If money is no object, the Swarovski's are among the best whether you chose the fullsize or pocket size. I've used both but own neither (money is an object with me).
Now you Nikon fans don't take this the wrong way, I've been a Nikon camera owner/fan for 40+ yrs, but there is a better binoc for the money, at least in the midsize roof prisms. It's the Olympus EXWP 1 (maybe II by now) 8x42 waterproof and rubber coated. I was looking for a good bino a couple yrs ago and looked at the Consumer reports test for midsize bino's and this one was very high on the list and the highest for eyeglass wearers like me. They were under $200 mailorder at the time. I've had them side by side with fullsize Swarovski's for hours and three of us, including the Swarovski's owner,...well we all agree the Swarovski's are better, but not by much. Certainly not 6-7 times better (Swar's cost 6-7 times more). My friend that has the Nikon Monarch's, who is also a lifelong Nikon camera fan went out and bought some of the Oly's after he saw mine sxs against his. Not the best, but the best buy, IMO. BTW, the Minox was rated slightly higher than the Oly's but not for eyeglass wearers, which is why I bought the Oly's.
Last edited by Chuck H; 12/12/07 01:10 AM.
