Recommendation for compact binocular?

[pacyew]

After 15 years my old 10x25 Zeiss compacts have just about hit the end of their road. When new, I figured that these were about the best available, but optics have come a long way since the 1980's. I looked through some very moderately price compact glass that matches what you used to pay a lot for.

What do you folks recommend for a good buy on new compact binos? Thanks for you input!

[chep]

Does anyone have anything to say about experiences with image stablilizer models?

[pacyew]

I had a chance to play with a pair of the Zeiss offering in 20X and I thought it was pretty amazing. The best thing to do would be to visit a store and play with their stock. Sportsmen's Warehouse may have some, and when the Thurston county Cabelas opens, I certain they'll have some on hand.

I've played around with higher powered glasses for a while, 10x and up, and what has worked for an all around for me have been th every light, 9 ounce, 10x25 Zeiss mention above. They are so light that when I press them lightly against my eye sockets, they steady right out, just as if they were a part of me. It probably what I'll replace my old one with. And they really still work fine, just a little tatered after 17 years in the field.

I've found optics one area where it always pays to buy maybe even a little above what you think you can afford. The best glasses are hard to wear out, even in the compact sizes. They can then be thought of as a lifetime investment.

[bobcat]

pacyew, what will be the purpose of these binos? If for serious hunting, I would say you would be much better off with full size, rather than a compct model. At the minimum, a 8x32, and better yet an 8x42 or 10x42. Look at Nikon or Pentax. Look at the models that are priced right around $300. (minimum) Of course if you want to spend more money, you can't go wrong with Zeiss, Swarovski, or Leica.

[pacyew]

pacyew, what will be the purpose of these binos? If for serious hunting, I would say you would be much better off with full size, rather than a compct model. At the minimum, a 8x32, and better yet an 8x42 or 10x42. Look at Nikon or Pentax. Look at the models that are priced right around $300. (minimum) Of course if you want to spend more money, you can't go wrong with Zeiss, Swarovski, or Leica.

Thanks Bobcat. Your right, nothing in the compact glass can beat the optics of the top quality full sized glasses you've listed. What I've found, however, for my own use my little 10x25's Zeiss have come to really "fill the bill" as to what I've needed for the bowhunting I'm fixed on.What I'll probably do is try to find another pair just like my current ones, but in new cond.

[boneaddict]

I am so old school it is scary.  I use the big 10x50 Bushnells that cost about $50.  There is nothing compact about them, but I'm the size of a house.  I wear glasses now, so that really helps with that.  Then last year when I took my girls shedding and was helping them into the truck I set them on the bed and drove off and dumped them on the road somewhere(the binos, not the girls, or my wife REALLY would have been pissed).  That was sure nice buying a new pair @ $50 instead of those $1200 Swarovskys that I want.  The year before that I was packing a buck out of the pasayten and my binos got put in the pack and the mule took them out on a pine tree on the way home.  Dang, that was another $50.  Sooooooo...until I grow up, I will use lieca glass in my camera, and keep carrying thes hawg glasses around. :

[jackelope]

I use the same $50 bushnells...work well with glasses. i think they work fine for  me.

[pacyew]

The glasses I look through more than any others are my old 7X50 Bausch & Lomb "Bureau of Ships" Navy watch glasses. They live in my barn/workshop at are used to watch the coyotes and other critters out my shop window. They're the ones that ride around in my veihicles and see more daily than any others I've owned. Good glasses too. $30.00 at a gun show years back.

[chep]

I have Barska $19.99 Not sure I recommend it but it's cheapo.

[boneaddict]

Cost-co has some decent compact binos for a reasonable cost.  Again, I think they are bushnells of some sort.  I bought three, one for each daughter to get them interested.  I'm not sure if they ever see anything or not.

[chep]

Buying toys in triplicate must get expensive fast.

[boneaddict]

Compared to the three weddings and the three college educations I will most likely be funding, its all relative. 

[jackelope]

I'm not sure if they ever see anything or not.

we took my buddy's 7 yr old with us this year and gave him a little set of bino's to keep him occupied...i was amazed at how many deer(rocks) he saw.

[Dman]

 I just bought an 8x42 Leupold Wind River Cascade and am totally impressed with it. Light, compact and can spot a flea on a horses arse from a mile... I compared it when I puchased to Nikon, Steiner and other Leupold models and found it to be the best overall value.

[pacyew]

Thanks, Dman!

I'll check them out!

[sisu]

I use Brunton full size and compact that I bought at a REI garage sale for $1.83 & $10.83. Don't know what was wrong with them but they work fine for my eyeballs. I did make a mistake and looked thru Pacyew's Zeiss compacts a couple of times when we were varmint hunting. GREAT optics but way beyond my wallet.

[littletoes]

Had to replace my Tasco binos a couple of years ago. Picked up a pair of Nikon 10X42's, and will never look back.

Monarch series, with the 25 year warranty. Very clear for the price-$300, give or take. I wouldn't reccamend anything smaller, nor cheaper.

For the price, the clarity is exceptional, and I would even compare them to Leica's (Which I find even clearer than Steiner's.) Plus the price is less than half.

One thing that needs to be mentioned, if you decide on one, try at least three or four pair of the same brand. This will enable you to decide that the ones you choose are on the same focal plane. That is the biggest problem with binoculars, although very rairly the very expensive brands.

That was the problem that I found with the Tasco's. I could focus them for one "range", but they would be "off" for other ranges. Just one of the clues that "something isn't rite". Pay attention to these, they just might save you some grief in the future, like sending the pair you bought=back!

Good Luck! 

[Otto1]

I get to use a pair of Swavorski 10X42 and love them. After a year or so I had to give them up and recieved a pair of 10X42 Eagles (Eagle Optics) I honestly could not tell the difference and during the winter those things are glued to my face during the day.
I will be buying me a pair for my hunt trips, I think they run in the 300 dollar range.

[shag]

For my dollar it's Nikon Monarchs in 8x42. nothing else compares IMO

CD

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

I bougth the cabelas roof prism's in 10X42 last month and i am very impressed with them. Focal plane is steady, and i really like the possitive click focus.

[HntnFsh]

OK you guys.Let me throw a curve in here.

I have never checked on compacts but....A couple years ago I did a lot of research on fullsize binos I could afford.

I ended up with a pair of carson 10x50xm.I swear you cant beat them for the $ or even a lot more $. Almost every place I looked rated them higher than the Nikon Monarchs And not as good but comparable to high end glass,They are about the same $ as Monarchs or cheaper if you look around.

Unconditional lifetime warranty.I beat the hell out of them in my truck,Messed up the twist up eye cups.Called Carson.Sent in the glasses and $12.50.A week later I had brand new glass at my door step.

[littletoes]

Had me a big 'Ol pair of military 10X50's. Awsome glass, but VERY HEAVY. So if you ask me to compare big glass to compact, or semi-compact, I would have to go with the lighter version. When you go in a ways, that weight adds up. If you are only going a short way from the truck to the stand, then by all means, full size optics are hard to beat, but they do get in the way!

I just remember that "thump, thump, thump" of those monsters bouncing off my chest as I walked in. You see, I carry my optics on my chest so they are always available, at a moments notice. I consider mine a "semi-compact", 10X42 Nikon Monarch. The true compacts are just too small for me, and don't have enough sight picture.

I know these don't have the light gathering ability of the 8 powers, but I opted for the sacrafice of that for a bit more power, theres a math formula for figuing exit pupil, but I don't think you guys want to know that...

[Intruder]

I agree w/ FOsteology.  Buy to the limit you can reasonably afford.  That being said there seem to be an awful lot of good quality stuff out there these days that you don't have to spend a grand on.  There's some super quality in binos for 300-600.  And in scopes there are some flat awesome stuff for under 300.  Check out:

- Vortex
- Sightron
- Bushnell Elite
- Millet
- Pentax

[1371Marine]

I'm really loving my steiner predator 8x30s that I got last year. Compact, lightweight, waterproof, good light transmission reasonable price. Once you focus the eyepieces to your eyes you just look where you want with no manual focusing.