I should state that I have not tried any of the binoculars in the recent Chinese-ED invasion,
so whether or not any of those may be a better choice, etc.And of course there are the porro/roof, big/small distinctions, etc.
Guess I am just talking about, "the view".
When i got mine several years ago, the focus was very stiff, and it was not really easy to get exact focus. Having several pair of binoculars, i never got around to sending them away to have this corrected.
A few weeks ago I finally did, and recently got them back. The focus improved, smooth and accurate.
With this improvement, i have now been able not only to observe their color correction, but also there resolution/sharpness.
It is hard to describe the difference between these (excepting the superior color correction), and my alpha bins (Zeiss 7x42 BGATP, Zeiss 8x30 BGATP, Leica 10x42 BA) and a pair of Swarovski 8.5 x 42 EL's I tried recently and fallen seriously into lust with
There is a certain ease of view, ease of focus, and comfort to the eye muscles with these alphas, that I have yet to see for less money in any bino's, other than the Nikon 8x32 SE. Granted, i do not have easy eyes to please. I am rather nearsighted, and have pronounced astigmatism, and have to wear eye glasses when i use binos.
Given all that, If I am now asked which binocular for general use birding, and;
If you cannot afford an alpha bino;
or
If you prefer not to pay the cost of an alpha bino;
or
You cannot find a pair of Nikno 8x32 SE's to buy, or suffer from the "blackout" problem with them;
I might simply say:
If you do not have to wear eyeglasses with binoculars, buy the Swift Audubon 8.5x44 ED.
If you have to wear eyeglasses, try them first, then buy them.