Good binocular discussion. Here is another perspective.

I just had my expensive binoculars stolen from my locked car in Seattle.
Several years ago, I capsized in a canoe, and ruined other binoculars. And
then there are the couple of binoculars that were permanently fogged up, or
disastrously out of alignment. So the point is this...

Either buy binoculars with extraordinary warranty service (and spend the
megabucks to get that), or buy binoculars that are in the $300-$400 range
(and know that you may be replacing them in a few years.)

At this point, I think the no-fault warranty may be the way to go.

Ken Wilson
Port Townsend
kenw at cablespeed.com