If you could only have only ONE pair of binoculars for birding and all around use. Which one would it be? You don't have to explain why. Price is not a determining factor.
For me FIT comes before anything else. Glass I think is no longer an issue as modern binoculars are good enough. As far as power goes I am a 7 power believer. If I could keep steady a 10 power that would be it. Having said all this for me current production would be Leica Ultravid 7x42 HD perfect fit and weight.
[QUOTE=marinemaster;2095242]For me FIT comes before anything else. Glass I think is no longer an issue as modern binoculars are good enough. As far as power goes I am a 7 power believer. If I could keep steady a 10 power that would be it. Having said all this for me current production would be Leica 7x42 HD perfect fit and weight.[/QUOTE]
Have you tried the Canon IS line? Especially the Canon 10x30 IS or the Canon 10x42 L IS. I like 10x too if you can hold it steady because you can see so much more detail. For me optics come before anything else and I will put up with less than perfect ergonomics to get it. The Canon 10x42 L IS is one of my favorite binoculars now. I got a good deal on a Zeiss 8x56 FL which I get tomorrow(Which is Henry Links favorite binocular) and I think I will write up a comparison of the two called "King of the Beasts". There both heavy suckers but what a view.
I used to like 7x but I discovered I can't see as much detail with less magnification. I had the leica 7x42 BN's and they were better than the 8x32 BN's but I later found out I preferred 8x and above. I want to get up close and personal with the bird.