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Message: <blockquote data-quote="mfunnell" data-source="post: 3472274" data-attributes="member: 134332">I see this whole thing (price versus optical improvement) as something of a logrithmic progression, sort of like this<*>:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">US$30 binoculars<**> probably aren't worth having (I can't see a decent roof bin being manufactured, distributed and sold for this amount).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">US$60 binoculars might be worth having.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">US$125 binoculars are almost certainly worth having.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">US$250 binoculars are probably 50% better<***> than $125 binoculars.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">US$500 binoculars are probably 25% better than $250 binoculars.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">US$1,000 binoculars are probably 12% better than $500 binoculars.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">US$2,000 binoculars are probably 6% better than $1,000 binoculars.</li> </ul><*> Dont' hold me to the numbers - I'm not claiming accuracy; estimation is the name of the game here<**> For roof bins; halve the $ figures for porros and also adjust for format (the larger the objective the higher the price; all else being equal)<***> "Better" being partly objective; but quite subjective as well - "better" for you might not be the same for me, but my guess is it averages outAs to value, well, that's up to you. Would you pay $1,000 extra (double the price) for a 6% improvement? Some would, some wouldn't - but I think we might all agree that it's harder to justify as the price goes up. It seems easier to justify an extra $125 for a 50% improvement than it is an extra $1,000 for a 6% improvement - at least it sure is for me. (Note: harder to justify doesn't mean I haven't done it.)The other thing to look for when calculating value-for-money is whether something is above or below the curve. If it's above (as reports suggest something like, say, the 8x42 Tract Toric is - $900 performance for $650) then it's a bit of a bargin, while something below the curve would be a bit of a dud, even if it's otherwise a perfectly fine binocular (ie. fine but overpriced).Don't know if that makes sense to others, but it's roughly how I think about it.   ...MikeP.S. See the graph in <a href="http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=3470124&postcount=34" target="_blank">Post #34</a></blockquote>

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