Sometimes you don’t need all 10 of the Xs or all 42 of the millimeters in what’s become the standard-sized hunting binocular: the 10x42.
That configuration has landed as the default largely because it can do everything pretty well. Its 10-power magnification is powerful enough to enable you to count points on a distant elk, and its 42mm objective lens is large enough to allow an adequate amount of light to reach your eye in most hunting conditions. Its frame is portable enough for easy carrying, and it fits neatly into just about any aftermarket binocular harness.
In other words, it’s the Goldilocks of binoculars, capable of handling a number of tasks just...