Recommendation for compact binocular?

[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.