rileybassman
WKR
Keep an eye out on the classifieds - I got mine from Woodbury a few months back and they were having a sale for $1450 or so... they can be found if you shop around a little and are patient.
Second the Zeiss Conquest. Love mine.Im very happy with my Zeiss Conquest HD 10x42's. Definitely worth looking at IMO.
I would really consider these 8x42 SLC's DEMO Swarovski SLC Binocular - 8x42mm W B | Natchez
I run Zeiss Victory HT because I got a good deal, otherwise I was gonna get the SLCs just from my research and the over whelming number of users who love them.