optics
Different needs for different folks. That's why they have as many options out there as they do. Whether it be close range, far ranges, old eyes, young eyes, and then of course ......budget!
Most people who have been around the block a time or two, will tell you to buy the best pair you can afford, and rightly so, as this is a huge long term investment into all your future hunting activities.
if you hunt bush country only, a set of lower power optics are ideal. Mountain and prairie hunts often require a higher power to pick things out at long range. To get the best quality light gathering, divide the big lens by the small lens and get the biggest number you can: 50/10=5. Way better than a 56/15=3.7 (meaning a 10x50 bino should be better at light gathering than a 15x56)
It's not all about power, but light gathering, clarity (is the view in the glass clear right to the edges), and the quality of lens coatings. For myself, I had a huge education with optics in low light conditions. During the last half hour of light, a top name brand was useless beside a good pair of swarovski. Sometimes that last ten minutes of the day is critical.
The older I get, the tougher to hold the high power 10x glasses steady for longer viewing. I recently went to 8x (already miss the higher power, but easier to hold).
When it comes to economics. I have seen some pretty incredible glasses in the mid price range. The glass used in many brands are now coming out of the same labs, so the field of quality is becoming more narrow. Dont eliminate names like pentax, nikon, and even bushnell has really picked up a notch in the quality department. Luepold is ever popular and has been producing lower price options, but "you get what you pay for". And, one thing you do get with your money when buying Luepold, is some of the best service in warranty in the field.
If you cant afford swaro's and still want to look at some high-quality european models, check out names like meopta and khales. (I recently let a pair of 8x42 kahles slip by that I know I will regret, but how many binos does a guy really need?)
I would say the pair of Nikons you mentioned in your post would likely be a great pair of binos to get you going. I have looked through enough Nikon glasses and spotters at the range to know a quality glass. If something happened to my swarovskis , and I had to borrow a pair for a few days, Nikons would certainly make me feel confident in what I was carrying. I cant speak for their service department, but have never heard of anyone sending them back for anything.
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