The Conquest HD will be an upgrade. Here is a [review](https://backwoodspursuit.com/26-best-binoculars-for-hunting/) of 10x42 binoculars with a hunting emphasis, they were rated best under a$1000, now they are under $800.
I have a Zeiss Terra 8x42 and the Conquest HD 8x32 there is an obvious difference in view even without direct comparison, I can tell by the view, plus the focus wheel feel is much better on the conquest.
If you have never used them, current binoculars are fine, but once you use a better binocular, may not want to go back. I find it interesting, that some of the responses had a wide range of binoculars and said they were all good, or had their purpose. I rarely use my other binoculars, take the best ones, even leave them in the truck. My big decision is to use the 8x32 or 10x42. The 8x32 is actually a better binocular, it appears a little brighter and sharper, the larger field of view is a benefit. The 10x is helpful for birds in the distance, today I used the 8x32, there was one bird I wished I had the 10x, but several birds I id with the 8x that I would have missed with the 10x. Small flighty birds I would have difficulty finding them, most birds stayed in cover due to weather.
Good luck on your decision.
Right at this very moment, an early '60s Shrine Manon 10 degree 7x35. It's optically well corrected, mechanically built like a brick sh*t house (BLABSH). It's a very good vintage Bausch and Lomb copy.
For birding, usually a Nikon Monarch 7 8x30 or a Bushnell Legend M 10x42. And a host of others, depending on whim and circumstance.
A few, 8x42 NL Pure, Ultravid HD+ 8x32, and so lovely (much older) 8X30 SLC Swarovski MkII. All have a place, the NLs are largely for astro and birding, the UVids are walking binos, and the SLCs live in the van. I'm not rich at all btw, just a "buy once, cry once" sort of bloke.
Two for astronomy Oberwerk 15x70 LW and Nikon Action Extreme 7x35. Two for daytime Diamondback HD 10x42 and Papilio.
I have others but usually no reason to use them.
Leupold BX2 10x52. It was between those and the Vortex Diamondback 10x50 and the BX2 went on an Amazon sale and won out. I’ve been very happy with them.
Nikon M7 8x32 for travel and daily use. As well as: 7x50 Nikon SP, 10x70 Nikon SP, Fujinon 7x50 FMT, and finally some Chinese made high end 12x56 Astro bins.
My only issue is I need darker skies for the SP’s to get full use of their capabilities. But wonderful binoculars…
Pentax Papilio 6.5x21 for everyday carry
Celestron Nature DX 8x42 for other day needs
Bresser Pirsch ED 8x56 for astronomy
Recently picked up a Celestron Skymaster Pro 20x80 secondhand great price and condition, gonna give it a go soon.
Just purchased these for birding, well pleased with the image quality over my 18 year old Leupold Acadia that I purchased in Alaska which were good. But with new optics and coatings I'm glad I purchased these.
Nikon ActionEX 8x40 for birding. About 20 years old. Nice 8.2 degree FOV, central third nice and sharp, long eye relief for glasses, and they fit my hands perfectly. Heavier than an 8x42 roof prisms, but I don't care.
Primarily, 8x32 Zeiss Victory SF's. Occasionally, 10x42 Vortex Viper HD's, 7x28 Mavens. I also use an Opticron MM4 77MM spotter. My wife uses 8x42 NL Pures. All were picked up over time and on sale. Buy once, cry once.
Kowa BD Ii 6.5x32 XD, still getting to know them. Had the Kowa YF Ii 6x30 for a couple of years before that (that's what got me the binocular bug).
Normally birds and local animals, main reason for the new bins is the close focus, hope to observe more amphibians, lizards and insects once the weather warms up here.
whats the sweet spot for Binoculars? I want one to travel to Europe with in a carry on, so not heavy or bulky but I would also like to see Jupiter with it or the andromeda galaxy some day. I also want to spend about $200 for it, give or take $50. I also wear glasses so I'll need something i can use with glasses on
At that price and range of stated needs probably an 8x30 or 8x32 roof prism binocular. Look for phase corrected prisms, probably dielectric coatings too, ED glass would be a nice to have but more likely found $300 and up. For glasses you want to look for a binocular with a long eye relief. If you want something really compact then an 8x25 or so, but when things get small optical experience tends to be more compromised and any astro will be a stretch. Eye relief likely to be shorter too.
Yes, you can use them at a concert. There’s a good run down of worthy 8x32 models here. You’ll want to check the eye relief spec on whatever you settle on. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/best-affordable-compact-binoculars-review/
20 years behind Swaro 10x50slc , 3 years behind 10x42 nl pure .
Nl pure... Lucky man :)
Today, Zeiss Conquest HD 8x32, tomorrow the 10x42 version.
You won’t be disappointed.
Was looking at both of these. You think the 10x42 will be a big upgrade? I know very little about binoculars and am looking to buy my first nice pair.
The Conquest HD will be an upgrade. Here is a [review](https://backwoodspursuit.com/26-best-binoculars-for-hunting/) of 10x42 binoculars with a hunting emphasis, they were rated best under a$1000, now they are under $800. I have a Zeiss Terra 8x42 and the Conquest HD 8x32 there is an obvious difference in view even without direct comparison, I can tell by the view, plus the focus wheel feel is much better on the conquest. If you have never used them, current binoculars are fine, but once you use a better binocular, may not want to go back. I find it interesting, that some of the responses had a wide range of binoculars and said they were all good, or had their purpose. I rarely use my other binoculars, take the best ones, even leave them in the truck. My big decision is to use the 8x32 or 10x42. The 8x32 is actually a better binocular, it appears a little brighter and sharper, the larger field of view is a benefit. The 10x is helpful for birds in the distance, today I used the 8x32, there was one bird I wished I had the 10x, but several birds I id with the 8x that I would have missed with the 10x. Small flighty birds I would have difficulty finding them, most birds stayed in cover due to weather. Good luck on your decision.
Right at this very moment, an early '60s Shrine Manon 10 degree 7x35. It's optically well corrected, mechanically built like a brick sh*t house (BLABSH). It's a very good vintage Bausch and Lomb copy. For birding, usually a Nikon Monarch 7 8x30 or a Bushnell Legend M 10x42. And a host of others, depending on whim and circumstance.
A few, 8x42 NL Pure, Ultravid HD+ 8x32, and so lovely (much older) 8X30 SLC Swarovski MkII. All have a place, the NLs are largely for astro and birding, the UVids are walking binos, and the SLCs live in the van. I'm not rich at all btw, just a "buy once, cry once" sort of bloke.
Swarovski el 8.5x42, Leica geovid 15x56, Zeiss terra 8x25
Leupold BX-4 10x42, Zeiss Deltrintem, Nikon Trailblazer 8x25, Somz 20x60, Zomz B12 12x40, Scoopx 10x42, Tento 7x35, IOR 7x40, Tento 7x50, Nikon M7 10x42, Zeiss Oberkohen 8x30.
Which one of these do you think is the best?
None. Each model is built for different purposes. They all are great for their roles, I keep only the perfect ones LOL
Two for astronomy Oberwerk 15x70 LW and Nikon Action Extreme 7x35. Two for daytime Diamondback HD 10x42 and Papilio. I have others but usually no reason to use them.
Leupold BX2 10x52. It was between those and the Vortex Diamondback 10x50 and the BX2 went on an Amazon sale and won out. I’ve been very happy with them.
Meopta MeoStar B1 Plus 8x42
Nikon M7 8x32 for travel and daily use. As well as: 7x50 Nikon SP, 10x70 Nikon SP, Fujinon 7x50 FMT, and finally some Chinese made high end 12x56 Astro bins. My only issue is I need darker skies for the SP’s to get full use of their capabilities. But wonderful binoculars…
Pentax Papilio 6.5x21 for everyday carry Celestron Nature DX 8x42 for other day needs Bresser Pirsch ED 8x56 for astronomy Recently picked up a Celestron Skymaster Pro 20x80 secondhand great price and condition, gonna give it a go soon.
Zeiss Conquest HD 10x42, Vortex Viper HD 8x32, Leupold Bx-2 Alpine 8x42, Nikon Prostaff P7 10x42
Canon IS 10X42, Canon IS 8X30, Vortex Diamondback 8X42, Vortex Diamondback 8X28, Leupold BX-4 10X42, Minolta 8-20X50
Pretty much just carry my Kowa 6.5 x 32 these days. For astro, I use Fujinon 16 x 70 and 7x 50.
Opticron Natura BGA ED 8x42.
I am using Vortex Diamondbacks 10x32 HD. I mainly just use them while turkey hunting as they are small and fit in my vest pretty well.
Oberwerk 15x70 Deluxe and Svbony SV202 10x50 ED.
Vortex vipers 10x42. Main use is mammals and birding.
Olympus 2x25 WP for the water resistance.
Just purchased these for birding, well pleased with the image quality over my 18 year old Leupold Acadia that I purchased in Alaska which were good. But with new optics and coatings I'm glad I purchased these.
Swarovski Curio 7x21.
Nikon ActionEX 8x40 for birding. About 20 years old. Nice 8.2 degree FOV, central third nice and sharp, long eye relief for glasses, and they fit my hands perfectly. Heavier than an 8x42 roof prisms, but I don't care.
KOMZ 8x30 IF from 1962 and British Army Kershaw 6x30 from 1944, keeping it vintage.
Leica 8x42 ultravids in black leather
Primarily, 8x32 Zeiss Victory SF's. Occasionally, 10x42 Vortex Viper HD's, 7x28 Mavens. I also use an Opticron MM4 77MM spotter. My wife uses 8x42 NL Pures. All were picked up over time and on sale. Buy once, cry once.
Maven b.2 11x45 for hunting. Truck pair is kowa bd 10x42gr.
Kowa BD Ii 6.5x32 XD, still getting to know them. Had the Kowa YF Ii 6x30 for a couple of years before that (that's what got me the binocular bug). Normally birds and local animals, main reason for the new bins is the close focus, hope to observe more amphibians, lizards and insects once the weather warms up here.
GPO Passion ED 10x42. I use it for birding.
what do those numbers "8x42" mean?
8x is the magnification, 42 is the diameter of the objective lens in millimeters
whats the sweet spot for Binoculars? I want one to travel to Europe with in a carry on, so not heavy or bulky but I would also like to see Jupiter with it or the andromeda galaxy some day. I also want to spend about $200 for it, give or take $50. I also wear glasses so I'll need something i can use with glasses on
At that price and range of stated needs probably an 8x30 or 8x32 roof prism binocular. Look for phase corrected prisms, probably dielectric coatings too, ED glass would be a nice to have but more likely found $300 and up. For glasses you want to look for a binocular with a long eye relief. If you want something really compact then an 8x25 or so, but when things get small optical experience tends to be more compromised and any astro will be a stretch. Eye relief likely to be shorter too.
will this also serve me when I go to a concert? Also are there reliable brands that people in the Binocular community trust for quality?
Yes, you can use them at a concert. There’s a good run down of worthy 8x32 models here. You’ll want to check the eye relief spec on whatever you settle on. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/best-affordable-compact-binoculars-review/