Swarovski 8x30 slc "or" 7x42 slc

[Day Dreamer]

Hey gang, Im really torn between the two. I had some 10 power that I just sold and took a loss. So my next bino must last for a loooooong time. Thanks in advance.

[Gun]

Go with the Swarovski 8x30. Great customer service! I had a pair about 22yrs. old I just sent in for repairs. They replaced them for me with a new pair. I don't think they do that all the time, but I wasn't working at the time and couldn't afford to pay the difference for the new ones and said for them to do what they could with the old pair. Next thing I know the new ones show up in the mail.

[Steve O]

Had 8x30s for a long time. They are small, handy and a good all around choice.  BUT, with 7x42s would let you see in the dark pretty much.  I'd love a pair of those.

[Bjorn]

7x42 would be a real pleasure to use all the time. 8x30 is a bit 'small' nowhere near as user friendly.

[Rooselk]

If you plan to hunt in the west you'll appreciate having 8 power. But consider this: you'll get the most light that your eye can use if dividing the size of the objective lens by the power you come up with the number 5 (for example, on a pair of 8x40 binoculars 40 divided by 8 equals 5). This is because the pupil of the human eye is 5mm. Any number above 5 is simply not useful. Anything less than 5 and your binoculars won't be as bright in low light.

If the only choice I had was 8x30 or 7x42 I would go with the latter. However, if I had other options I would go with a 8x40 or 8x42...or even a 7x35 if I wasn't going to be hunting in the west.

[Irish Archer]

I'll second what Rooselk said.

[pacopperhead]

i'd go with the 7x42slc and that is going to be my next set of swarovski's

[amar911]

I have the Swarovskis in 8x30, 10x42, 15x56 and Leicas in 8x32, 8x42, 10x42. I also have a number of other premium grade binoculars in various sizes. I have always been something of an optics nut and have lots of premium spotting scopes and other fine optics. Still, the binoculars I reach for most of the time for hunting are my Swarovski 8x30 and my Leica 8x32 because they are the best compromise of performance, size and convenience. The bigger binoculars are nice under the right conditions, but I prefer not to lug them around when I don't need to, and I don't need them most of the time.

Allan

[Stykbowslim]

I had the 8X30, 7X42 and 10X42's at the same time... I sold the 7X42's and have regretted it ever since. I absolutely loved the 7X42's and I believe there are one of the best binos on the market for hunting whitetail. With the 7's you can look "into" the shadows better then you will with the 8X30’s.

[58WINTERS]

I have the Swaro 10x42 ELC. My hunting buddy has a pair of the 7x42 SLC.  We were comparing them this year in elk camp. IMO what the 7's lost in magnification they made up for in brightness at the ranges we were glassing 200-300yds. The 7's were very very nice. I would go with them unless you have aneed for the magnification.

[amar911]

The Swarovski 8x30 binos can be purchased for just under $900 and weigh 20.8 ounces. The Swarovski 7x42 binos can be purchased for just under $1530 and weigh 33.5 ounces. The cost and weight of the 7x42 binos is well over 50% higher than the cost of the 8x30 binos. Generally I think the lower weight and bulk of the 8x30 binos is an advantage. It is only in those circumstances where light conditions are critical that the extra exit pupil of the 7x42 binos adds anything. Many people would not want to deal with the much higher weight and bulk or spend the extra $630 to get the slight benefit of low light performance, especially for the close range affair we encounter in bowhunting, but if weight, bulk and cost are immaterial, by all means get the 7x42. I have lots of binos, so I fortunately do not worry about needing to choose which binos I want until I grab a pair and head out for the hunt. If I didn't like my 8x42, 10x42 and 15x56 binos because they were too heavy, bulky or expensive (and they are, especially the Leica 10x42 Geovids with the built in range finder and the huge Swarovski 15x56 binos) I would not have purchased them. Each size and power binocular has its advantages and disadvantages. If you are sitting on a hill in the western US most of the day glassing for deer, elk, moose, sheep, etc., a good pair of 15x56 binos mounted on a tripod is very hard to beat. That is not the kind of hunting I do most of the time. There is no "best" binocular. Some good advice would be to pick the compromise that works for the kind of hunting you normally do, and then live with the shortcomings of that binocular on those less frequent hunts. Either that or follow my example and buy lots of expensive binos!    

Allan

[Elkchaser]

I have had the 8 x 30's for about 10 years now. I can't afford to have more than one pair of "quality" binos.  I carry them with a Bino-Buddy system. I put on a lot of miles here in western Montana searching for elk and my binos are with me all the way, all the time. (except this weekend, I forgot them on the kitchen counter and didn't hardly feel like I was hunting because they weren't with me). They seem like the perfect compromise of weight, power and brightness.
I've had the smaller 8 x 20 types and felt like I was really giving up low light conditions, as well as larger glasses that I didn't like to carry because of the bulk.
I really think the Bino-Buddy makes a huge difference in the carryability of your chosen glasses.
Lots of great advice on here, depending on your primary use.

[bad arrow]

Remember that binos arent just for datime use. Point them up into the MilkyWay at night around camp and you'll be blown away! The North American Nebula around Cygnus the swan and the neighboring star fields will unfortunately have you enjoying another hobby- amateur astronomy. Just remember in astronomy bigger is better... albeit more expensive- Phil

[JL]

I bought a pair of 8.5x42 EL's earlier this year. Of the two models you mentioned, I would opt for the 7x42's with the bino buddy strap system. I desire a wide field of view and I believe the 7x42's are just over 400' at 1000 yards.

It took me a long time to bring myself around to actually buying a set of Swarovski's. The first time I stepped out on my deck and viewed the trees behind my house, the first thing that came to me was "Why did I wait so long?". If you have considered buy a quality set of optics, do it. In most cases, it's a one time expenditure that will pay you back every time you look thru them.

[Stumpkiller]

You're out of my league, but I have a pair of Bushnell 8x26 WP and also a Bausch & Lomb 8x36 - both BAK-4 porro prism.  Neither are very large, but the 8X26 I take every hunt because they are just that much smaller and handier even though less optically precise.  I'm hunting woodlots and brush fields so I don't need to spend much time glassing terrain.

Surprisingly, when still-hunting in the thick brush, the 8x26 allow me to set a narrower field of focus and I slowly "sweep" an area concentrating on just what is in focus.  It is surprising how a bit of a leg, back or ear becomes obvious that was invisible to the naked eye when just looking at an expanse of brush.

I use an 18" length of 1/8" elastic cord with a hook on each end stretched across my back and clipped to the neck strap from under each arm to keep them tight to my chest when not in use but easily lifted and somewhat steadied with one hand.

[Robhood23]

If you can swing it I would got with the EL's instead of the SLC's.

[elknut1]

Hey Stumpkiller, great idea on the elastic strap, I'm going to use that idea, thanks!

  By the way, I agree, go with the EL's if possible!

  ElkNut1

[foxbo]

I have several pair of nice binos, including the swarovski EL 10x42 and SLC 8x30. Believe it or not, I usually end up carrying a pair of Eagle Optics Platinum Rangers in 6x32. I really like the 6 power in the eastern woods and I can hold them very steady. They carry a life time warranty too.

 The SLC 7x42 is a nice glass, but heavy. For that reason, I'd choose the 8x30s over the 7x42s. I've found that heavy binos get left behind more often then not.

[Hud]

Second what Rooselk said, the human eye will handle 5 mm. and that is what you get with either 8x40, or 7x35 and more is not better.

What is nice is if they are waterproof, fog proof, light and have the good optics. You can't go wrong with Swarovski, but you might be surprised at how some of the others compare and still leave some green in your wallet.