Looking to buy small binoculars

[mystang52]

I have good "full size" binoculars. I'm now looking for smaller ones for when I go to plays, concerts, or football games. TMI when doing internet searches, so I could use some help. I had an old pair of opera glasses, but with my vision they no longer help me. Not sure if I should get 8X, or 10X, and then there is that second number for brightness. I think 8X would suffice for what I'm looking for. Then of course is question whether the cheap ones I see on Amazon are.....cheap. I don't want to spend a fortune, but I don't have to be chintzy either. Help!

 

[skipro33]

I have several pair of binoculars for various uses and to keep in various locations; my boat, camper, next to my living room big chair, for duck hunting, deer hunting, sporting events, concerts, etc. For your application, I would recommend Leopold Acadia 8 x 32mm. Leopold is very high quality and have a lifetime warranty. I had a pair that fogged up on a duck hunt, wrote to Leopold and they sent me a new pair I received within days. Normally, they require you ship the faulty pair back for repair, but since duck season is short, they made an exception. A quality company I'd say. Also, I think all their models are waterproof.
I prefer 8x power over 10x because it's just too hard to hold 10x steady. The image looks to be jumping around when holding offhand. When sitting very still, scouting on a deer hunt, for example, then 10x works, but I normally will glass with 8x because they are less likely to cause headaches. Speaking of which, quality binoculars will not cause headaches after hours of use, unlike cheaper brands which have bilateral focus issues as well as focus issues from center of image to the edge of the image. Your brain can only work so long 'fixing' the image until it gets tired.
The Acadia model is small enough to slip into my cargo pants pocket and light enough to not weigh down the asymmetric balance of my pants. Around my neck, they are not so heavy that they weigh me down and they fit nice inside a jacket and easy to drop back inside a partly zipped jacket to keep them safe and from swaying as I hike. Also, wearing them is more likely if they are comfortable and beats setting them down and forgetting them or someone pinching them from you.
Here's the product info from Leopold:

Acadia Binoculars Black - 8x32Manufacture ID: 117983The BX-2 Acadia Binocular from Leupold combines weather-sealed construction and wide angle view to create a compact general purpose optic for hunters and nature enthusiasts alike. For the BX-2 Acadia series, Leupold employs their Multicoat 4 anti-reflective lens coating to maximize light transmission and enhance image contrast. Complementing the lens system are phase-corrected BAK4 prisms that render lifelike colors and impressive sharpness across the field of view.Additionally, the BX-2 Acadia binocular has a nitrogen-filled housing that is built to perform in extreme humidity and heavy rainfall. When conditions turn wet or cold, several of the binocular's features will help the observer maintain their grip including textured rubber armoring and a rubberized focus wheel. The BX-2 Acadia also has a 5 ft minimum focus and 15mm eye relief, making this a well-rounded optic for almost any recreational viewing task.Optical Performance8x magnification, 32mm objectivesMulticoat 4 anti-reflective lens coatingBAK4 prisms with phase-corrective prism coating60 apparent viewing angle5 ft close focus distance15mm eye reliefUse and HandlingTwist-up rubber eyecupsSlip-resistant center focus wheelQuick-release neoprene strapTethered objective coversConstruction DetailsNitrogen-filled fogproof housingSlip-resistant rubber armoringBlack finish with textured gripping surfaces18 oz weightSpecifications:- Prism Type: Roof- Magnification: 8x- Objective Lens Diameter: 32mm- Angle of View: 7.5- Field-of-View: 394' at 1000 Yards- Minimum Focus Distance: 5'- Exit Pupil Diameter: 3.2mm- Eye Relief: 15mm- Interpupillary Adjustment: 2.24" - 2.80"- Focus Type: Center- Tripod Mount: Yes- Length: 4.5"- Weight: 18 oz / 510 g- Finish: Black

I don't know if the Acadia is still being marketed, I bought mine at least 10 years ago. But if not, then whatever model they currently sell in that optic size; 8 x 32 I would recommend. I'm attaching a photo of my pair I just now took for a size comparison to the palm of my hand: (The rifle is a Ruger 10/22 in stainless.)

 

[plsprius]

Check out these on Amazon for $89. I used a pair on a hiking trip that the guide was using, and immediately ordered one for myself. They are fixed focus so they are for objects more than a few hundred feet away. I really like this feature as it makes them simple and fast to use.

"Bushnell Spectator Sport 8x32mm Binoculars, Compact Binoculars for Sports with PermaFocus Technology"

 

[OldShooter]

The main problem with "small"binos is that the exit pupil is also small. The result is that adjusting the spacing between the eyepieces is very fussy and it is hard to get matched up so that the exit pupils line up with the pupils in your eyes. Divide the objective lens diameter by the magnification to get exit pupil. 10x20s, for example, have exit pupils of only 2mm.

The second problem is that small binos are also light weight. This makes it harder to hold them stable. IMO 10x is too much magnification.

We have a very nice pair of Zeiss 10x20s that we stopped using years ago because between the small exit pupil and the too-much magnification they are pretty much unusable for us. (Make me an offer?) We carry a pair of 8x32 Katmai model Leupolds that are pretty much the sweet spot for us. (Those are discontinued but show up on eBay occasionally.)

Incidentally, as our eyes age our pupils won't dilate as much as they did when we were younger. Once the exit pupil exceeds the eye's pupil it's game over for brightness. Traditional "night glasses" at 7x50 are a waste for us as a result.

TBH I think you'd be unhappy if you buy anything smaller than the 8x32s that we have settled on.

 

[sailor]

I gave up on small binoculars exactly for the reason OldShooter mentions (small exit pupil).
So I'm still lugging 8x50 with me. I tried 10x22 and 8x32 and it was not enough light for me.
8x42 was ok, but it not not that much smaller than 8x50 I already own, so skipped the new purchase.
On the dilation - I found out that as I aged, it takes quite a while to dilate, like 10s of seconds,
but my pupils eventually dilate enough to warrant bigger lenses. When moving binocs around in lower light conditions I mentally map bright lights and try to avoid high intensity spots.
One more comment - right now 8X magnification is ok for my hands, but if they start to shake more, I would consider Image Stabilization.

 

[YB88]

Small binoculars don't work well for me as one of my eyes is only semi-functional, so I use a small monocular. The great thing about a small monocular is that it is sufficiently smaller and lighter than even small binoculars that I can just carry one in my pocket --- meaning I'm more likely to toss it in if I'm not sure whether I might want something like that or not on a particular outing. I think there are good use cases for this even for those who have perfect vision on both eyes.

It really depends on what you're using it for however. Want to read a sign at a distance or zoom in on a detail in a European Cathedral ceiling when traveling? Hasty identification of a bird or animal? Monocular works great for those things.
But if you want to watch something for any amount of time, then I think that one wants larger binoculars --- or a larger monocular as I have for such use --- something that's easier to hold steady and indeed, brings in a lot more light.

 

[Lorenzo]

Small binoculars don't work well for me as one of my eyes is only semi-functional, so I use a small monocular. The great thing about a small monocular is that it is sufficiently smaller and lighter than even small binoculars that I can just carry one in my pocket --- meaning I'm more likely to toss it in if I'm not sure whether I might want something like that or not on a particular outing. I think there are good use cases for this even for those who have perfect vision on both eyes.

It really depends on what you're using it for however. Want to read a sign at a distance or zoom in on a detail in a European Cathedral ceiling when traveling? Hasty identification of a bird or animal? Monocular works great for those things.
But if you want to watch something for any amount of time, then I think that one wants larger binoculars --- or a larger monocular as I have for such use --- something that's easier to hold steady and indeed, brings in a lot more light.

I am in the market for a monocular, mainly for nature viewing (birds, etc.). Which do you have, and do you recommend it? I have been reading reviews and don't see any clear winner. The Leica Monovid looks sweet (and expensive). I have a small pair of 8x binoculars that I don't like very much, and for the monocular I am not sure whether to stick with 8x or go to 10x. I want to see more detail.

 

[Koolau]

For whatever reasons, I seem to find binoculars in local resale shops all the time. Don't know if it's an Island "thing" or not, but I almost always see a pair of miniature binocs. when we cruise the shops. Some good quality. Very inexpensive, too. Like $5 to $10. YMMV

 

[YB88]

I am in the market for a monocular, mainly for nature viewing (birds, etc.). Which do you have, and do you recommend it? I have been reading reviews and don't see any clear winner. The Leica Monovid looks sweet (and expensive). I have a small pair of 8x binoculars that I don't like very much, and for the monocular I am not sure whether to stick with 8x or go to 10x. I want to see more detail.

I didn't go for high-end (expensive) optics for either my large or (a couple of different) small ones. For the large one I think I just looked at options on Amazon and searched for something with good reviews that fakespot suggested were mostly legit. It's been fine, but I don't have truly top-end optics to compare to. If I were using it on a regular basis I would likely have researched more and spent more. I suspect that mine is a bit less durable and I don't recall how water resistant (or 'proof') it is.

8x or 10x --- I just don't know off hand.

Smaller ones are definitely harder to stabilize; I have on occasion found my self leaning against something to brace myself or hunching my back to prop on a fence or the like, but more often just accepting that the image is going to waver some.

One thought about birding: my recollection is that you can buy a trekking pole that has a screw insert to allow you to use it to stabilize a camera --- or some sort of scope. In your situation I might look for something like that (where the pole is quick/easy to adjust in length) and ideally a larger good monocular that had a matching screw connection that would also be easy to carry around. That way you have your monopole (instead of tripod) always to hand, and a fairly small yet hopefully effective monocular --- or scope maybe for more dedicated "it's all about looking at stuff" hikes.
My larger monocular fits in a case I can attach to my belt, so quite handy and not a burden to carry. I like using that one also when kayaking, or on car trips where I anticipate wanting to see things at a distance, as in those cases I'm less concerned about size/weight.

But for travelling, I generally favor a smaller, lighter monocular that will fit in my pocket, something perhaps from REI or well rated on Amazon ... ?

Best wishes.

 

[punkinhead]

Good timing on this thread since I'm also looking for a pair of 8x30 or 8x32 binoculars. My wife has a pair of Vortex Viper 8x42 which are very nice but I want something a bit smaller that I'm more likely to always have on me when hiking. I haven't bought any yet but I'm leaning towards the Nikon Monarch M7 8x30. They get good reviews for binocs in the mid-level price range. Celestron Trailseeker ED 8x32 also get good reviews and they're about $140 cheaper but I'm not reading good things about their customer service. I half-heartedly looked at the Vortex Diamondback but it's their entry level line and I don't think I'd be happy with the optics. I have quite a few Vortex rifle scopes and there's a clear difference between their Diamondback and Viper series.

I'm looking in the up to $600 range because I don't think I'd get enough use out of them to jump to the next tier. Obviously, the $1000+ tier are going to be better.

 

[I am He]

My eyes don't like the shaky 10x. We've had some go out of whack and lost a pair so I'm not a fan of anything expensive. But some folks have vision issues and the cheapest ones probably don't focus the colors all on the same plane which will drive some folks batty.