Best compact binoculars

Best compact binoculars

Compact binoculars with an aperture of less than 30mm are ideal for hiking and backpacking, as well as for concerts, operas and for children (since the small size fits children's faces better). Ken Rosenberg, in the Cornell Lab review, warns against compact binoculars for birding, saying they're too dim and show too little detail. However, even bird watchers might want compact binoculars as a second pair, so as to have binoculars always handy. Some experts say that compact binoculars are quite usable for hunting. A 2005 Field & Stream review recommends 6X binoculars -- a magnification often used for compact binoculars -- for still hunting in big woods.

The Pentax Papilio 6.5x21 (*Est. $130) compact binoculars are recommended in more reviews than any others in this category, even though they're not waterproof and carry only a one-year warranty. They have a 393-foot field of view, good eye relief and weigh only 10.2 ounces. The Papilio binoculars, which are a top pick at Outdoor Life magazine, are noteworthy for their ability to focus as close as 18 inches. In an in-depth review at BetterViewDesired.com, Wayne Mones says that the Pentax binoculars focus so closely that you can actually use them as a field microscope. The author's field tests also show that the Papilio binoculars are quite suitable for birding: "They do not show the detail and brightness that I expect from birding binoculars with larger objective lenses, but I was surprised to find the image to be quite acceptable. Color fringing is a bit better than average, and there is little edge distortion." He also recommends the Papilio binoculars for travel sightseeing.

The Cornell Lab review recommends the Bushnell Custom Compact 7x26 binoculars (*Est. $330), which testers rate especially high for overall feel. They have a field of view of 363 feet and a minimum focus of seven feet. At 12 ounces, they weigh a bit more than the Pentax Papilio binoculars, but are still comfortable to carry. Like the Papilio binoculars, they're not waterproof, but the Bushnell binoculars do carry a lifetime, non-transferable warranty.

In the Birdwatching.com rating of 56 mid-priced binoculars, the top two are compact models from Leica. The Leica Ultravid Compact 8x20 (*Est. $620) and the Leica Ultravid Compact 10x25 (*Est. $680) receive close to perfect scores in all aspects tested. According to birding experts Michael and Diane Porter, the 8x20 binocular works "amazingly well" for people who wear glasses. The field of view of the 8x20 is 330 feet, 60 feet wider than that of the 10x25 model.

Hikers, campers and hunters might look for waterproof compact binoculars. Outdoor Life recommends the Zeiss Victory B T* Compact 8x20 binoculars (*Est. $500), which weigh only 7.9 ounces. The review finds the image "amazingly sharp, with excellent color fidelity and… amazingly bright." In the Cornell Lab review, the Zeiss 8x20 binoculars rank in the number eleven spot overall (very good for compact binoculars), just under the Leupold Wind River Katmai 8x32 binoculars, which are compact enough for backpacking, but weigh three times as much.

The Zeiss Victory Compact 10x25 binoculars (*Est. $500), at 8.6 ounces, are also well reviewed. In formal testing, these binoculars are ranked among the highest. They also receive good but not extensive feedback in user reviews. Reports praise the brightness of the image and the ease of use. (Note that although these are Zeiss Victory binoculars, they don't have the fluorite glass used in the latest Zeiss Victory binoculars, which don't yet come in a compact size.)

Some of the Cornell Lab testers criticize the Zeiss 8x20 binoculars, finding them awkward to handle. The same was true for the Nikon Premier LX L 8x20 (*Est. $430), which testers said had great image quality but poor ergonomics.

If you have unsteady hands or environments, consider the Canon 8x25 IS binoculars (*Est. $200). The "IS" stands for "image-stabilized," meaning the binoculars show a steady view even if you're bouncing over rough terrain, or have trouble holding binoculars because of hand shake. At 17.3 ounces (without battery), the Canon 8x25 IS are light for image-stabilization binoculars, but heavier than other compact models. The 13.5mm eye relief is borderline for eyeglass wearers.

The Canon 8x25 IS binoculars aren't waterproof or rubber-armored, and they carry only a three-year warranty, but users say they're more fun to use than most binoculars and that the image-stabilization feature works well. Canon also makes these in a 10x30 size (*Est. $325), and despite just 14.5mm of eye relief, reviews say they are comfortable for eyeglass wearers. The larger Canon IS binoculars have a narrower 315-foot field of view and can focus only as close as 18.8 feet. Nikon, Fujinon and Bushnell also make image-stabilized binoculars, but they're mostly heavier and/or more expensive, with no better eye relief.

Bushnell Legend binoculars have one special advantage often praised in reviews of hunting binoculars -- a special RainGuard coating that makes rain and snow sheet off the outer lenses; reviews say they're usable in the pouring rain. The waterproof, fogproof, roof-prism Bushnell Legend 8x42 (*Est. $230) get some good reviews, though it's easy to confuse them with a less expensive, lower-quality porro-prism Bushnell Legend binocular (shaped like a W) that are also available.

A Field & Stream review of hunting binoculars praises the roof-prism Bushnell Legend as "a rugged performer with solid optics." However, the Cornell Lab review, based on very rigorous testing, ranks them quite a bit lower than the binoculars discussed above. In fact, they're ranked in the bottom half of the binoculars tested in this price range, and the Bushnell Legend binoculars get a low rating for eyeglass-friendliness.

For kids, compact binoculars are usually the best choice. They're not only lighter and easier to hold steady, but the distance between the lenses can be adjusted to fit a child's face. Michael and Diane Porter recommend two models for kids: the Eagle Optics Triumph 8x25 Porro Prism (*Est. $70) and the Eagle Optics Energy 8x21 (*Est. $40). They praise both of these binoculars for durability, light weight and image quality. (Note that the Eagle Optics Energy binoculars do not work well for people who wear glasses.) The Porters' recommendation for the Eagle Optics Triumph 8x25 is contradicted by the Cornell Lab review, which rates the image quality as only 1.9 out of five, almost as low as the lowest-ranked economy binoculars reviewed (the Celestron Traveler 8x26 (*Est. $25)).

We found few reviews for inexpensive compact binoculars, but users at Amazon.com and Epinions.com recommend the Nikon Travelite 9x25 binoculars (*Est. $80), which weigh just under 9 ounces. The Travelite 8x25 binoculars (*Est. $75) have better eye relief than the 9x25 Nikon Travelite. Both Travelite binoculars focus closer than ten feet, use multicoated Bak-4 glass and carry the excellent Nikon warranty (25 years plus $10 "no-fault" service), but have a narrow 294-foot field of view.