Vortex bino's are way overrated and are not made by Vortex, they are sourced from china and other companies that make binos for many other companies. They do a great marketing job though because their profit margins are huge and they can afford to spend a lot on marketing and sponsoring TV show personalities and that's why so many think they are great. The 2 best optics mfgs. (that actually make their own optic (binos, scopes, spotting scopes, etc.) from raw glass, metals and part are Swarovski (Mfg. in Germany) and Meopta (Mfg. in Czech Republic). These companies make far superior glass and optics that Vortex and Meopta for instance makes all the glass on the sighting systems for all US Abrahms M-1 tanks and over 90% of all theatres in the USA use projection systems with Meopta glass. Vortex doesn't make anything so you will never see Vortex glass on anything other than Vortex sourced optics. Meopa also makes glass or parts for Leica, Zeiss, Nite Force, Leuopold, and they even sell parts to Swarovski. Meopta employs over 2,500 people in their mfg. facility and their $350 retail Optika 10X42 binos will outperform ANY other price point bino out there hands down. Their Optika series is the ONLY bino's under $600 that are made in Europe and the only ones with magnesium frames and aluminum eyecups, all others are some form of poly (plastic). They do make expensive Meostars as well that are about $1,200 and are as good as any $2,500 glass. During daylight all bino's look OK and the only way to differentiate is take them out just before dark. Good glass will be much brighter and sharp in low light.