Good compact size Binos?

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RT

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Are there any GOOD QUALITY compact/pocket size binoculars avaiable? Ive tried a couple pocket size models that were junk! I realize its tough to get a decent field of view and good glass in somthing that small, but Ive always figured it would be worth the money for a real good compact size!

Any recommendations.
 
I have the 8x,20 compact Trinovid Leitz ... I have also looked at the 7x, 26 Bushnell Customs and would definitely buy them if I was looking again!
 
Zeiss are up there. Leopold is good too. if you can afford it, go with 10x42. (eg. wind river cascade)
or compact Mesa 10x23 (although i haven't looked through these). a 10x 32 is your best bet
 
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Scott_N said:
I'm not sure if you would consider them "compact," but I have a set of 8X32 Leicas which I love. Nice glass!
Click to expand...

What kind of budget? Leica are very (VERY) nice...

Leica%20Ultravid%208X32%20HD_web.jpg


A friend had lent me his swarovski SLC... Also very nice...

popup_SLCneu%208x30%20WB.jpg



Unfortunatly, I wasn't ready to fork out that kind of $$ so I settled with Minox, the GF is using a pair of BL 8x32 and she hapy with it.

fbfa531aba.jpg


For a reason or another, nobody is making a 7x...
 
sillymike said:
What kind of budget? Leica are very (VERY) nice...

Leica%20Ultravid%208X32%20HD_web.jpg


A friend had lent me his swarovski SLC... Also very nice...

popup_SLCneu%208x30%20WB.jpg



Unfortunatly, I wasn't ready to fork out that kind of $$ so I settled with Minox, the GF is using a pair of BL 8x32 and she hapy with it.

fbfa531aba.jpg


For a reason or another, nobody is making a 7x...
Click to expand...


Mine are the Trinovids, a step down from the Ultravids, but still the nicest binocs I've ever owned.
 
compact binocs

I have a pair of Swarovski habicht 8 X30's....superb obtics but very expensive and if you are wearing them around your neck all day they are vey heavy.....
 
Trotter said:
Zeiss are up there. Leopold is good too. if you can afford it, go with 10x42. (eg. wind river cascade)
or compact Mesa 10x23 (although i haven't looked through these). a 10x 32 is your best bet
Click to expand...

Leupolds are rather low quality for the money, most guys asking about binos would like to have Leica's, but can't afford them.
Zeiss and Leica both make very good pocket binos, but the are both in excess of $500.00,
See what Cameraland has for demos right now, he is usually the best bang for the dollar.
Robinson camera in Calgary has some clearance Celestron pocket binos, 10x28 called Noble that are excellent glass for those folks that don't want to pay $500.00 for a set of Leicas. FS
 
I think that Leitz, Zeiss, Swarovski are all pretty fine bino's backed by great warranties and excellent performance. If you can afford them that's terrific.

My reservation about them isn't a case of "optics envy" cause I own examples of them all (in fact several examples) .... SO while I think that Holland & Holland make some pretty fine side by sides ... I think a lot of us are much better served by an 870 Wingmaster when sitting in the reeds waiting for the next flock of ducks...

So in my opinion the little 7x, 26 Customs are VERY good value in a compact binocular and if you lose them or bugger them another pair won't break the bank. When you chat with your friends with Leica bino's in the evening about star tests you can be pretty confident that your little 7x customs with clean lenses is performing better than their 7x32 ultravids with the inevitable great greasy thumb prints in the middle of both oculars :)
 
I bought a pair of 8x25 Bushnell's years ago
Quality was good and price wasn't bad
I thought if something happened to them I wouldn't be out a lot of money
As it turned out they got broke and I bought another

Yes other companys make better optics ,but I wouldn't want to pack them on my Quad in rough country
 
i went with a similar idea- but in 10x20- these fold up and fit nicely in an ammo pouch,and match the scope on my usual rifle- as for price dictating the quality , take it from an old lens grinder, that is no longer the case with the chinese in the picture-i've seen quality optics that were just as good if not better than brand names
 
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