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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Aquaman" data-source="post: 3461548" data-attributes="member: 137853">I bought the Bushnell H2O 8x25 after trying out numerous far more expensive options, including some of the ones already mentioned.  I just wasn't seeing superior or even equivalent optics in many of them, and the mechanicals were clearly sub-par on most models regardless of price.  In fact I saw no relation between price and optical and mechanical quality.  Factor in the desire for a compact design, and only Steiner compacts offered real competition to the very inexpensive Bushnell 8x25 in my mind.  Steiner has comfortable eyeshields in their favor, but I found the Bushells fit my hands and face better. I was rather dismayed at the poor Kowa mechanical quality.  Sloppy and overly stiff focus wheel still stands out as the major dealbreaker.  Most of the rest suffered from too narrow real fov, uncomfortable eyecups, or inferior optics (soft at best focus, or perceived sharpness but unable to resolve the fine details as well).I really did not expect Steiner and Bushnell to be the leading contenders but when I stopped looking at price tags thats what it came down to.  And I own and stongly prefer my Leica and Zeiss lenses and cameras over everthing else I've used.Tldr: try them out before committing to a purchase.  It's your eyes, hands, and face they need to match.  My Bushells don't list phase coatings on the spec sheet but in use they are remarkable.</blockquote>

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