Binoculars contain a number of glass lenses and prisms that perform some light bending theatrics to produce a magnified image to the viewer.
The higher the quality of the glass used to make the lenses and prisms makes for a higher quality binoculars that produce a crisp, bright image. Poorer quality optics produce darker images with lower resolution.
High quality optics are always more expensive and it seems that one can pay as much as they want for their favorite binoculars. Just check out the Swarovski Optiks Pocket Binocular, 10×25
If you want to pay full price for a full-size pair of binocs, the top of the line Zeiss 10 x 45 T* RF Victory, Water Proof Roof Prism Binocular
Way too pricy for most of us – I guess you can spend as much as you want to on your binoculars.
Another feature that speaks to the quality of binoculars are the various lens coatings. One can buy binoculars with fully coated lenses, multicoated lenses, or fully multicoated lenses. It was found that special optical coatings produced better color accuracy and improved brightness and contrast. Manufacturers have gone from using a single coating of some of the optics to having multiple special coatings for each piece. This takes more time and care at the factory, and so the more coatings the better and probably the higher price.
Get the best quality optics that you can afford and you won’t regret it. Objects will appear bright with optimal contrast and color accuracy.
So, the old adage is true where you do get what you pay for. Save up a little dough and get yourself a nice pair. The more you like the binoculars you eventually buy, the more you’ll use them. You might find yourself taking them everywhere you go.