As in most things, it is usually wise to buy the best that you can afford. Over the years I have used binos from very inexpensive to very expensive models. I currently use Swaro 10X42 ELs, and wouldn't trade them for anything. When I finally decided to "bite the bullet" and buy a pair of glasses based upon performance to my hand & eye, vs. just cost, I looked through every pair I could get my hands on. Some were less money than the Swaro's and seemed to perform OK, but at the end of the day, nothing "fit" me as well as the Swaro's did, so I chose them. I will say that the only other glasses that came close in my comparison were other expensive high end models. They definitely stretched the budget to the breaking point, but they are such a joy to use that I have never regretted spending the money on them. When I was younger, great glass was not quite as important to me as it is now, but older eyes definitely appreciate it. I suppose another thing to consider is your hunting style and the terrain you frequent. I live out West, and most of my hunting is done in open country. I also prefer spot & stalk for big game, so I spend an awful lot of time glued to my glasses. If you hunt like I do you definitely come to appreciate the benefits of good glass. As mentioned before, the ability to pick game out that may not be possible with inferior glass, less eye fatigue, etc. Binocs come in a variety of powers, with 10X probably being the most commonly purchased. Generally speaking, the lower the power, the wider the field of view. Larger magnification that 10X can be very difficult to hold steady enough by hand, and usually require a tripod or other mechanical rest to keep the glasses steady enough for viewing. As for substituting a spotting scope for binoculars, I think that is a big mistake. Spotting scopes by nature require some mechanical support, (IE: tripod, window mount, etc) to keep them steady enough for proper use, and are primarily used to "zoom in" for details, once game has been spotted with binoculars. If you are like most hunters that own both, you will spend FAR more time behind your binos than behind your spotting scope. IMHO you would be better served to first get a pair of binoculars that suit your eye and budget well (if it were me I would either stretch the budget or wait until I could afford glasses that fit me well vs. buying a pair to "just to have them"), then later enhancing your optics with the purchase of a spotting scope. Just my .02...
