most people can handle 8X, many can handle 10X, a few can handle 12X. Borrow a pair and see how long you can use each power before your eye balls pop out and roll down the hill. By all accounts variable power binos are worthless. Leupolds are always good. I have steiner predators 12X I like them alot, one feature I like is that they are constant focus, you dont refocus them every time you change distance. basically the more you spend the better you get, in every price range its a matter of personal taste, find the ones you like then hunt for a good deal.