I would always consider:
1. depreciation; e.g. A swaro / leica / zeiss (in that order) depreciates less than a nikon, vortex, leupold.
e.g. if you buy a Swaro CL 8x30 for 1200 dollar, you can probably sell it for around 900 euro in 2 years from now. Just saying that the risk buying isn't as great as the total price, you would have paid 150 dollar /year.
If you buy a 500 dollar vortex or leupold, chances are you won't sell it for more than half after 2 years so that would set you back 125 dollar/year. So the depreciation is almost as high and thus the true cost is not much different. The Swaro will depreciate more over the years, but there will always be some value e.g. you will always get 4-500 dollar for them even in 10 years. The vortex of leupold on the other hand can depreciate close to zero, especially when armour gets worn (with Swaro you would be able to give them fresh armor before selling, often at no cost).
2. frequency of use; The more you use them (e.g. on a daily basis), the more picky I would be with regards to the quality / ease of the view, handling, focuser,...
If you buy a very expensive binocular and you hardly use it, I feel it's a bit a waste of spending money. On the other hand, it probably won't look like it has been used so again here, depreciation will be low. But it would be a shame to go cheap and spend hours looking through inferior glass or noticing that the focus wheel has some play after a short time. The question is, and this is personal: do you really value the difference between e.g. a Nikon M7 and a Swarovision? Some people do, some people don't. Don't buy an expensive bin out of vanity (= the human disease).
3. life time; Maybe a bit open for discussion, but some binoculars last longer than others. I heard good things of Zeiss Conquest but can't really think of that many binoculars who e.g. don't last more than 5 years.
So if you buy a binocular with good reviews about build quality, and it lasts e.g. 15 years, compared to a binocular for half the price that lasts 7.5 years... You get the idea. It's all about true cost, the (difference in) quality you perceive and can appreciate...
Just some food for thought.
ps:
If I would have a 5-800 budget, I would either try to stretch it to a Zeiss Conquest (but probably not even a need to stretch it), Nikon MHG (but Monarch 7 already would do within your budget), or a Leica Trinovid. Also nothing wrong with Swaro CL 8x30 for example, but I would prefer a 8x42 configuration.
But on the other hand, if you have a good feeling with e.g. the Vortex: just go for it. There are a zillion people (and bird guides, especially in the Americas) who use a Vortex and I never hear them complaining they don't find a bird for their clients who are all equipped with Swarovski Pure and need a laser pointer or they wouldn't see the bird.
Not clear whether you share your daughter's enthusiasm for the Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42 and Leupold BX-2 10x42? I think you're suggesting (although without the benefit of a side by side comparison) your daughter did
not prefer the Nikon Monarch 5 10x42 (old style?) or even the Monarch M7 8x42 but maybe you did? Perhaps her preferences are weighted very heavily by ergonomics like here :
You've already shown some (potentially expensive 🤑) discernment by rejecting the Nikon Prostaff P3 10x42 and preferring the clarity of the Kowa BD II XD 8x42 over the Vortex Viper HD 10x42; though some of the latter could be down to the higher magnification on the Vortex model. I guess you've already been alerted to the perils of buying sight unseen by the strap lugs on the Kowa though I suppose there's a chance you could adapt your hold.
For me that's progress and justification for a little reward 🍷...
Hi Norm,
It's highly likely my daughter will go for one of the ones she tested in person at Bass Pro, despite the recent gift of $800. I don't know how much gear she'll need to carry in the field observing primates in the forest (including fast moving gibbons), but she wants to upgrade from the 8x10 or 10x20 recommended by her professor and wear a harness instead. That way she can double duty with bird, insects, etc.
1. Vortex Diamondback HD $239 8x42. 21.8 oz. 393' & 7.5° FOV. Close focus: 5'. 17mm eye relief. 5.25 exit pupil. Lifetime warranty.
2. Leupold BX-2 Alpine 10x42 $249.99 (no HD to try). 28 oz! FOV: 342' & 6.5°. 13.4' close focus. 15mm eye relief. 4.2 exit pupil. Lifetime warranty.
Plus, we'll get BassPro's 2 yr guarantee: trade in for another pair if dissatisfied or a gift card for the price paid. You pay any difference for the new pair.
I didn't dislike her BP choices.
She still preferred the above vs. the 8x42 M7 & 10x42 M5 we tried elsewhere in bright daylight.
As she won't be able to do a hands on, she'll probably go to BP. I'm beginning to frustrate her with my need to get her something I perceive might be better. You'd think after her last experience with cheap household binos taken on her prior research trip to Kenya (baboons, but she switched to reptiles and snakes in the field) that she'd want the best she could get. And, yes, ergonomics and the tactile component cannot be discounted. Granted, the bonus money came after our BP trip.
*I greatly appreciate all the advice and recommendations for better binos for her from everyone. And for me! I did research each one suggested and read all the links.
Our trips overlap, so we need two pairs.
It's the binos for my trip to Botswana's Okazango Delta & Zimbabwe with dawn, dusk & day safaris on land, boat and canoe. I'm the one who always likes to have hands on. Even more after I discovered the 8x42 Kowa BD2 ll had strap lugs in an awkward spot for me. The optics were great for this newbie. I was hoping to stay in that price range. I seem to have gone down the rabbit hole. Can I afford the MHG? Yes, but do I need them? I'm not anticipating selling so resale depreciation isn’t a concern. We'd probably keep them forever. I didn’t realize the new tech binos had a shorter lifespan.
My options are sight unseen unless I want to go all the way to NYC which isn’t practical. The store, Focus Camera, where I requested to try the warehouse stored Kowa BD2 II doesn’t have the MHG on their site. I'm not sure if they'd be willing to order it and I'd feel compelled to buy it there (full MSRP) if I liked it. They only have deliveries on Fridays and I don't know which is their "primary" shipping store. Should I use an online store with a good return policy and try two binoculars? If so, other than the MHG, what should I get? Store/Vendor recommendations?
My other big issue is the time crunch. I had no idea this search was going to be its own journey. I leave June 15th.