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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Chosun Juan" data-source="post: 3394224" data-attributes="member: 92780">Hi again Janice   :hi:You have received lots of good and sometimes even seemingly  :cat:  conflicting and overwhelming advice!  :eek!:   The dreaded paralysis by analysis can't be too far away ......  |:S|Us folks here are sifting through what you have said your requirements and useage will be and pretty much guessing the rest!  :-OTo summarise: what I think I heard you thought you say!  <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" />  was .....* Having cataracts mean that maximum brightness, contrast, glare control, clarity and resolution are paramount* You want a generalist useage bin, but are thinking higher magnifications?* Eyeglasses mean that good Eye Relief (ER) is important* You want low weight, big Field of View (Fov) for a given format* Your budget is up to $800 for something top notch and worth it, but would prefer to spend half of that ......  First up, your current format bin (12x50) has a 4.2mm Exit Pupil (EP). A better 50mm objective bin seems out of your budget range, or would be too compromised (narrow Fov etc), so a new 10x42 bin won't be any brighter, save if it is very high quality. A new 8x42 bin will offer a 5.2mm EP and thus maintain its brightness when under canopies, peering into dense vegetation or shadows. A larger EP also offers more 'ease of eye placement' which is handy in snap off hand viewing situations, or tiny birds that hardly ever sit still (gee-whizzits! <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> and especially with eyeglasses on.Secondly, in general, higher magnifications are harder to hold steady and thus don't always show more detail. About 8x is the accepted maximum handheld magnification, though some are lucky enough to find good enough ergonomic fit to allow 10x .....  :cat:  The 12x36 Canon Stabilised bins David recommended are a good solution, but I think that the 3mm EP will prove too dark some of the time (for this reason I wouldn't recommend the 8x32 format either), and the ER may be too short for your glasses. I'm short-sighted so I always leave my glasses on or else I'm making like a bat and trying to locate things by sound!   3<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />More money gets you better quality, but returns diminish so that $800 is not twice as good as $400 .....I think that after distilling all of that, your choice is going to come down to the following (any of which you won't go wrong with) .....$415  Zen-Ray ED3 8X42, 422ft Fov, 16.8mm ER, 770grams  <a href="http://www.adorama.com/ZRED3843.html" target="_blank">http://www.adorama.com/ZRED3843.html</a>$506  Swift Audubon 8.5x44 ED porro, 432ft Fov, ~16mm ER, ~800grams   <a href="http://www.adorama.com/SW820ED.html" target="_blank">http://www.adorama.com/SW820ED.html</a>$580  *Leupold BX-4 McKinley HD (Gen 2) 8x42, 422ft Fov, 20mm ER, 822grams  <a href="http://cameralandny.com/spec-sheet.html?catalog" target="_blank">http://cameralandny.com/spec-sheet.html?catalog</a>[name]=Leupold-BX-4-Mckinley-HD-8x42mm--%23119281-Binoculars-and-Scopes&catalog[product_guids][0]=1116211$609  *Zen-Ray Prime HD 8x42, 422ft Fov, 20mm ER, 825grams  <a href="http://www.zen-ray.com/shop/binoculars/prime-hd/prime-hd-842.html" target="_blank">http://www.zen-ray.com/shop/binoculars/prime-hd/prime-hd-842.html</a>In a 10x I always feel you have to go to (an arguably) higher quality level .... [EDIT]  I haven't included the:-$400 Vanguard Endeavour II 10x42, 340ft Fov, 18mm ER, and 770grams   <a href="http://www.allbinos.com/279-binoculars_review-Vanguard_Endeavor_ED_II_10x42.html" target="_blank">http://www.allbinos.com/279-binoculars_review-Vanguard_Endeavor_ED_II_10x42.html</a>since it is quite lacking in transmission % (brightness) compared to the others I have listed in both formats, though is otherwise a very fine view and might be a possible budget choice ....$800 (Demo) Zeiss Conquest HD 10x42, 345ft Fov, 17mm ER, 750grams  <a href="http://cameralandny.com/spec-sheet.html?catalog" target="_blank">http://cameralandny.com/spec-sheet.html?catalog</a>[name]=Zeiss-Conquest-10x42-HD-Binoculars-%28Demo-Unit%29-Binoculars-and-Scopes&catalog[product_guids][0]=1125884I'd also throw in for consideration the lightweight magnesium and truly excellent (and Conquest HD beating) Vortex Razor HD APO which would be well worth the slight stretch in budget if you were really set on going 10x  :-$1021  Vortex Razor HD APO 10x42, 362ft Fov, 16.5mm ER, 700grams   <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/852113-REG/Vortex_RZB_2102_Razor_HD_10x42_Binocular.html" target="_blank">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/852113-REG/Vortex_RZB_2102_Razor_HD_10x42_Binocular.html</a>The more expensive ones handle glare better, the ED3 is ok, and the Swift can be so-so at challenging times, however these two have superb Chromatic Aberration (CA) or colour fringing control.  *NOTE: The Leupold McKinley and Zen Prime HD are pretty much clones of each other - black or green - take your choice!  <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />Honestly, you could be very happy with any of these binoculars. They are not heavy to hold (even the heavier ones listed here do not feel all their listed weight, and all the ones feel about the same in the hand, except the Vortex Razor HD which feels noticeably lighter). You should however, also get a sling (much faster and my favourite) or binocular harness of your choice so that you don't have 3/4 of a kilo hanging around your neck all day ....... Now, ........ VERY  Important !!  ....... you must try these before you buy, as the fit to your hands and importantly eyeglasses /eyes /facial characteristics, and optical processing /brain preferences are the most crucial thing of all.  Try all these formats /bins and see which one you like best!    Make sure you buy from a reputable retailer (as are the ones I've linked) with a good return policy. There may also be better prices around than those I've listed. Time to act now in preference to more info overload  :t:   <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />  Good luck!!Chosun   :gh:</blockquote>

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