Hey guys,

I have a pair of 10x Swaros that I use out west and in more open whitetail country that I hunt, but I find they are way too much when doing close to home whitetail hunts.  I am looking for a small, lightweight glass in the 6 or 6.5x range, with the best light gathering.  Any suggestions, I have been looking at some of the Vortex optics.  Thanks, Mike

Another vote for the Leupold Green Ring "Katmai" 6x32.

Great field of view and clarity.
Only ones I use now.
Screw-in eye cups great for use old farts with glasses.  

The Leupold "Yosemite" 6x30 glasses are a bargain. I read many dozens of very positive user reviews on optical web sites and the pair I purchased have proven themselves beyond my expectations. They retail for around $125.00 and you can find them on-line for $85.00 to $100.00

Check out Nachez.com the have great prices for all kinds of optics and blinds and anything hunting.

Got a pr. of the Katmai's also this year. 6x32, great glass!

look into the zen rays, i have a pair of the zen ed2 and they are 99% as good as the swaros at the local shop (the swaros and the zen ed2s were the only binos that could pass the shingle test of a building that was quite a ways out)

If you can find a used pair of Bushnell 6x26 or 7x26 Custom Compacts, they are a very nice glass, small, light and excellent resolution.  Unfortunately, they're not made anymore.  I've also heard very good things about the Katmai 6x32, as others have already noted.

I have a set of Eagle optics platinum ranger series 6x32's. Very bright and sharp optics. But like all good things, they discontinued that series. If you can find a set, jump on them. You won't ever regret that move as they back them 100% for life.

Quality 6X glass has a pretty limited selection. Vortex, Leupold, Eagle Optics and Fujinon come to mind. If you can step up, both the Zeiss and Swaro's 7x42's are world class with very wide FOV's (400ft or so at 1000yrds) and bright glass but even discounted, they are in the $1500 range.

I have a set of Vortex 8x42 Stoke DLS's. The DLS's are in the highter end in the Vortex line and are very, very nice glasses.

JL

Vortex makes a super nice pair of glass IMO.
You can get a reasonable deal on a pair if you do some shopping.  I remember seeing a pair that was half price off, because they were used at a trade show for demonstration last year.  I can't remember the name of the dealer, but it was a camera dealer out of Florida.

I use Leupold "Yosemite" 6x and very happy with them.  Light gathering is good and their size makes them very functional.

Leupold Katmai's.  Best pair of light glass I have ever owned. Compared them to the other higher cost glass and decided on the green rings.  Better light gathering, clearer picture / view, etc.. and way cheaper!  Love them.  I actually bought two pair at the time due to the great price.

Bosch and Lomb use to make a 7x24. If you can locate a pair of these jump on them. This is the same glass Fred Asbell uses and recommends for stalking. I found mine in a pawn shop back in the 80's. You just can't beat good glass.  

I second the Bausch and Lombs 7x...better light gathering. Most glasses in the 6x range just can't gather enough light at sun up and sunset.

Bird dog,

I think (could be wrong) that the light gathering capability is much more of a functioin of the objective size, not the magnification.  So, a 6x32 glass will gather more light than a 8x32....Anyone care to chime in,

All else being equal, I agree with goose.

QuoteOriginally posted by goosespirit:
Bird dog,

I think (could be wrong) that the light gathering capability is much more of a functioin of the objective size, not the magnification.  So, a 6x32 glass will gather more light than a 8x32....Anyone care to chime in,

It's actually a function of a combination of the two.  "Light Gathering Ability" is roughly measured by the "exit pupil" which is calculated by dividing the size of the objective lens by the magnification of the optic.

Hence a 10x40 has an EP of 4mm; as does an 8x32.  These two glasses would offer roughly the same level of brightness.

A 6x30 glass would have an exit pupil of 5 which is also equivalent to an 8x40 or a 10x50. Thus they would all offer essentially the same level of brightness - and would all be brighter than the above mentioned optics sporting their 4mm EP

Of course, type of glass, build quality,lens coatings (their type, quantity, and quality), degree and quality of internal baffling, and other issues can complicate the matter somewhat but, the exit pupil is definitely the place to start when evaluating the relative brightness of any optic.

I use Leupold Yosemite's at 88 bucks a pair on line...high quality glass....work with glasses, and they work GREAT.

I've had Leicas and love them but for up close and personal stuff with a bow, these are great for back east.

And with a factor of five, its my understanding that's as much light gathering as the human eye can work with anyway.....

vortex has some great glass and the company will take care of any problems! a little high on price but i dont care to pay for quality,and they have never let me down.  

I second the 6x30 Yosemite's        I picked up a pair of them [ like new and  only $65 to my door]