The “alpha” leaders have earned our trust over years of innovation and investment. But when 97% of the performance and longevity is available for 20% of the price ... REAL not imagined ... it has to raise eyebrows of the more rational. This is especially true when the average observer can only appreciate about 89% of those differences they claim to be able to see. The times, they are a’changin’.
Not sure about the precision of the percentages, but I generally agree.
I had not looked at roof prism binoculars for about 20-25 years until about a year ago. Back then I was primarily interested astronomy binoculars, but I wanted an 8x40. Only at the absolute high end did I find phase coated roof prisms that avoided diffraction spikes on bright stars, so I stayed with Porros.
When a friend asked for some binocular advice about a year ago, I discovered there had been somewhat of a revolution in low cost and mid-market roof prism binoculars. Just recently, my son purchased an Endeavor 8x42 that was marked down to ~$200 and in addition there was a $100 rebate. $100 for an ED, phase coated, dielectric fully multicoated 8x42? I borrowed it for an evening last month, and I thought the performance was excellent.
BTW, I do not believe in the death of the alpha--I pulled up in my 2001 Honda Odyssey next to a new Aston Martin DB9 convertible yesterday. Just think, he could have bought a Maserati at a fraction of the price .