need advice for all around bino

My sister wants a pair of binoculars for all around use. Small & light are important (for travel), but she will use them to watch college football, her Ensign daughter on a ship, a little back yard birding, some ocean viewing from a hotel. Would like to stay under $500.00

Look at the vortex line, like the diamonbacks. Leupold makes several that would be good options such as the cascades and mojaves. The nikon monarchs are a good options. Good luck

Take a look at the Swift Eaglet 7x36.  They are around $410.  Be sure you get the current production with the CFT (cold fusion technology) prisms.  Be real careful of sales deals.  That glass has been around for over 20 years and there are still evidently some older versions around.  It is small and has a very nice easy on the eyes image.  The image is simply great

Edited by Klamath - June/04/2009 at 10:58

I would advice her not to buy binoculars with a diameter higher than 20mm or 25mm. From previous experiences with girls, I know they hate having to carry big binos with them around.
There some pretty hard core binoculars of that size that , considering the line of use, will not dissapoint her at all:

Swarovski Habicht 8x20 ( I myself own a pair and they are absolutely fantastic, better than many of the 8x42, 10x42, 8x30, 8x32 that I used previously). Very crisp image, good field of view, comfortable eye relief and very small and easy to carry around everywhere.
Leica Trinovid 8x20 basically in the same class as Swarovski
Zeiss Victory 8x20

These can be bought second hand, at really good prices. She won't need anything better than that.

Well, she ordered the Vortex Viper in a 8 x 32. Plans to try them out at an Eric Clapton concert.

My sister and I just test drove the 8 x 32 Vortex Vipers. Just great. She was quite impressed when looking at flowers ten feet away. Very nice product in my view.

Told you LOL