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Message: <blockquote data-quote="FrankD" data-source="post: 1579006" data-attributes="member: 18544">The timing of this thread is very good. I have recently purchased a high quality 8x56 binocular that I was comparing to two of my 8x42s and a 7x42. I spent a good deal of time the other night looking from bin to bin trying to determine if there was any significant advantage in low light performance between the bins.What I found somewhat surprised me.I placed all of the bins on a solid rest, side by side, all pointing at the same object. I then went back and forth between them repeatedly over a 45 minutes period during dusk. The large 56 mm binocular provided a more well-illuminated image across the entire image. One of the 8x42s was the dimmest with the other 8x42 and the 7x42 seemingly producing about the same amount of illumination across the entire image.Some of that is a bit surprising but some of it isn't.The interesting part is that I did not see a significant advantage in using one over the other. I could see the same object in all four bins. I could identify the shape and overall configuration of the object (the edges if you will). One difference I could see though is that the dimmest 8x42 and the 7x42 actually produced more easily defined "edges" of the object.My "guess" on this one is that it was the result of the differing type of contrast in those two bins along with the fact that both utilize ED/FL glass. Thoughts on that would be appreciated.At no time did I feel as if the 8x56 gave me any significantly improved low light performance over any of the other bins but most notably not over the 7x42.Having said that, the 20x80 scope was pulling in more details long after all the bins quit.<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></blockquote>

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