[darkgael]

I own ten pairs of binos from an inexpensive Bushnell to a Swarovski EL. The Swarovskis are marvelous and they ought to be given the investment needed.
That being said, the set that I grab more often than not as I go out is a pair of Canon IS 10X30s.
The optics are top shelf but what makes them my first choice is the IS feature. I press that little button on top next to my finger and the image stops moving. The stabilization is worth a couple of extra Xs in the magnification. When I use them at night for stars, I get an extra two magnitudes over a larger glass that is not stabilized.
If you have never tried Canon IS binos, they are worth every penny.
In addition to the Canons, I have a larger set of IS 14X40 binos by Fujinon. They were developed for marine use. They will stop an image while I am looking from a boat. They are somewhat heavier than the Canons.
Pete