I too was always buying cheap Bushnell and Tasco Binocs and April of 2002, I bought my last pair. (for a while anyway) I bought a pair of Wind River 10x42's. I was so amazed at the difference!!! My next pair will be a pair of Swarovski 7x32's I believe is the numbers. I will get these after I finish paying a few things off, as that $1000 price tag is quite hefty right now, lol. I just want something that is a little lighter to hunt way back in, but that still offers me at least 4mm of exit pupil.

EDIT: The binocs are the 8x32 EL's