Selecting a 10x pair.

I'm trying to narrow down the choices on 10x binoculars. My priorities in order are:

1) Price range < $400
2) Image quality
3) Field of view
4) low light
5) use with eyeglasses
6) Weight
7) size

After reading the posts here I am considering the following
1) Nikon Action Extreme 10 x 50
2) Kowa 10x42
3) Bushnell Legend 10x42
4) Pentax SP 10x43

To go beyond this price range would be hard to justify. Please provide any advice you might have on the choices above, or any competitors.

thanks

Hi

Unless you need to save money, I would move past the Nikon Action Extreme. It is a good binocular for the money, but it is a Chinese made porro prism and not directly comparable to the other three, all of which are Japanese made roof prisms (harder to find these days).

The Kowa, Bushnell Legend and Pentax DCF SP are all excellent binos.

The Legend is a bit heavy for a 10x42 roof prism these days at about 30 oz (29+). The Kowa is lighter at 26 oz and the Pentax lighter still at 24.3 oz.

All are good optically, but Pentax gets a slight edge over the other two. After all, it is their best model, but not inexpensive at $649.

A more direct comparison would be the lower priced Pentax 10x42 DCF HR, http://www.opticsplanet.com/pentax-10x42-dcf-hrii.html priced at $250.80. The optical difference between the three then becomes much less obvious. If I had to pick one, then, it would be the Kowa for its usual excellent Kowa construction.