For beginning birdwatchers, is the 8x42 or the 10x42 better?

You can see more through 10x42 binoculars than 8x42 and that is appealing to most people, including me when I got my first set of binoculars. But 8x42s are steadier and I consider that more important than a larger field of view; the bins will already highlight what you want to see - a bird. There seems to be a "thing" about shaky old people. Regardless of age, everyone shakes; Think of situations where you are standing there and don't see anything, then you see a bird and it looks like it might be an exciting find! So you race to look through your bins and find it and maybe you're also hiking and breathing hard, etc. I also run into situations where I am carrying a camera and scope, etc. and trying to hold the bins up and adjust the camera, put the scope down, etc. so I can take a peek. Any pair of binoculars you have is better to see a bird than with your naked eye and birders have all sorts of binocular preferences and work with whatever they have. But most serious birders that I know have 8x42s. Looking at skulky birds in trees in a wind can be tricky enough; it's nice to not have any shaking adding to the experience.

Why does the 8x56 cost more than the 10x56? Lens quality?

Light gathering power. The further apart the two numbers are the more light gathering power the binoculars. Both binoculars have an objective lens (the big glass up front) diameter of 56. However the magnification power is different by a factor of 2. Although the 10X56 is more powerful, the image will be dimmer in comparison to the 8X56. Also, a 10 magnification will image will be harder to steady than an 8. The 8X56 binocular will have a much brighter image, show much more detail in dusk or dim light, and will be easier to handhold.

Which is better for the stadium, the 8x42 or the 10x42?

Most 10x42 binoculars have a field of view of about 300 feet at 1000 yards. This means you just need to be over half a mile from the field and you will be able to see everything unfolding on the field, and it will appear much closer than if you looked at it from a 1000 yards with your naked eye.

How well does it work in low-light or nighttime?

These work well to magnify things but do nothing to illuminate anything. So, if you can see something in the distance with your naked eye, you could use these to see it better. What you can't see in the dark, you won't be able to see any better with these.

Exit-Pupil Diameter	4.2 Millimeters
Coating	Phase Coating
Water Resistance Level	Waterproof
Focus Type	close
Field of View	5.8 Degrees
Apparent Angle of View	5.8 Degrees
Compatible Devices	Standard photographic tripods
Zoom Ratio	10 multiplier_x
Mounting Type	Tripod Mount
Eye Relief	14 Millimeters
Prism Type	Roof Prism
Relative Brightness	17.64
Special Feature	Waterproof
Objective Lens Diameter	42 Millimeters
Magnification Maximum	10
Specific Uses For Product	Travel
Item Weight	1.75 Pounds
Size Map	Compact
Item Dimensions L x W x H	5.3"L x 4.9"W x 2"H
Material Type	Synthetic
Color	Army Green

71333 Nature DX 10x42mm Binoculars with Multi-Coated Lens, BaK-4 Prism Glass and Carry Case, Green

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