Hawke Frontier ED X Gen 2 10x42 vs Hawke Frontier ED X Gen 2 8x42
Quick take: The Hawke Frontier ED X Gen 2 8x42 costs $10 less; the Hawke Frontier ED X Gen 2 10x42 reaches farther (10x vs 8x); the Hawke Frontier ED X Gen 2 8x42 has a wider field of view (426 vs 367 ft @ 1000 yds).
Field of view, to scale
Top-down view · drawn to true scale — no exaggeration
Which one to buy
Ten dollars and one magnification step separate Hawke's two Gen 2 Frontier ED X models, both released in July 2026 with field flatteners, lanthanum ocular glass and dielectric-coated prisms in a magnesium body. Close focus is 4.9 ft on both. So the choice comes down to how you bird.
The Hawke Frontier ED X Gen 2 8x42 is the more forgiving one: 426 ft at 1000 yards against 367, a 5.3mm exit pupil against 4.2mm, and 22mm of eye relief against 18mm. That makes it easier to find birds in cover, brighter at dusk and kinder to glasses wearers. The Hawke Frontier ED X Gen 2 10x42 is slightly lighter, 26.6 oz to 27.9, and gives you reach for raptors, shorebirds and open country.
For a first or only binocular in woodland or mixed habitat, the 8x42 is the safer choice. Next to a wide 8x you already own, the 10x42 makes a good complement, and its 18mm of eye relief is still a generous figure.
Hawke Frontier ED X Gen 2 10x42
For open country, raptors and shorelines, where 10x reach matters more than field width; it is also the lighter of the pair.
Hawke Frontier ED X Gen 2 8x42
The safer first or only binocular: wider, brighter at dusk, and with 22mm of eye relief for glasses wearers.
| Spec | Hawke Frontier ED X Gen 2 10x42 | Hawke Frontier ED X Gen 2 8x42 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$619 | ~$609 |
| Use case | Birding | Birding |
| Magnification | 10x | 8x |
| Objective | 42mm | 42mm |
| Exit pupil | 4.2mm | 5.3mm |
| Field of view | 367 ft @ 1000 yds | 426 ft @ 1000 yds |
| Eye relief | 18mm | 22mm |
| Close focus | 4.9 ft | 4.9 ft |
| Prism | Roof | Roof |
| Glass | ED | ED |
| Coating | Fully Multi-Coated | Fully Multi-Coated |
| Weight | 26.6 oz | 27.9 oz |
| Dimensions | 5.9 x 5.0 in | 6.1 x 5.0 in |
| Warranty | Lifetime | Lifetime |
Feature comparison
Hawke Frontier ED X Gen 2 10x42
- ✓ED Glass
- ✓Phase-Corrected
- ✓Dielectric Coating
- ✓Waterproof
- ✓Fogproof
- ✗Image Stabilized
- ✗Tripod Adaptable
- ✓Magnesium Body
- ✗Locking Diopter
Hawke Frontier ED X Gen 2 8x42
- ✓ED Glass
- ✓Phase-Corrected
- ✓Dielectric Coating
- ✓Waterproof
- ✓Fogproof
- ✗Image Stabilized
- ✗Tripod Adaptable
- ✓Magnesium Body
- ✗Locking Diopter
Hawke Frontier ED X Gen 2 10x42 vs Hawke Frontier ED X Gen 2 8x42: common questions
Should I get the Hawke Frontier ED X Gen 2 8x42 or 10x42 for woodland birding?▾
The 8x42. Its 426 ft field against 367 ft and its 5.3mm exit pupil against 4.2mm make it easier to find birds in cover and brighter under a canopy, and both models focus down to the same 4.9 ft.
Do the Hawke Frontier ED X Gen 2 8x42 and 10x42 use the same optics?▾
Both have ED glass, field flatteners, lanthanum ocular glass and dielectric-coated, phase-corrected prisms in a magnesium chassis, under the same no-fault lifetime warranty. They differ in magnification, field of view, exit pupil, eye relief and weight.