ACtually most experts recomend the 8X as an all around power range. Unless you are using a stand or a tripod, the 12X binocs get a little shakey. I even find the 10X to be pretty shakey. remember you will be looking through them for long stretches. Ever try to hold your rifle steady with the scope cranked all the way up to 14X?
With optics, it is more a question of image quality than image size. A great pair of binocs at 8 power will show detail that a cheap pair of 12X's won't show. Not that the Monarchs are cheap!
I use a pair of German Optolyth 10x50's and although they are very nice, I am stepping down to an 8x40 pair as soon as possible because they are too shakey being held offhand.
okcmco