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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BruceH" data-source="post: 3238420" data-attributes="member: 106398">Zeiss SF 10X42The "only one" binocular requirement means the choice has to be versatile.  This is especially important for me since I view a variety of wildlife and scenery.  Step 1 - Power:  My region has a lot of wide open spaces and sometimes wildlife will be several thousand or more yards away.  An 8X would probably be fine 80% or more of the time but there are times that it is just not enough.  That means the choice is a 10X.  I have had multiple occasions when looking at something with an 8X and wishing I had a 10X so I could see more detail.  I do not recall ever looking at something with a 10X and wishing to see less.  A 10X can do basically what an 8X can do, but not always as well, but a 8X will never have the magnification of a 10X.  Step 2 - Binocular Size:  The best time to view some wildlife is the early light of morning and the last light of the day.  That means an exit pupil of 4 mm or more, so the minimum size for a 10X is a 42 mm class binocular.  A 50 mm  would be brighter but that is larger and heavier than I would want to deal with on a regular basis.  That brings us to a 10X42. Step 3 - Brand and Model:  My top choices for a 10X42 are the Swaro 10X42 SV EL, a Nikon EDG-II 10X42 the new Zeiss SF 10X42 and maybe a SLC 10X42 HD or a Zeiss HT 10X42.  My choice is the Zeiss SF 10X42.  It has top tier optics as do the others but what sets it apart for me is the wider FOV, the great balance that makes it easier to control a 10X, and a very functional focus mechanism.  There it is, one versatile top tier binocular, the Zeiss SF 10X42.</blockquote>

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