Most popular
Nikon Monarch M7 8x30
- Most popular of the 10 compared
- 435 ft view, wider than the typical 428 ft
- 16.4 oz, lighter than the typical 17 oz
8x30 binoculars: 10 models compared
Ten 8x30 models in the makers' documents show a field of view from 360 to 456 ft, with a median of 428 ft and a median weight of 17 oz. All ten work out to a 3.8 mm exit pupil.
Top picks
Lightest
Nikon Monarch HG 8x30
- 435 ft view, wider than the typical 428 ft
- Lightest of the 10: 15.9 oz
- 16.2 mm eye relief, enough for glasses
Longest eye relief
Steiner M830r
- Longest eye relief of the 10: 20 mm
- Waterproof
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- Exit pupil
- 3.8 mmcalculated
- Twilight factor
- 15.5calculated
- Median field of view
- 428 ftat 1,000 yd
- Median weight
- 17 oz
Most popular 8x30 with a listing: Nikon Monarch M7 8x30
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Every 8x30 binocular in the chart
10 8x30 models, most popular first, with the best figure in each column in bold.
| Model | Maker list price | Amazon | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikon Monarch M7 8x30 | 435 ft | 15.1 mm | 6.6 ft | 16.4 oz | $500 to $1,000 | Check price on Amazon |
| Nikon Prostaff P7 8x30 | 456 ft | 15.4 mm | 8.2 ft | 17.1 oz | $200 to $500 | Check price on Amazon |
| Swarovski CL Companion 8x30 | 420 ft | 19 mm | 9.8 ft | 19 oz | $1,000 to $2,000 | Check price on Amazon |
| Nikon Prostaff P3 8x30 Lowest maker list price band | 456 ft | 15.4 mm | 8.2 ft | 16.8 oz | $100 to $200 | Check price on Amazon |
| Steiner Military-Marine 8x30 | 390 ft | 15 mm | 66 ft | 17.1 oz | $200 to $500 | Check price on Amazon |
| Nikon Monarch HG 8x30 Lightest | 435 ft | 16.2 mm | 6.6 ft | 15.9 oz | $1,000 to $2,000 | Check price on Amazon |
| Steiner Predator AF 8x30 | 360 ft | 15 mm | 10 ft | 19 oz | $200 to $500 | |
| Maven B.3 8x30 | 430 ft | 15.1 mm | 8.2 ft | 16.6 oz | $500 to $1,000 | Check price on Amazon |
| ZEISS Victory SFL 8x30 Closest focus | 426 ft | 18 mm | 4.9 ft | 16.2 oz | ||
| Steiner M830r Longest eye relief | 390 ft | 20 mm | 66 ft | 18.7 oz | $1,000 to $2,000 |
8x30 by the numbers
- Binoculars compared
- 10
- Median field of view
- 428 ft
- Field of view range
- 360 to 456 ft
- Median weight
- 17 oz
- Median eye relief
- 15.4 mm
- With 16 mm eye relief or more
- 4 of 10
- With an Amazon listing
- 7 of 10
What 8x30 is used for
The first number is magnification and the second is the objective lens diameter in millimeters, according to the National Audubon Society. An 8x30 pair magnifies eight times through 30 mm lenses. Nikon places 30 to 49 mm in its standard objective group.
The exit pupil works out to 3.8 mm, calculated from the size. Nikon says the eye's pupil opens about 2 mm in daylight, so the view stays bright by day. ZEISS says dawn use wants at least 4 mm, which puts 3.8 mm just under that line as light fades.
The RSPB recommends 7x or 8x for general and garden birdwatching, and Audubon says most birders prefer 7- or 8-power for a bright, wide field. The 3.8 mm exit pupil, 15.5 twilight factor and 14.1 relative brightness are all calculated from the size.
How the 8x30 models differ
The Nikon Prostaff P7 and the Nikon Prostaff P3 share the widest view at 456 ft. The P3 carries the lowest maker list price band, $100 to $200, while the P7 sits in $200 to $500. Both print 15.4 mm of eye relief and an 8.2 ft close focus.
The Nikon Monarch HG 8x30 is the lightest at 15.9 oz, against a median of 17 oz, and it adds ED glass with 16.2 mm of eye relief. Its maker list price band is $1,000 to $2,000.
Eye relief splits the group. The RSPB tells eyeglass wearers to look for at least 16 mm, and 4 of 10 models reach it. The Steiner M830r prints 20 mm and the ZEISS Victory SFL 8x30 prints 18 mm. The median is 15.4 mm.
Close focus runs from 4.9 ft on the ZEISS Victory SFL to a median of 8.2 ft. Three models carry ED glass, among them the Monarch HG and the Monarch M7 at 16.4 oz.
Weighing 8x30 against its neighbors
Nikon says larger objectives gather more light but add size and weight. Step up to 8x42 for a bigger exit pupil, or look at 8x32 for a nearby size. Glasses wearers can start with binoculars with long eye relief, and the exit pupil calculator shows how any size compares.
Other sizes and how 8x30 compares
- 10x42 binoculars
- 8x42 binoculars
- 10x50 binoculars
- 12x50 binoculars
- 8x32 binoculars
- 10x32 binoculars
- 10x25 binoculars
- 7x50 binoculars
- 8x25 binoculars
- 15x56 binoculars
- 10x30 binoculars
- 8x56 binoculars
- 10x26 binoculars
- 8x40 binoculars
- 10x28 binoculars
- 18x56 binoculars
- 12x25 binoculars
- 8x34 binoculars
- 10x34 binoculars
- Binocular size chart
- Best binoculars of every size
8x30 questions
What does 8x30 mean on binoculars?
8x30 means the binocular magnifies 8 times and each front lens is 30 mm across, so a subject looks 8 times closer than with the bare eye.
How bright is a 8x30 binocular?
8x30 gives an exit pupil of 3.8 mm and a twilight factor of 15.5. Nikon puts the eye's pupil at about 2 mm in daylight and 7 mm in the dark, so a larger exit pupil matters most at dusk and at night.
Which 8x30 binoculars work with glasses?
4 of the 10 8x30 models with a printed figure have 16 mm of eye relief or more, the minimum the RSPB advises for people who wear glasses. The median for the size is 15.4 mm.
Is 8x30 bright enough at dusk?
It comes close. ZEISS says dawn use wants an exit pupil of at least 4 mm, and 8x30 works out to 3.8 mm.
Which 8x30 has the widest field of view?
The Nikon Prostaff P7 and the Nikon Prostaff P3 both list 456 ft. The median across the size is 428 ft.
Do 8x30 binoculars suit eyeglass wearers?
Some do. The RSPB advises at least 16 mm of eye relief, and 4 of 10 models reach it, with the Steiner M830r at 20 mm.