decent/Good compact binoculars recommendations?

[teejk]

I have always bought Nikon since the price and quality was right. CELESTRON is a brand the camera sales guy I used to buy from recommended.

10 power binoculars can be very hard to hold steady. I know have a set of Nikon 8x50 binoculars with a compass which is very nice and not too pricey. If'n I needed/wanted higher power I would look at stabilized binoculars.

Later,
Dan

Not a paid spokesperson for OpticsPlanet but the website does have a very good instructional lesson on choosing binocs. They sell several brands and they don't hawk any one of them, rather they just explain what to look for.

 

[JRobyn]

Roger on the 10x being a bit "difficult" to use, especially as I get older and shakeyer (new word). My favorite glass is an ancient pair of Bausch&Lomb 6x25 glasses made/issued by the US Navy that were given to me by an old machinist's mate. Zero coatings on the glass/prisms, so they are not the brightest, but very clear, zero edge aberrations, and the best thing - incredible depth-of-field. They require no refocusing from about 10 yards to infinity.

 

[RSKY]

Two years ago I was shopping for binocs and stopped at the Bass Pro in Mobile Alabama. We were spending a month at Gulf Shores and I had forgot mine. Told the guy who waited on me what I was looking for and that I had a blind spot in my center of vision in my right eye. He steered me towards a monocular. Then after looking at all his monoculars and deciding on a fairly expensive one he steered me toward a cheaper one that had the focus knob on top because it could be held and focused with one hand. He said all the local fishermen were getting that particular one and reported back that they used it more than their more expensive glass. Seems they could steer or hold on with one hand and look/focus with the other. I bought it and couldn't be happier with my purchase. It is called a Pursuit X and I don't know if they even sell them any more but they are my and my wife's go to looking glass.

RSKY

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I've had MANY different brands of bino's over the years, I even sold them for a time.

I've spent a lot of time in the Alaskan bush hunting for weeks at a time, hunting brown bear, moose ect.. so I got tired of cheapo bino's fogging and the bbls being out of alinement, so I bought a pair of Zeiss.

Zeiss were/are very good, but they got replaced with Swarovski binos and I never looked back!! Swaros are fantastic, but you really have to pay for it!

A couple years ago I wanted to buy a pair of binos for my wife, she really enjoys watching the birds, deer ect. here at home and was always taking my binos and adjusting them for HER eyes! so, I went out on a mission to buy HER a pair of binos and looked through many pairs for $150.00 or less.

I was amazed when I found 10x50 Leupold binos for just over $100.00, that are nearly as good as my Swaro's! They are lighter than my Swaros and a joy to use!

She absolutely loves them! and for good reason...

SR

 

[teejk]

I've had MANY different brands of bino's over the years, I even sold them for a time.

I've spent a lot of time in the Alaskan bush hunting for weeks at a time, hunting brown bear, moose ect.. so I got tired of cheapo bino's fogging and the bbls being out of alinement, so I bought a pair of Zeiss.

Zeiss were/are very good, but they got replaced with Swarovski binos and I never looked back!! Swaros are fantastic, but you really have to pay for it!

A couple years ago I wanted to buy a pair of binos for my wife, she really enjoys watching the birds, deer ect. here at home and was always taking my binos and adjusting them for HER eyes! so, I went out on a mission to buy HER a pair of binos and looked through many pairs for $150.00 or less.

I was amazed when I found 10x50 Leupold binos for just over $100.00, that are nearly as good as my Swaro's! They are lighter than my Swaros and a joy to use!

She absolutely loves them! and for good reason...

SR

Leupold has been a leader in quality mid-priced rifle scopes for years and I can guess their binocs are no exception. I think the reality is that technology has opened up the whole market.

 

[Wagtail]

I believe that 'anti-fogging' occurs if the binos are nitrogen filled. It'll be one of the features.

As I've said, a wee bit of research on the technical terms will steer you to the features you want in your eventual purchase.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I believe that 'anti-fogging' occurs if the binos are nitrogen filled. It'll be one of the features.

The problem is, in the extreme conditions I was in most of the time, the seals in the cheapo's would fail and then internal fogging would happen!

That's how I got my Swaro's, I got tired of guys not being able to see out of their cheapos, and grabbing at my Zeiss saying "let me see, let me see!

SO, I bought the Swaros and kept the Zeiss for "loners" in the bush, IF the "other guys" failed, I'd break out the Zeiss! (I didn't tell anyone I had them with me though)

BEST part is, my Swaros are worth more today than I paid for them, all those years ago! How's that for a good investment?

SR

 

[dmccarty]

Roger on the 10x being a bit "difficult" to use, especially as I get older and shakeyer (new word)...

Heck it ain't age! I first noticed this with a set of Nikon 10x50's. I was braced against an SUV trying to watch some jet skis zooming around in a no access area. Between the jet ski movement, and my hand shaking, I had a tough time seeing them. I was in my thirties and did NOT drink coffee back then! :shocked::laughing::laughing::laughing:

Still have those binoculars but they got dropped on concrete which knocked the glass out of alignment. Bought an 8x50 pair with a compass which works real well and the glass is better than the first pair. Course the old pair is 25+ years old and lens technology has improved quite a bit.

Later,
Dan

 

[disney]

... Pursuit X and I don't know if they even sell them any more but they are my and my wife's go to looking glass.

RSKY

Thank you, interesting idea.

They still make/carry them, 50$ --so quite a fair price. Was thinking about ordering them along with the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD compacts (have not yet ordered, but expect to soon), then I noticed they actually weigh more then the binocs, and have a narrower field of view (surprising given the much large lens size)

I want to thank everyone who has responded.

 

[RidgeHiker]

Vortex Solo 10x36 monocular. Not everyone likes monoculars but by using only 1/2 a binocular I can get a wider field of vision and better light for less weight. They are not exceptionally light because they are solidly built. Visual quality is quite good for the price. I much prefer them to 10 x 25 binoculars. For hiking I would not want to go for less than the 10 power. None of my binoculars or monoculars compare to my Nikon Monarch 10 x 40's but they are not compact or light. The Vortex provides a good compromise for me. I carry them in a glasses case that REI sells. They slip well into pack pockets for easy access.