Gregory,
    If weight is not a concern but brightness is I recommend  you consider 
10X50 bino's by any of the manufactures you listed. If you do not  already 
know, the first # 10 is the magnification and the second # 50 is the  size of 
the objective lens (the big lens you do not look through). The larger  the 
objective lens is the better light gathering capability. This along  with 
the quality of glass determines the brightness. The companies you mentioned  
all have excellent glass in their product line but they do vary so do  your 
homework before spending the kind of money to get good quality glass and  
construction. Good luck and have fun with it.
Don Stover 
 
 
In a message dated 4/27/2012 8:13:09 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
[log in to unmask] writes:

I would  appreciate any input as I attempt to "buy the best binoculars I 
can afford." I  don't really like the idea of buying Chinese so these are the 
contenders from  least to most expensive:

Zeiss Conquest 8x30 B T* (demo)
- big  gap-
Minox HG 8x33 (argon purged)
Leupold Golden Ring HD 8x42 (made in  US-- IF I can find them)
Zeiss Conquest 8x40 B T* (Abbé-Konig prisms,  demo)
Nikon Premier 8x42 (refurbished)

Close focus and weight are  not of particular concern. What I really need 
to improve is  brightness.

Thanks,
Gregory Bennett
Akron  OH

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