I regularly put corn out in our backyard just for the wildlife so I look through my optics almost every day. Recently, I borrowed my Nikon Monarchs to my sister for a few months (they are perhaps 5 or 6 years old). It was a nice excuse to buy a new pair of optics. I chose these based on the positive reviews, the fact that they are US made and come with a good warranty. I just recently got my Nikons back from my sister. I was surprised at the difference. I purchased the Nikon set for around $300 (and that was over 5 years ago). My new Vortex optics are noticeably crisper. They also seem to bring out colors better. Overall, I'm very happy with these especially for the price point. I'll probably have to throw my Nikons in the car so they get some use. Otherwise they'll probably just sit on the shelf. I will definitely consider buying Vortex in the future.