Have a discussion over on SSMBBS going but thought I would post here for more input. Right now I'm considering these two:

http://www.binoculars.com/binoculars/spectator-binoculars/minoxbd10x25brcompactbinoculars.cfm

http://www.opticsplanet.com/vortex-viper-10x28-binocular-v210.html

JR

Several things to consider.

Lot to be said for small binoculars that you are not afraid to break or loose. I used a pair of Nikons for years bought out of a duty free shop cheap. Did fine, when I upgraded gave them to my Son who still uses them. Caution is cheap binoculars you have to look through before you buy same brand & model one will be better than another.

I upgraded to a pair of Swarovski 8x20’s they are wonderful little binoc’s almost as good as my larger Swarovski’s but expensive, which makes me worry about them traveling. I had a pair stolen out of my hotel room one trip.

Real caution is small binoculars are hard to hold steady and small objective lens needs good light, avoid high power. 8 is all you want 7 x may be better Little 10's are hard to use.

Boats

Hi John,

My choice would be Steiner's, tough as nails and excellent optics.

http://www.steiner-optics.com/binoculars/tactical/mm30-militarymarine-8x30

I have no personal experience with the ultrasharp binos.
http://www.steiner-optics.com/binoculars/nature-travel/safari-ultrasharp-8x22

All depends upon the intended purpose. Neither of your choices is good for serious hunting in my opinion. I carried a pair of compact Nikon 7X20 binoculars for years. They were very clear, and light as a feather, but when you needed them the most, they fell way short.

I'm talking about early in the morning or late in the evening, or in the brush on dark dreary days. They had a less than 3 mm exit pupil which does not transmit enough light under those conditions. The 10x binoculars you are considering would be even worse, and they will be harder to hold steady than a lower powered glass would be. Compacts would be fine if we only hunted at noon on clear days.

Binoculars are often a compromise. When I bought my last pair, I shopped carefully and did a lot of research. I learned that the most critical reviews of binoculars come from birders and bird watching magazines, because all those people do is look long and hard at small details of small creatures in the brush. I decided to go no higher than 8x because they are much easier to hold steady than more powerful glasses. I arbitrarily set a weight limit of 21 ounces which was almost twice as heavy as my Nikon compacts, but much less weight than most very high quality binocs like Zeiss, Lieca, and Swarovski. I just did not wish to hunt all day with 40 ounce glasses around my neck. I wanted excellent optics and lens coatings, and I wanted no less than a 5 mm exit pupil. I also wanted roof prisms because they are more compact. I looked through as many different brands as I could, and would absolutely suggest that you look through anything on a dreary day before you buy it. I returned a set of 8x40 Nikon Monarchs which were highly rated, because they were not as clear as a pair of 1960's vintage Sans and Strieffe 7 x 35 porro prism binoculars I have which fell out of a tree stand and got knocked out of collimation. Most Nikons are now made in China too. I used to really like Nikon, and also have a pair of Nikon porro prism 7 x 50 which are great, but too large and heavy for most hunting.

I ended up buying a pair of 7x36 Swift Eaglet binoculars from B&H Optical in NYC. They meet all of my criteria, and I feel they are the optical equal of binoculars which cost twice as much. I did really like some of the Steiners, but they all had individual focus lenses which are slower to operate while hunting than dual center focus glasses. Swift has some cheaper models, but the better ones are still made in Japan, and their lens quality is right up there with the best in the world for half the cost or less. I got mine for well under the MSRP shown here in Swifts website, and could not be happier with them although I have seen them in excellent condition on e-bay sell for even less.

http://www.swift-sportoptics.com/binoculars.html

I see Swift has discontinued the Eaglet in 7x36. That's a shame, but maybe someone still has them in stock. Actually, I think 6x would be even better for most hunting. Everyone is sold on power when resolution, light transmission, and optical quality is much more important.

John,

I learned a long time ago not to skimp on optics. Over 25 years ago I purchased a pair of Zeiss compact 10x25 binoculars. Yes... they are expensive but I never regretted the purchase. They are a joy to carry and use and they weigh less than a half of pound. As Keith said... what you choose depends on the purpose. For hunting out of a blind, I use my 10x42 Leica's. For still hunting, I use the compacts. Your eyes are worth it!

Ron

Well said on any being a compromise.

Nice Glass I use is a old Bureau of Ships deck binocular made by B&L. 7x50 no fancy coatings but low light it performs very well. Heavy absorbs vibration and 7 power is real easy on your eyes scanning. It’s the 50 mm objective lens that makes it so good low light. Best I have ever looked through is Swarovski 8x56 with HD glass. You would not want to carry either hunting unless somebody else was carrying your gun for you.

One I use the most is a Swarovski 7x30 good compromise, size weight & resolution, with the smaller 8x20 Swarovski when real small is a better choice one reason or another.

Compact more you spend better they are is a good rule of thumb.

Other thing that's true is don't pay attention to what bird watchers use. Identify something fairly close, located by somebody else, and move on, they never look long at anything, makes no sense to me. Seems if somebody likes birds they ought to watch them for a while.

Boats

B&L 7 X 35 is my go-to, not too heavy, right weight for cold and windy days, used them for decades on deep-sea trawlers from Gulf of Maine to north of Iceland and the worst kind of gunning on North Atlantic shores. The right weight is important, too-high magnification almost worthless at any price.

John Barsness has a book titled "Optics For The Hunter" that is very well done as all of his writing is. He does a great job of explaining the compromises that must be made in selecting optics.

The OP never said what the main use for his compact binocular is but I will agree with most of the posters here that high magnification, small objective diameter & light weight are usually not a good choice.

I currently have Swarovski binoculars in 7x30, 8x30 & 10x50 plus a 35 year old Leitz 10x40B (all roof prism). I prefer the 7x30 Swarovski over the 8x version & I always thought the Leitz 10x40 B (great glass in it's day) would have been better in 8x.

The 10x50 Swarovski glasses are wonderful in low light & for glassing all day long when you are not too far from a vehicle but heavy suckers if you are doing much walking around.

If I was going to look for a compact binocular in the 20 to 25 mm objective range I would look for something in 6x & the best quality I could find. Good luck finding that as everyone seems to think 10x or up is a must these days no matter what the objective size.

For hunting, when I carried a pair, it was my Leica 7 x 20Bs. Compact with roof prisms, good optics, each barrel individually focused at the aperture. I really didn’t need them as most of my use was running and gunning for turkeys. Where I hunt, I’m lucky to have a clear view of 75 yards. I stopped carrying them as I was bound to lose them. For marine use and truck use, I have a pair of armored Fujinon Meibo 7x50 porro prisms. They are heavy enough to kill a rhino with a head whack. For general birding or astronomy, I use a pair of lightweight Zeiss 6x42b Dialyt, roof prisms. They do a good job of gathering light despite having 70% of the aperture of 50 mm. Aperture trumps all when it comes to light gathering all things being equal. I prefer 7x, but the price was right. I had a fine pair of inexpensive Nikon 7 x 50 porros. Star images were pinpoints and they were relatively light. I traded them for the Fujinon. If I were thinking of buying another pair, it’d be Swarovski regardless of size. None finer. There are some bargains on the used market. Local camera shops often carry used binoculars, but some may need collimation. In steadying binoculars of any size, anchor the binoculars against your check bones or under the eye sockets with your thumbs. If anyone is interested in a good discussion of exit pupil size and optics, take a look at: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-equipment/a-pupil-primer/

If you can find them, the old Bushnell Custom Compacts are a great choice. 6x25 and 7x26. They are a small poro prism design and very bright and clear. You will give up a bit during first and last light, however, I won't be shooting at anything in those low light conditions so it's not much of a bother to me. They are small enough to fit in a coat pocket and easy to always have with you. Any binocular you own won't do you much good in the truck.

If you want to go up a bit in size the Vortex Viper 6x32 are another consideration. I have a set of Swaro 7x30's and use the Vortex binocular much more often.

What Tunes said about the Bushnell Custom Compacts....which are no longer made. Absolutely superior optics, very light weight and very compact even though they are poro prisms. They are not waterproof, however. I have them in the 6X25 and 7X26 configuration and prefer the six power one. Purchased in the early and late 70's and they were expensive back then. Obviously you would have to buy them used..... I also really, really like my Leica 8X32. Superb optics, relatively light weight (19 oz), waterproof, etc. Also have a 4mm exit pupil which is about as small as one can go and still have an effective glass for less than ideal lighting. Expensive but worth it in my opinion. Both the above are on a par with my Swarovski 10X42 which are too heavy to carry around for an extended period. FWIW, my early background was in vision and optics.

Another vote for the Vortex Viper 6x32. Mine are pre HD and were a little over $200. HD are probably better but more expensive. My wife has a set of the Vortex 7x28. No comparison and feel the 10x28 would be even more difficult to use. For 25 yesrs in my previous life used binoculars on a daily basis. Would have paid a lot for the Viper 6x32s I now have.

There is nothing like the little Swarovoski's-and their service is excellent.I have a pair of Steiners and the Custom Compacts, but I carry the Swarovoskis every day I am out.

When I started out 30 years ago I got a pair of Nikon 8x30 DIF's and Minox 8x20's, both decent glass at the time and each for a different job. The Nikons were my primary hunting glass and the 8x20's were back-up or carried when having a binoc was an option not a necessity. For some reason that model of Nikon is still very popular with UK birders.

As time went on They began to show their shortcomings. I gave the Minox to my mom for the opera and got a pair of Zeiss 8x20B's, rubber armored. To this day fantastic pocket binocs.

I still have the Nikon 8x30's, I keep them in my truck but they just can't measure up to their replacements, Minox 6.5x32 IF. Sadly no longer available new but turn up on eBay. Minox got everything right with this glass and they sold new for $200. Clear, bright, crisp and very good at dawn & dusk. Ideal for eastern hunting and timber hunting though out in the open you want higher power. And the higher power 9x's in the same series were not nearly as good.

Then6.5's are larger than compacts but smaller than full size, certainly convenient enough to carry on a harness. Worth seeking out.

My 8x20's are small and light enough to wear on a neck strap and folded ride in my left shirt pocket. I can shoot rifles or shotguns with them riding in my pocket. You don't even know they are there, until you need them. That's the reason for "sub mini's" always have them with you. Extensive scanning long periods of time, carried around your neck 7x30 is a good size. To shoot I have to take them off though.

Fixed spot, car, boat or blind go for at least 50 mm objective lens. If you need over 8 power use a spotting scope. And most useful accessory with a spotting scope is a pair of binoculars to scan with going to the scope once something has been located.

Boats

Boats

I mostly agree with the above post by Boats.

Personally, I would prefer the 20 or 25 mm compacts to be 6x or 7x if I could find them in a quality binocular.

Glass quality & coatings have improved over the years but optic principles remain the same & for a given objective size lower power always give better definition & for me lower power is much easier to use in a small, light binocular.

As far as a spotting scope, I would like to try something like a high quality 15x56 binocular on a tripod in place of a spotting scope. Binocular vision trumps mono vision & in my experience you can't often use more than 15x to 20x in a spotting scope under hunting conditions because of wind shake & mirage. The weight between the two choices is about the same & I agree that you will need to carry a binocular of 7 or 8 power for scanning as well with either choice.

I have a good quality 77mm spotting scope so at this point in my life I will probably never make the switch but if I was starting over I would certainly consider the option of a large objective, high power binocular instead of a spotting scope.

I've been using a pair of Leitz trinovid 8x20BCA ultra compacts for thirty years now. Like Boats, I keep them always with me in the bush, on a neck cord and in my breast pocket. Outstanding optics, always at hand, and virtually unnoticeable.
Pricey? Yes, but well worth it.

Everyone uses their binoculars differently. I use my big 12x50 Nikons for two things: scouting for turkeys long distance on right-of-ways and large fields, and beach viewing from our 6th floor condo. I've learned one thing: there no substitute for magnification.

My 8x30 Swarovski porros have served me well for 32 years, but on the actual hunt I want a smaller,lighter pair with plenty of magnification, so I've gone with the Minox 10x25. I can hold them steady enough, and I want to be able to pick out detail. Light gathering and big field of view, not important.

Gunut sent me a pm on a screaming good deal on these from Ebay.
JR

I have both Vortex Viper binox and spotting scope. They are high quality and are very good for the money but they are not on par with the Sworovski. I purchased them at the Eagle Optics store in Wisconsin. I believe that Eagle Optics is the retail arm of Eagle Optics. The store had spotting scopes pointed out the window and across a field at an eye chart like you find at an optometrists office taped to the outside all of another building. It was a good distance away. When I looked at it through the Swarovski it was very crisp and clear all the way out to the edge of the lens. The Vortex was very good but not as clear. However it was about 1/4 the cost. I am very happy with the quality of the Vortex products.

I really like the idea Tom C told us about Eagle Optics having an eye chart on a distant building for evaluating optics. Probably the most difficult part of choosing is often not being able to compare binoculars or scopes side by side under the same conditions. Doing such a comparison in bright daylight will show which binoculars have superior lens manufacture and precision alignment of lenses and prisms. Doing the same test at dusk will reveal the advantage of superior quality ED glass, lens coatings, etc. It's hard to find a dealer that stocks enough different brands to do a valid comparison of different makes and models. That pair of Nikon Monarch 8x40's I returned seemed very good at first. But when I compared them to some other binoculars at dusk on a rainy day, attempting to read distant license plates, etc., their mediocre quality was immediately apparent. Then when I saw the tiny "Made in China" sticker, I wanted to throw up.

I'm glad to see John got his compact binoculars that suit his actual needs, and at a good price. I still carry my compact Nikon 7x20's when grouse hunting, because they are as light as a feather and a whole lot better than nothing when I see a deer, bear, or turkeys, and want a closer look. The Swift Eaglet 7x36's blow them out of the water for whitetail deer hunting at dawn and dusk, and gloomy winter days in the brush. But I would not want them dangling around my neck while upland bird hunting, even though they aren't as heavy as some in their class. I have several other pairs of binoculars that also serve their purposes well. None of them do all things well.