btomlin

I have narrowed my search to these 2 binoculars. I just cannot justify Swarovski or Leicas, Although I would love to have them strapped to my neck.

Which set would you go with and why?

I plan to go with the 10x42. Both have phase-corrected prisms and multi-coated(which prob. means 2. )optics. The pentaxs are more expensive than the nikons.

Jerry/Pa

btomlin, I just went through probably the same process your doing looking of Bino' s. I also narrowed it down to the same models. The Pentex seem harder to order without a 4-5 week wait. So I ordered the Moncach' s 8x42 and love them. I looked at both models a couple different times and the only thing different about them was the price. the Pentex where $100 more. Both have the exact same spec' s as what you mentioned above. I went with the 8x42' s because I wanted them more for 3-d then Hunting though I' ll use them in Wyo. in Sept. I found the 8x42' s bring in slightly more light then the 10x42' s. I also compared them to my buddies pair of Lica 10x42 and though there is a very slight difference with the Lica' s it sure wasn' t $500 difference. You' ll be impressed with the Monarch' s clarity. If your looking for long range viewing then you might be better off with the 10x42' s. But for low light conditions and clarity the 8x42' s are a better choice IMO. I bought mine off and inter-net store called Advanced Photo Source for $224 +shipping w/ a factory warrantry. Best price I could find and they where great to deal with. Good luck. JERRY

Matt / PA

I went thru the same exact thing as Jerry.........and those 2 as well as the Bushnell " Legend" were the final choices in my price range. All phase coated/corrected and nitrogen purged fully waterproof roof prism designs.

All 3 are VERY similar in specs, and image quality.........probably so close that it would take a machine to tell you one is clearer or brighter than the other. My perception was that the Pentax DCF-WP' s were the best of the 3 and that is what I went with, but I would feel comfortable owning any of these I just listed.
Like Jerry I also got the 8X42 mostly for 3D shooting but also since I hunt mostly whitetails where you don' t need anything more than 8X ,which is gonna be brighter and sharper anyway.
I believe all 3 have lifetime warranties as well.
It might be hard to get your hands on all 3 at the same time, but if you can it would help greatly........its tough to look thru one pair and then go somewhere else to look thru a different pair and then try to make a comparison.

Even though I choce the Pentax, all of these are serious quality glass for the $$.

LPD17

I agree with Matt. I am taking a trip to South Africa this August and agonized over quality optics for both me and my wife. I had a pair of lower end Bushnells I use during archery season and wanted to upgrade for glassing at greater distances. I purchased a pair of DCF WP on e-bay last fall. Trust me its worth the time to check there website. They are new in box, not factory reconditioned or anything and with the $100 rebate Pentax offered I got them for $279.00 check out there site for the other brands as well.

Vaportrail22

the monarch atb 8x42' s are awesome. i think they almost compare to swarovski' s. i didn' t notice much of a difference between the two the other day at a 3d shoot when i put both of them up to the target. The nikons are just as bright and 1/5 the price.