Which binocular magnification?

Q, from Steve: I'm having a problem deciding between the 8.5x or the 10x ELs. I live on the east coast and will be primarily using these binoculars for hunting, but will also be used when my wife and I travel. I have recently looked through the 10x at a local seller and found them to be amazing. What's interesting is that I had little issue with holding them steady, which surprised me, But, I'm still concerned about the 10x, and the ability to keep them steady in hunting situations. Aside from the FOV, what else might I be giving up if I go with the 10x? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
____________________________________________________________________________

A:

In addition to FOV, the 10x is going to be more sensitive to shake or body movement in regards to image steadiness, though it sounds like that wasn't much of a factor for you. Typically, a 10x is going to be slightly dimmer than its lower magnification equivalent. Having said that, with the quality of optics that you get with the current Swarovski EL's, the difference is brightness tends to be negligible in all but the dimmest viewing conditions. Overall, assuming you can hold the 10x steady, I would say the matter simply boils down to an issue of personal preference. Both are very user friendly and provide outstanding views. I myself own an 8.5x EL and have been very happy with it. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to email or call.