BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!

Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="gulf1263" data-source="post: 3152375" data-attributes="member: 99783">A very high quality 8x32 is light, compact and easy to carry.I stopped using the 8x40/42 format after I bought my first high quality Swaro 8x30 SL.If you are buying a high end 8x32 you will find almost no need for a 8x42 and will find the 8x32 much more compact and much easier to take with you.The 8x32 can fit in large jacket pockets and even on a belt carrier, neither of which an 8x42 can do.You are much more likely to take 8x32 with than an 8x42 and that makes it much more usable.European's favored the 8x30/32 backed up with a much larger 7x42/8x56/10x50.Mostly they used the 8x30/32 and only brought out the big guns for special circumstances.Art</blockquote>