I looked at two Barska Atlantic 10x42 $70. One of the board members here, Bawko, says that they are excellent for the money. They did not seem to me. In fact, they are as bad as it gets. They are very dim and i had a tough time seing the resolution chart. Next to them, a Nikon 7x35 porro appeared as if someone had opened my eyes.
Make sure that you try them before you buy them, i don't suggest ordering them sight unseen, and lower your expectations as much as you can. Better still, get a $50 porro model.
Or you can get the same thing at WalMart for 30 dollars, Bushnell
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=55039
slightly dim and pretty much the same view edge to edge, almost in focus. Well, there was a slightly less blurrry sweet spot in the middle.
I propose a scale for binoculars
1. really good
2. OK, Nikon Monarch level
3. bad for experts, almost OK for beginners
4. poor for everyone
Nice scale Tero but you know how some folks hate assigning rating numbers to binoculars. I like the idea though. :-)
Luca,
My experience with them pretty much mirrors your own. I found the few pairs I looked through fairly dim and with poor quality control. The Leupold Yosemites at $90 offer a much better image. Even the Bushnell 8x42 Powerview roofs seemed better optically.