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It’s always hard to make the final decision between two best binoculars. When it comes to 8×25 vs. 10×25 binoculars, one can easily get confused, and end up making a wrong decision, which I don’t want to happen. This is why I am writing this detailed guide.
Which one is better: 8×25 or 10×25 binoculars? 8×25 binoculars are an affordable option that can be used for bird watching, and other activities where you need a wider field of view. 10×25 binoculars are more powerful and give you detailed visuals of the target. 10X25 is a better option because it offers better visual performance.
Before writing this guide, I talked to many outdoor enthusiasts who use binos, and bloggers who own websites and write around binoculars. So, I have got some serious information. So stay till the end, so you don’t miss anything info.
Related Article: Detailed Comparison of 10×25 and 12×25 Binoculars
What are the Differences Between 8×25 and 10×25 Binoculars?
As I said earlier, choosing between two top-notch options is always hard. Both 8×25 and 10×25 binoculars are almost the same. Their features and performance also look similar, and newbies consider them equally good.
But there are small differences in them which surely make both of them suitable for different outdoor activities. As I have said in previous guides every outdoor activity requires its specification in the binoculars.
If you’re a newbie, chances are high that you won’t consider these differences. But you will indeed feel the difference in their performance when used for outdoor activities. In the section below, I will talk about their differences which make them suitable for different activities.
1- Magnification Power
The main difference between 8×25 and 10×25 binoculars is the magnification power. I have already explained the meaning of magnification power in binoculars. The 8×25 binoculars have a magnification power of 8x.
8x magnification power simply means that you will be able to see 8 times bigger visuals of the target with your binoculars. On the other hand, 10×25 binoculars have a magnification power of 10x. This means that 10×25 binoculars will bring objects closer than 8×25 binoculars.
But the question is: which one should you choose? Look, I always prefer 10x magnification because it gives zoomed visuals. However, if you’re buying binos to view less distant objects, then 8x would be a fine option. But for me, 10x magnification is better.
In the images above, you can see that 10×25 binoculars give a very clear image of the house which is 1km away from me. On the other hand, 8×25 binoculars give decent visuals of the boat which is 165 meters away from me. In other words, I was able to see more distance with 10×25 due to better magnification power.
Winner: 10×25 binoculars are better, as they offer more detailed, or zoomed visuals.
2- Eye Relief
Eye relief refers to the distance between the eyepiece and the eye when the entire field of view is visible. I’ve already explained the eye relief in my previous guides. But, the question is which binoculars either 8×25 or 10×25 offer long eye relief.
Look, eye relief varies from model to model. It depends on which optics brand you’re going to consider, and what specification you’re going to choose. Usually, cheaper binos offer low eye relief, and expensive ones offer long eye relief.
| Product Name | Eye Relief |
| Swarovski CL Pocket 8×25 | 17mm |
| Swarovski CL Pocket 10×25 | 17mm |
| Zeiss Terra ED 8×25 | 16mm |
| Zeiss Terra ED 10×25 | 16mm |
| Nikon Travelite EX 8×25 | 14mm |
| Nikon Travelite EX 10×25 | 11.1mm |
| Olympus WP II 8×25 | 15mm |
| Olympus OP II 10×25 | 12mm |
So, if you see the table given above, you will come to know that there is no relationship between binoculars’ specification with the eye relief. Expensive, and premium binos usually come with long eye relief.
According to my personal experience, 8×25 binoculars usually come with a longer eye relief than 10×25 binoculars, which can make them more comfortable to use, especially for people who wear glasses.
Winner: 8×25 binoculars are slightly better but more practically, it’s a tie. It depends on your budget and the brand you are considering.
3- Field of View
The field of view is the width of the area visible through the binoculars. I always recommend you choose the binos that offer a wider field of view so that you can get more space to look at to spot your target.
Field of view is especially important for hunters, as they usually need more area to look at when finding the bucks. 8×25 binoculars always have a wider field of view than 10×25 binoculars, which means that they can capture a larger area in a single glance.
It is important to note that the field of view, and the magnification power of binoculars are inversely proportional to each other. 8×25 binos offer little magnification and offer a wider and better field of view.
Winner: 8×25 binoculars as they offer a wider field of view which makes them a good option for hunting.
4- Detail Resolution
For me, the detail resolution refers to the clarity and sharpness of the image seen through the binoculars. Again, the clarity, and sharpness of the visuals majorly depend on the brand and the budget you’re going to spend.
Suppose you choose 10×25 binoculars for very low pricing, and get a cheap pair, then you should not expect clarity. If you spend a handsome budget, and end up getting high-quality binos, then you will get better detail resolution in 10×25 binos.
Winner: The optical performance of binoculars depends on the brand and the quality. However, 8×25 vs. 10×25 binos, later offer better visual clarity and edge-to-edge sharpness.
5- Size and Weight
Both of these binoculars are lightweight, and compact. You won’t feel any burden while using them for an extended duration. Keep in mind that the size and weight are directly linked with the size of the objective lens.
Both 8×25, and 10×25 binoculars consist of an objective lens size of 25mm which makes them lightweight, and easy to carry. You won’t feel any difference in terms of their weight, and size.
Winner: It’s a tie as both 8×25 and 10×25 binoculars are equally sized.
6- Stability Issues
Because 10×25 binoculars have a higher magnification power, they can be more difficult to hold steady than 8×25 binoculars. But I don’t think the magnification difference of just 2x is going to make much difference.
I have used both, 8x and 10x magnification binoculars, and trust me, both give almost the same visual stability. 8×25 binos offer perfect stability, but 10×25 is also fine. But in terms of numbers, the 8×25 binos are the winner.
Winner: Both offer excellent stability and you won’t get any issues while using any of these two binoculars. However, 8×25 binos are ideal for getting perfectly stable visuals.
7- Compactness and Portability
As I have mentioned earlier, both of these binoculars consist of 25mm of objective lens size. It means that their sizes are very small or compact. It is common sense that when the size of a binocular is small, it would be lightweight.
So, both of these binoculars are lightweight, smaller, and easily portable. Both of these binoculars are famous due to their compact size. However, the 8×25 binoculars are slightly more compact and easier to carry around.
Winner: 8×25 binoculars are winners due to smaller magnifying lens sizes.
Also Read: 10×50 vs. 20×50 Binoculars: Decoding the Differences
8- Exit Pupil and Image Brightness
The exit pupil is the size of the beam of light that enters the eye from the eyepiece. Better the exit pupil, brighter and sharper would be the visuals that you see through the barrel of binoculars.
Exit pupil size of 8×25 binoculars = 3.12 mm
Exit pupil size of 8×25 binoculars = 2.5 mm
So, as you can see, the 8×25 binoculars come with bigger, and better-sized exit pupils, so you will be able to get better brightness, and sharpness while using 8×25 binos.
Winner: 8×25 binoculars are a better option in terms of exit pupil size.
9- Use in Different Lighting Conditions
The objective lens size of the binoculars determines whether your binoculars will be able to offer you excellent visuals in lowlight conditions or not. But in 8×25 vs. 10×25 binoculars, both optics have the same objective lens size of 25 mm.
When the objective lens size is the same, it finally comes to the exit pupil size. If a binocular has a better and bigger exit pupil size, then it would give decently brighter visuals in low light conditions.
8×25 binoculars have a bigger objective lens size, so you can expect slightly better visuals with these binoculars. But I would say that both of these binoculars don’t provide an optimal viewing experience.
If you aim to use the binoculars in low light conditions, then I don’t recommend you buy any of these binoculars. They have compromised objective lens size so that they don’t capture enough light to give you brighter visuals.
Winner: Tie as both of these binoculars offer decent visual quality in low-light conditions.
10- Price Comparison
According to my experience, 8×25 binoculars are less expensive than 10×25 binoculars. Keep in mind that the price usually varies depending on the brand and specific model.
If you have a tight budget, then you should consider 8×25 binoculars as they are more affordable. But you should also keep in mind that the quality, brand name, and performance of binoculars have a massive impact on the price of binoculars.
One thing I must say is that while buying binoculars, you should look for compromising quality to save some bucks. When you choose cheaper binos, then you end up getting the visuals without any sharpness, and brightness.
10×25 vs. 8×25 Size Binoculars: Which One Should You Choose?
It depends on many factors, but if you aim to use binoculars for mild usage, then 8×25 binoculars would be a nice pick as they are available at affordable prices. However, 10×25 binoculars are more powerful and offer slightly better performance than the 8×25 binoculars.
Again, both sizes (8×25 and 10×25 binoculars) have their advantages and disadvantages, and what works best for one person may not work for another. And every outdoor activity requires its specification which also has an impact on the decision.
In the section below, I am going to break down the usage of these two binoculars for different outdoor activities so that you can understand these specifications completely. Let’s go.
1- 8×25 vs 10×25 Binoculars – For Bird Watching
For bird watching, the 8×25 binoculars are usually the better choice. Why? The reason is that these binos have a wider field of view which makes it easier to track birds in flight.
The smaller magnification also means less handshake and less instability in the visuals which makes it easier to keep the image steady. However, if you need to see fine details, the 10×25 binoculars may be a better choice.
2- 10×25 vs 8×25 Binoculars For Hunting
For hunting, I highly recommend you choose the 10×25 binoculars. The reason is that they offer stronger magnification, so you will be able to track the animals or bucks from a distance. You will also be able to get fine details of your bucks by stalking far away.
3- For Nature Watching
Well, for nature watching, either size can work well depending on your needs. The 8×25 binoculars are better for wider views, while the 10×25 binoculars are better for closer views. If you plan on watching both birds and larger animals, the 8×25 binoculars would be a better choice.
4- 8×25 or 10×25 Binos For Sports Events
For sports events, I suggest you opt for 8×25. The reason is that these binoculars will allow you to get a wider field of view which means that you will be able to follow the action perfectly. It will also help you in getting details of the athlete and their move into the stadium.
5- For Stargazing
For stargazing, the 10×25 binoculars are generally preferred. They offer more magnification which will allow you to see more detail in the night sky. But one thing that I must say is that both of these binoculars are not good for stargazing or astronomy.
Both have compromised magnification power so you won’t be able to get decently focused or zoomed visuals of the target. If you’re looking to buy binos for stargazing or astronomy, I suggest you choose the higher magnification power and bigger-sized objective lens.
6- For Hiking
For hiking, the 8×25 binoculars are generally the better choice. They are lighter and more compact, making them easier to carry on long hikes. However, if you need to see fine details, the 10×25 binoculars may be a better choice.
7- For Concerts and Theater
For concerts and theater, the 8×25 binoculars are suitable because they offer a wider field of view. So, you will be able to see the entire stage and performers in one frame.
There is no hard and fast rule about which binoculars must be used for any specific outdoor activity. However, I have given you some ideas based on my own experience. If you use my recommended binos for specific events, then I can say with confidence that you will get perfect visuals.
Conclusion
I believe that I have covered everything in this detailed guide. If you’re still confused, ask your question in the comment section, and I will be quick to respond to your queries. In the end, I would say that both of these binoculars are top-notch, and their differences are very small. I am signing off now. See you with another useful guide.
I’m a passionate outdoor activist who has got special love for optics. The school studies in optical mechanics and the travelling experience has made me an expert in optics like binoculars, scopes, and other devices. Stay connected with us for in-depth knowledge!
