Best Binoculars

Experienced binocular users will tell you to purchase the best binoculars you can afford, based on the use of the binoculars. There is a long list of people who use all types, designs, and brands of binoculars. To name a few: birders, law enforcement personnel, military, the casual recreational user, private investigators, hunters, boating enthusiasts, outdoor specialists, park rangers, sport enthusiasts, and many others. 

If brand name is important to you and budget isn't a constraining factor, then the higher-end binoculars are manufactured by Zeiss, Leica, and Swarovski. The latter two mentioned can usually be located at a gun, hunting, camera or outdoor specialty store without too much trouble. Sometimes discontinued lines or older lines from these leaders in optical equipment can be purchased for a lot less money, while retaining excellent quality. 

Astronomy buffs would be familiar with the Fujinon 25x150mm MT-SX, ED_SX, and EM-SX Binoculars. These are touted as "the undisputed king of binocular astronomy". They are the largest and finest made binoculars in the world. Each prism and lens has Electron Beam Coating, which gives the user the brightest image possible. Prices for the models mentioned above range from $6,600 to $16,500. 

The Miyauchi 26x100 "Galaxy" bj-iCE APO Binocular is one of the best pairs of binoculars in the world. Features include: 

 Relatively compact design

 37x magnification

 45 degree angle for vertical viewing

 Upgradeable eyepieces

 Strong color correction

 Simple mounts 

This particular model is on the expensive side (a bit over $5,000), but promises to give you years of enjoyment. 

The choice made on what to spend is really based on the law of diminishing returns. If you pay twice the price for a design that is maybe 10% optically, is that worth the extra investment? Not only are you paying for the brand name, but also for construction quality, features, and warranty costs. 

Prior to purchasing a pair of binoculars, make sure to look at all the options available. Visit a few online forums and ask questions once you've conducted some research on specific brands or styles. If you are interested in birding, visit a birding forum. There are forums for discussing topics of night vision binoculars, hunting binoculars, binoculars best suited for astronomy, and several others. 

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