I have just returned from a birding trip to Southeastern Airzona. Besides my scope I took a Nikon Premiuer LXl 8X32 and a Pentax DCF SP 10X50. After the first day I stowed by 8X32 and exclusively used my 10X50. My 8X just did not give me enough detail to identify new birds. I used the 10X in all conditions - in the woods and in the desert, and on warblers. The 10X were a huge help with the hummingbirds.
I met birders who had 7X or 8X and a 10X and they were using just the 10X because the lower magnification bins did not give them the detail they wanted.
Back in the midwest an 8X works fine. In fact I can identify most birds without a pair of bins. But with new birds I need all the detail I can get.
I am now planning to order a new pair of 10X bins, either a 10X42 or a 10X32.
A gentleman let me try his 10X32 Zeiss FLs, and they were very nice.
Of course, it is all a personal choice.
By the way, it rained alot in SE Arizona! Was cloudy most the the 8 days I was there, and I rarely saw the sun. But the overcast skies did keep the temperature down. The highs were rarely above the low 80s.
Lew
I met birders who had 7X or 8X and a 10X and they were using just the 10X because the lower magnification bins did not give them the detail they wanted.
Back in the midwest an 8X works fine. In fact I can identify most birds without a pair of bins. But with new birds I need all the detail I can get.
I am now planning to order a new pair of 10X bins, either a 10X42 or a 10X32.
A gentleman let me try his 10X32 Zeiss FLs, and they were very nice.
Of course, it is all a personal choice.
By the way, it rained alot in SE Arizona! Was cloudy most the the 8 days I was there, and I rarely saw the sun. But the overcast skies did keep the temperature down. The highs were rarely above the low 80s.
Lew