FC,
I'm like you I'm a family man on a budget,one thing diffrent I elk hunt out my back door.I know what it is like to drop some cold hard cash on something and not know what to expect.My last pair of Binoc's(8 years old) I found on the side of the road(wich was a blessing the Tasco's my folks gave me when I was 14 were getting old) they were Nikon's action series 8x42's they have been great glasses,but they are giving up the goat and getting worse.
So this year with a little tax refund I went and bought some new ones,for me the best buy was Lepoulds Wind Rivers Cascade series 10x42's.I have been using them for 3-d archery and sight seeing they are supper crisp,supper clear,will they last 50 years probaly not but by that time we can all have transplants for supper powered eye's by then.
They cost me like 320 bucks from the local store,give'em a look and see what you think.
With any one of your choices I would go with 8x42's or 10x42's max,and also get your self a bino buddy.
BBJ