I just purchased a pair of Leupold 8x42 Windriver Cascades. I spent just around $260 for them. Believe me I've owned the cheaper glasses and I think there is a good correlation between $ spent and quality of optics with probably the biggest gap being in the low end to the mid range prices. Eye relief, clarity and low light conditions sold me when I had the glasses side by side. The Cascades I purchased from Scheel's and they had glasses in all the price ranges. This allowed me to compare them all side by side. I will say this that when I put the Leupold's up against the Swarovski or other high end glasses the only difference I could see was that light gathering ability of the higher end glasses seemed to be slightly better. As far as eye relief and clarity it seemed negligible. I don't think you need to spend a fortune on the high end glasses but the more you can afford the happier you should be.