metro

I'm wondering, why don't the higher brands ie.. Swarovski, Ziess, Leica,Nikon etc... have the higer powers more available. They may have some that I have'nt found butit seems for the most part they only go up to 10X42 and 12X42. I have a pair of Bushnell Powerviews that are 16X50 and some older Simmons that are 20X50 and I just bought a pair of Barska compacts that are 20X32. Now I know they are probably more expensive to makebut they can't be that much more, and if I had the choice to go for a pair of Nikon Monarchs at 16X50 for another 100 bucks or so I'd jump on it.

Metro...

PABowhntr

For starters, and to touch on your last comment, Nikon did just introduce the Monarchs in 12x42s this year.

As for why you don't typically see higher power binos...I think there are several reasons. As you already mentioned they are more expensive to make. Any mistakes in the manufacturing process are more "magnified", no pun intended with the higher the magnification you go with. When you start with a pair of 8.5x42 Swaros that are already listed at $1600 then it is very realistic to believe that you could be pricing yourself right out of your customer base should you consider manufacturing higher mag/more expensive versions of the same model.

Second, higher magnification, at a certain point, doesn't really benefit the user as much as one would think. Once you start getting above 8x or 10x then the shaking that the user transfers to the binocular under handheld conditions usually renders any gain in detail because of the higher mag. insignificant. A tripod is typically needed for most folks with binoculars in the 12 power and higher range.

Third, higher power binos are usually heavier and less convenient to carry because they are typically coupled with larger objective lenses to allow adequate light levels to reach the eye....in order to produce a relatively bright image...again so that you can actually utilize the greater detail.

One comment I have often seen made in reference to folks who issue similar questions to your own.....a moderate power binocular, 8x or 10x, usually provides all the detail that you can utilize. Going to a higher power does not necessarily give you more detail. Actually, going to a larger objective size will usually result in more usable detail as more light is allowed to reach your eye thus giving you a brighter image and more contrast.

Also, the quality of the glass and of the chemical coating applied to the glass and the prism usually are more important in rendering detail than the size of the magnification. In other words, an 8x Swaro SLC will give you a more detailed image than a 12x Leupold.

Hope this helps.

metro

Sure does help Frank, I was just out this morning comparing the 20x32's to the 16x50's. I was reading the lettering on a dry dock at a Naval base near here about 1/2 t0 3/4 of a mile from me. I could read the lettering with the 16x50's but not the 20x32's plus the 16's were brighter. I am into into astronomy and I have a Meade 10 inch Shmidt Cassegrain and 5 and 6 inch refractors so I know it's all about gathering light, I just have to believe that if Bushnell and Simmons can put out 50 mm objectives at 16 power why not the high end guys. Maybe it's just me but I don't see 16 power optics being too dificult to hold steady. Regarding the size issue though you're right,I bought the Gladiators that are 12-60X70 and those are just way to big and bulky to put in a pack and hike with.

stubblejumper

I personally find that 10x is the maximum magnification that I can hold steady,especially after climbing or running.The other factor is that the high magnifications would result in binoculars that were not bright enough in low light conditions if a reasonably sized objective lens is used.

metro

I personally find that 10x is the maximum magnification that I can hold steady,especially after climbing or running.
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Ya know that makes a lot of sense actually, I'm just a poor city boy that hasn't done a whole lot of hunting so you'll have to excuse me. But now that you mention that I can see how things change at the end of the day after a long hike with gear,you've been up for 14 hours and you're so hungry you could eat the ass end of a skunk thats been dead for two days. You might get the shakes just a tad.

rick_reno

I wouldn't got over 10x in something I'm holding.

skeeter 7MM

Agreed 10x for binos, anything larger IMO a spotting scope and pod is required!

PABowhntr

Now you are bringing back some memories. I was very much into amateur astronomy back in high school though sports eventually took up much of a my time after that. My only remaining legacy of that time is the 6 inch Meade Reflector I have sitting behind me in the basement. I try to take it out at least a few times a year though it needs some repair work to the controls.

As for the reason why Swaro, Leica, etc... haven't put out 16 power binos.....I cannot say for sure. Not to sound condescending but my guess is that many folks, that aren't necessarily educated in optics, tend to believe higher power is better regardless of other considerations such as light transmission, quality of lenses, chemical coatings, objective diameter, etc... Bushnell and Simmons can get away with selling 16x32s and 20x50s for $50 or $60 but when you get into the price range that a 16x70 Swaro would cost then the potential consumers might be a bit more discriminating...and demanding of quality results.

Just my guess.

metro

Yeah, high power binos are quickly losing their appeal to me. After learning about the value of high quality glass here and looking through some nice binos today at a marine storeI am now wavering between 10 and 12 power. After returning the Barska Gladiators, I looked through some 7x50 Nikons today that were just a joy to use, they were so easy to hold steady and the longer exit pupil made them soooo comfortable to viewthrough.

PLB

I live and hunt in Arizona. There is a lot of wide open space here and one thing I learned from a successful hunter out here is this: A good hunter will wear out the seat of his pants before he wears out the soles of his shoes.....i.e. spend a lot of time glassing. Out West, I have glassed Coues and Mule deer from over 2 miles away. Depending on where you hunt, the type and qualitie of glass required could be different.

My 1st binos were Nikon Monarchs. They are an okay set of binos at best. But a good value for the money. Before I bought my Nikons, I looked through Swarovski and Lieca binos in broad day light and thought there was not a $1000 difference. The key being broad day light.

Then I went hunting with some buddies, one had Leica and the other had Swarovski binos. They routinely glassed up Coues bucks that I could not even see through my binos. This was all during low light (early morning/early evening hours). I had to look through their binos just to see what they were talking about. That is when I 1st saw the $1000 difference.

After that hunting season, I saved and saved until I could get some top of line binos. I just wish I hadn't spent the $300 on the Nikons. Please do not take this as brand bashing. I put Nikon scopes on all my rifles. I don't spend all day looking through my scope and I don't use my scope to find game. I use my Swaro's to find game, once I find them....I use a very reliable and capable Nikon scope to finish the job.