I use a Leica 8X32B/GA for most day use, with a Zeiss 10X40B/GA from the mid-1980's as a specalizd birding or extra power glass.
For astronomy, a Docter (correct spelling; it's a German family name) 15X60B/GA. That requires some support or a knowledgeable way of holding the instrument, or the view wobbles too much. A tripod solves that, of course.
For real value for money, I like the Swift Audubon 8.5X44 roof prism glass. I think it's still made. It's quite stylish. Don't confuse it with their simlarly named Porro model.
For an all-round binocular, if you often need brightness at dawn or dusk or will do some astronomy and birding, I suspect the 8X42's are best. If you wear eyeglasses, look for the B feature, which has a higher focus point within the eyepiece, and usually, retracting eyecups.
Perhaps the single best, brightest binocular that I've owned was a Zeiss 10X56B/GA Victory. I loved it for specialized use, but it was too big and heavy to be a "basic" binocular. My son traded me out of it for a rifle and a deer head. Had anyone else asked, I wouldn't have sold or traded.
The very latest Zeiss and Leica products are very expensive, indeed. Zeiss does make a Conquest 8X30, which may be what you have. That's their economy line, but good glasses, and you do get the Zeiss name on them. I would certainly choose a Conquest over many others in that price range.
As an outdoor writer for years, I had the opportunity to try many binoculars, including most all popular brands. About a decade ago, Zeiss USA hosted me and several other scribes on a field trip to Virginia, to a remote Army base with cabins. We stayed overnight and got several meals out of the deal, as well as quarters and an opportunity to hear lectures by a Zeiss physicist (sp?) from the factory, who taught a series of classes on binocular design, including the various types of prism and the relative advantages of each. We got to compare all of the best brands, side-by-side, in several comparable models. I have also had on loan such binoculars and compared them in the field for several months.
My subjective opinion (and I present it as that) is that Zeiss and the recent/current Leicas are neck-and-neck for most comparable models,with Swarovski next in line.
It says a lot about Zeiss that they let us try all of those glasses under various lighting conditions, including astro use under very dark skies, where their ability to gather faint starlight was crucial. They knew full well that no one else could best their performance! That was the point they wanted to make, I'm sure. I doubt that any other binocular company would let a group of writers have that experience, let alone taught college-level classes explaining so many facets of binocular design and selection. (Those classes were mainly for their senior sales reps.)
You can get some excellent binoculars from Nikon and a few others, some of which, like Fujinon, I haven't seen or tried. Most Japanese makes have a range of quality, at various prices. Buy their best, and you'll probably get a good glass.
Zeiss, Leica, and Swarovski have just one basic grade: the best! BTW, examining the internals of various brands, I have found less QC variety in German and Austrian glasses than in Oriental brands. If you look through the objective lenses with a strong flashlight and look inside for flaws, like glue leaks or sloppy rubber seals or dust on the prisms, you'll see more QC variance in the Oriental brands. Some will be perfect, mind you. But overall, you are more likely to find perfection in the three Euro brands named.
I can tell you this here because I don't reveal my name. If I said this in most magazines, the editors and admen would probably never buy more of my articles or reviews. Advertisers would raise Hell. Keep in mind what I said: this is offered as my truthful subjective opinion, and I am not making empirical claims that Brand X is automatically better than Brand B, whatever they might be. But birding publications DO so rate binoculars, as do consumer mags. I've used the best and the rest, and I have more experience with a range of binoculars than almost anyone whom I know. A very few specialst optical writers have used more items than I have, but not many. One of them is/was a consultant to a major manufacturer,and has probably used more binoculars than anyone, but he's in the trade. What he's written under his real name reflects basically what I told you here. We are largely in agreement, although I've not seen him comment on Leica products.
Keep in mind that in the previous Leica Trinovid of the 1970's and '80's, the optical quality wasn't (to me) as good as on equivalent Zeiss items. They got serious and changed that in the 1990's when their new line came out. I haven't tried the current Ultravid, but imagine that they are running alongside the equivalent models of Zeiss. If I was rich, I'd sure get both and see! (I don't want to request a test glass, as the insurance and responsibility are more than I want to risk. Some of these glasses now exceed $2,000 in cost.)
If you cannot buy locally, buy a few copies of, "Astronomy", "Sky and Telescope", and the better birding magazines. Look at the ads from respectable dealers, like Christopher's in Norman, OK. Call and ask about the model you have in mind and see what they'll tell you. The New York camera dealers have a poor rep for honesty and warranty coverage. Some of their goods are probably gray market merchandise that may not be under US warranty. An honest, honorable dealer who realizes that you are a serious potential customer will often take time to answer your questions, and their warranties are valid here. They may allow exchanges if you aren't satisfied with what you got.
That's the best advice that I can give binocular buyers. Don't neglect the small monoculars for pocket carry, for daily use. And learn how to care for optics. Don't leave them in a hot car or clean the lenses with a dirty shirttail! Learn how to clean the lenses and with what. Zeiss has a cleaning kit that will serve you well, and they offer lens fluid in bottles. They may sell direct, if your dealer doesn't stock those items. Check. And read their sites! Study the features and sizes of binocular, and think how YOU will most often use that instrument.
I agree that the best basic binocular is the 8X30 or 8X32, depending on brand.
If you're a little short of money, forego buying some guns to buy a superior binocular. I have very few guns, compared to most here. But I actually use my binoculars more, and in various pursuits. To me, it matters to see a perfectly sharp edge to a Moon crater or the lashes of a squirrel's or birds' eye, precisely defined. Brightness matters. Buy accordingly. You get what you pay for. Zeiss and Leica are more than just prestigious names on the instrument. I sacrificed heavily in other areas to save up and buy my binoculars and monoculars. It was worth it.
The only difference was the IS lense. Its a technology improvement so good you need to experience it.
