2 in 1 or 2? (1 Viewer)

Hi all, for the last few days I was browsing this forum and the whole internet in search of information that will help me with a decission. Unfortunately I am in front of a complete decision block.

I want a binocular (or binoculars?) for two purposes. Day observing and night observing. I know a little bit about optics being amateur astronomer/stargazer that grinded his own mirror and tested a few objective lenses but have absolutely no idea about binoculars. I have 8x42 Opticron that is actually pretty but would like something bigger or better. I know for a fact that binocular can be brighter even if same size as mine because I looked through a few.

Now my dilemma.

Should I go for 10x50 and have that as a specialist night use and get something smaller and lighter 8x32 for day

OR

get the highest quality possible 10x42 there is (10x50 would be too big and heavy to be all purpose).

I would love some thoughts about it. Mind you that I am very fond of Swarovski 10x40 Habicht and am wondering if that one could be the one and only covering everything? My thinking here is that quality of lenses and coatings would actually provide the same view as some mid-range 10x50.

As an alternative, you might look at the Canon 10x42ISL. The price is in the Habicht class, about US$1250 on Amazon.
The stabilized optics provide superior star gazing images and well as daytime nature watching. They are optically excellent, fully waterproof and quite robust.
Against that, they are heavy (2.4 pounds) and bulky, a brick compared to the svelte Habicht. Also, the Canon warranty is minimal, three years now iirc, and service if needed is costly. My first one gave me 10 years flawless service, I'm now on my second, with the old one the backup.

It depends on your budget. If you can afford to purchase a high quality 8x32 for daytime and a high quality 10x50 or 12x50 for nightime that would be the best option. Get something like an 8x32 SV for daytime and a 10x50 SV for nightime if price is not an object. If it is get any good 8x32 or 8x30 like a Habicht, Nikon HG, Zeiss Conquest HD, or Nikon EII and for a budget 10x50 or 12x50 look at Vortex Razor's HD because they are light and small for a 50mm weighing less than 28 oz. So for less than $2k you could have two nice binoculars for daytime and nightime. If your budget is limited a good 8x42 or 10x42 would be a compromise for both nightime and daytime use. There are a lot of binoculars to choose from that would be considered better than your Opticron. A Zeiss SF or Swarovski SV would be an upgrade from your Opticron. I have the Habicht 10x40 porro and although it punches way above it's aperture because of it's high transmission and provides a great 3D view it couldn't compete with a good quality 10x50 in low light. It would be the equivalent of most 10x42's roof's in twilight so it could serve very well as an all around day and night binocular but it would never be as good as having an 8x32 and a 10x50. It is kind of like having one of those multi-purpose tools. It does a lot of stuff pretty good but it is not as good as having the correct tool for the job. The Canon 10x42 IS-L mentioned above is an awesome binocular which optically is very close to the Swarovski 10x50 SV for 1/2 the price but it is very HEAVY and if you hike much you will get tired carrying it. It also lacks the 3D view of a traditional porro-prism because the prism entry/ exit light paths are vertically aligned.

In general, nighttime binocular use is usually a pretty stationary event. Daytime use may range from watching the backyard bird feeder to rugged mountaineering. Your personal carrying requirements might help form your ultimate decision.

Hi,

first of all, welcomer to birdforum!

I don't think top of the line coatings will make a 10x40 perform like a generic multicoated 10x50 - aperture is king.
Image stabilisation on the other hand does indeed vastly improve perceived resolution for the average viewer even at 10x, so the 10x42IS might be an option - if you can cope with the weight.

Also the Habicht has some flaws too, so maybe try one before buying - notably the very short eye relief (which will make use with glasses difficult at best) and a very stiff focus drive which is less than ideal for birding.

So my advice would be to get some nice 10x50 - maybe Fuji FMT-SX and some compact wide angle 8x30...

Joachim

For your 8x42, make cardboard objective masks that are 34mm in diameter.
Compare the view with and without - that's the exit pupil difference between a 10x50 and a 10x40.