wandering about' birding nonetheless).
To me, I can't see the point of a 6X when the falloff between 10X and 8X is so obvious, unless there is a specific 'target' use, whatever that might be.

[Robert Ellis]

The point of binoculars is to bring whatever is being viewed close enough that it can be enjoyed in closeup and (for birders) ID'd sufficiently well.
My 10 x42's do this very well indeed (often noticably out-performing other birders 8X bins when finding distant birds) with my 8 x 32's performing less well in this regard (but good for lightweight 'wandering about' birding nonetheless).
To me, I can't see the point of a 6X when the falloff between 10X and 8X is so obvious, unless there is a specific 'target' use, whatever that might be.

The falloff in image size may be obvious, but the usefullness is just as great despite the magnification. I have never missed a bird with 7x that others have got at 10x.

[ceasar]

I not only would use a 6X, I do use a 6X! I have owned Eagle Optics 6 x 32 Platinum Roof Prism's for 3 years and I take them everywhere I go. I keep them in my car. When I first got them I compared them to my 18 year old Leica 7 x 42 BA Trinovids well into twilight, and they held their own remarkably well both in brightness and sharpness. The first time I used them was from the front seat of my car on a rainy April evening. I watched Cedar Waxwings feeding on berries in front of a building while my son took our IRS forms into the accountants office in the building. I had forgotten how brightly colored Cedar Waxwings were. All military tan with medallion bars of scarlet and mandarin yellow. Stunning! I've loved these binoculars ever since. I use them while flyfishing to ID insects floating on the water nearby. I've even used them to my satisfaction at Hawk Mountain. 6X isn't a heck of alot different than 7X. I've seen no indication of softness, either in the center or at the edges of the field, and they have a 408' field of view at 1000 yards. They are a really, really fine binocular!

[xenophobe]

Would I use one?

Quite simply - No!

Well put!

[Robert Ellis]

I wouldn't use a 12x either, but there are birders who do.

[Pileatus]

Iam thinking about purchasing a pair of 6x32 rangers from Eagle Optics... but Ive only read their review. Iam looking for a center focus, small , waterproof bino with low power to keep in the car and to use as a all-round bino and possible star gazing at night.Has anyone had the chance to look thru these?


We own an Eagle Optics 6X32 Platinum. Originally, I bought it to use in bad weather, canoeing, etc. but, after several months of use, I concluded I needed something more suitable to my eyes. My wife adopted the 6X32 and she loves it. Different eyes produce different results.

Truthfully, the EO 6X32 is as good as any in the centerfield. It is crisp, sharp, colorful, bright, and very easy on the eyes. Off center the image degrades and I found that uncomfortable with prolonged use. My wife prefers the image in her 8X32 Nikon SE, but she really enjoys the image in the EO 6X32 and has no trouble staring through it for extended periods.

In the 32 mm format I believe a truly high quality 6X32 would be a winner. Yes, some definition is lost due to low magnification, but the gains in stability and wide FOV are simply amazing. I’ve ID many a bird at long distance with the 6X32 Platinum and I disagree with those who dismiss it out of hand. I’ve often wondered how many people would choose them if they could just get their hands on them.

In the 32 mm format I see 6X, 8X and 10X as practical magnifications. In the 42 mm class I think 7X, 8X, and 10X meet the needs of birders. I see no need for a 7X32 or a 6X42.

I’ve never compared them side-by-side, but I believe the EO 6X32 is better than the 6X32 Katmai. Based on the reviews, I expected more from the Katmai 6X32 than what I saw in the sample I viewed in the field.

John

[Robert Ellis]

The 6x Ranger is a step up from the Katmai in my looking as well.

Overall well stated John, once one gets past the "little bird" view, they are quite useful. Imagine my delight to hear that Zeiss may be testing the waters with a 7x32 FL.

[art92101]

We use 8x all the time and it works fine for the shorebirds here in san diego, However, I have been thinking of getting the 6x32 for close-in warbler hummingbird type searches. Inevitably those little birds are hard to track when they are buzzing around us and we are armed with 8xs. Thanks for your posts, i'm going to try the EO 6x32.

[Swedpat]

I ordered a 6x32 of the brand ZENITH, and I loved them. 8,1 degrees FOV, sharp almost to the edges. The sharpness and contrast wasn't high grade, but adequate in my opinion. Stable and wide view, in a real compact format. I planned to sell my Minolta 8x25 D WP XL, who would become superflous. The 6x32 had the same length as the 8x25, but better ER, larger FOV and almost 3 times brighter at dawn and dusk.

The lower power didn't seem to be a very big disadvantage, just a slightly worse resolution. Unfortunately it was something in the optics which was hard for my eyes, I became very tired after a while, maybe something to do with the lack of phase-coating? I had to send them back, which I really moume!

I can say that roof prism 6x32 model with a good performance would be a real hit! I attach a photo with a comparison to the Minolta 8x25.

[HawkD]

I own the 6x32 Katmai binox. They are really quite nice in terms of brightness. Detail is a bit lacking due to the low power, but they are wonderful to hold and use. I've always used 8x, but now find myself enjoying the 6x more. Part of this is because I bird in the thick and dark rainforests of the American Pacific Northwest Coast where magnification takes a back seat to brightness. The other part is because I feel that I learn more about a bird when I can see more than just the bird. Seeing its surroundings and how it negotiates its environment is critical to understanding a creature beyond just a checkmark on a list.

[nctexasbirder]

im sorry but ill just have to disagree with all the 10x power hungry people.
6x might be a great format for the beginning birder, especially if they are tracking warblers and sparrows and passerines in general. 10x wont be able to do that as well. though i do agree that 10x is probably best for hawks and shorebirds, but there are alot of factors that compensate for 6x including FOV, lightweight, etc that might be better for some birders. power isnt everything ....just my 2 cents

[MacGee]

I would use a 6x, but only if the FOV was extra wide. The binox I use at the moment are 8x30, with an 8° FOV, giving an AFOV of 64°. My wife's 7x21s have a FOV of 7.5°, and their AFOV of 52.5° now seems pretty restricted to me. Swedpat's Zeniths, with their 48.6° AFOV, would be even more so. I don't know if there are any 6x's with a 10°+ FOV, so I would probably settle for one of the 7x35s that have a 9.3° FOV.

Michael.

[Otto McDiesel]

I went for a day of pelagic birding off Cape Hatteras. The Leupold Yosemite 6x30 was best suited and it worked very well. The 8x and the 10x were not useable.

[ceasar]

Eagle Optics Ranger 6 x 32 SRT cost 279.00 bucks. Are phase coated, have 409' FOV, 19.5 mm ER, 3 feet close focus. weigh 19.4 Oz. and are waterproof to boot. These are supposed to be an improvement on the 6 x 32 Ranger Platinum's I own. If so, then I can categorically state that they have to be "one great binocular." My Ranger Platinums are very bright and very sharp with an unusually large "sweet spot" extending out to 80% or more of the image!

I recommend them without reservation to anyone who is considering buying and using a 6X and who wants it in a Roof Prism Design.

If you want an outstanding Porro Prism 6 x 30, then the Leupold is the one to get. It also has superb optics, similar ER and FOV to the Eagle but a longer short focus.

Cordially,
Bob

[HawkD]

I noticed something that hasn't been touched on in this segment: the 6x binox have A LOT less shake. I notice this every time I pick up my 8x bins, where the added shake caused by the increased magnification can become outright annoying. With the 6x, I can hold them quite still. They are definitely very pleasant to birdwatch or enjoy any other type of wildlife with. Although I wouldn't recommend them for shorebirds.

[Otto McDiesel]

Leitz used to make a small 6x Amplivid binocular with over 200 m / 1000 m field of view - over 600 feet. I suppose a modern version of those would be quite interesting for boating and bushwhacking. I would still grab a 10x42 for shores and raptors.

[normjackson]

I would use a 6x, but only if the FOV was extra wide... I don't know if there are any 6x's with a 10°+ FOV, so I would probably settle for one of the 7x35s that have a 9.3° FOV.

Michael.
Looks to me like this Russian 6x24 :
http://binofan.home.att.net/rus6x24.htm
is the one being sold for £35 by this retailer :
http://www.quicktest.co.uk/acatalog/OPTICS_LIST.html
(The pdf has piccies of the binoculars for sale hence the 2.5MB size).

[MacGee]

Looks to me like this Russian 6x24 :
http://binofan.home.att.net/rus6x24.htm
is the one being sold for £35 by this retailer :
http://www.quicktest.co.uk/acatalog/OPTICS_LIST.html
(The pdf has piccies of the binoculars for sale hence the 2.5MB size).
My thinking at the time I wrote the above post was, I suppose, 6x bins would be inferior for general use, and would only be worth having if they bought some extra benefit, such as wide FOV. But having just bought a 6x30 Yosemite, I now recant these heretical ideas entirely. I agree with HawkeD about the benefits of 6x. Plus, as well as being less shaky, 6x bins have a humongous DOF, which is why they surpass all other bins I've used in following birds in flight.

So, thanks, Norm, but I'll give the 6x24 a miss (though I wouldn't mind having a look through it) and just stick with the Yosemite. I'm not so bothered nowadays about extra-wide fields of view; I'm fine with 8°.

Michael.

[Steven Astley]

The way I see it, to roughly sum up

10x for dudes and twitchers

8x for proper birders

6x for binocular enthusiasts and collectors

;)

[APSmith]

The problem with 6X is that the FOVs aren't any better than 8X.

If they had a 550' FOV with quality optics, I'd be interested.

[Common Raven]

... Having always had 8X, I tried 6X after reading this thread, and I loved them so much, they are now my main bin. A couple of things to consider are:

-Like HawkD before mentioned, 6X does, indeed, produce much less handshake for me. Hence, I can actually see more details in the birds, especially if the bird is in flight. My 10 year old son also prefers the less handshake of the 6X.

-6X can be a "bigger bang for the buck" - it can often produce a better quality image for the same amount of money when it comes to inexpensive binos. My Eagle Optics Ranger Platinums 6X32 are much brighter, and produce a much more pleasing view overall than my Eagle Optics Ranger Platinums 8X32.

Thank you ceasar for getting me interested in 6X's!

[ceasar]

C.R.
You are most welcome!

Enjoy the view!
Bob