The Ultimate List of Compact Binoculars

 

Though choosing a binocular may seem easy, in fact, when you start to research the market you realize that there are hundreds of binoculars to choose and this bring some confusion.

Choosing binoculars becomes easy when you know why you buy it. You have to determine your purpose. There are different types of binoculars:

 

• Full sized binoculars
• Compact binoculars
• Wide field of view binoculars
• Marine binoculars
• Power (astronomical) binoculars
• Open bridge binoculars
• Closed bridge binoculars
• Roof prism binoculars
• Porro prism binoculars
• Glass binoculars

 

In this post I’m going to talk only about compact binoculars. By compact binoculars I mean they must meet certain criteria, such as:

 

• Powerful
• Image quality
• Lightweight

 

These features are important because having a compact binocular is not enough.

We need a powerful optical instrument to be able to see distant objects at a closer range. We need a binocular that delivers high quality image.

And finally we need lightweight binocular that we can easily carry and take anywhere we go.

 

Image stability

Especially if we can keep in our pocket that would be fantastic. Compact binoculars don’t cause hand shaking and we get stable image as a result.

Full size binoculars are heavy and very often we mount them on a tripod which is not so great in terms of a user experience.

That’s why sometimes compact binocular is the only solution.

 

Durability

Since most people take binoculars when hunting, traveling or hiking we need not only compact but durable binoculars.

By durability I mean binoculars must be fog proof, waterproof and shockproof.

Especially when you travel and change places, weather conditions having waterproof, fog proof binoculars becomes important.

Though it’s not always achievable when it comes to super compact binoculars.

Not all of the compact binoculars can meet this criteria due to their small size.

But I did my in-depth research and found best compact binoculars available on the market.

You can take these great compact binoculars for bird watching, hiking, cruise, nature or animal observation, stadiums.

 

Multi-purpose binoculars

The advantage of compact binoculars is clear. Most people prefer to choose compact binoculars because you can use it everywhere.

In fact, compact binoculars are multi purpose binoculars.

For the same amount of money you get a multi-purpose optical instrument that will serve you for years. Make sure to choose branded binoculars.

Because branded optics come with a guarantee while non branded binoculars though offer the guarantee but I’m not sure you will get it as promised.

 

Field of view

Many people think compact binoculars have a narrow field of view or they are not powerful.

If you worry about field of view of the binoculars you should not. Because lens size (aperture) has nothing to do with binoculars field of view.

Lenses are responsible for transmitting more light and showing you a little brighter image.

Just make sure to choose binoculars with magnification up to 10x. In that case you will get a binocular with a wide field of view.

If you choose binoculars with magnification higher than 10x then field of view will be narrow. And binocular will not be compact.

Powerful binoculars with magnification higher than 10x have lens of at least 42mm or 50mm which means they can’t be compact. They will be full sized binoculars.

Since our main focus is around binoculars with magnification 4x, 7x, 8x and 10x we should not have issues with the field of view.

Most of these optical instruments have field of view between 5 -6.5 degrees which is more than acceptable.

 

Optics quality

When your main focus becomes size of binoculars you must understand that super compact binoculars that have aperture 21mm, 22mm or 25mm can’t always meet high quality criteria.

In such super compact binoculars manufacturers, even brand companies use BK-7 prism which is a little inferior to BAK-4 quality.

They still provide quality image but it can’t be compared to BAK-4 quality.

If you want super high quality image then you need to with to full-sized binoculars.

Anyway, I will try to show only good binoculars that meet quality standards.

 

 

Two types of compact binoculars

Today I will show two types of compact binoculars, super compact and medium compact binoculars.

Super compact binoculars are those that have lens size 21mm, 22mm, and medium compact that have lens size 25mm, 32mm.

These are compact binoculars. All other are not compact.

When you choose binoculars you need to look first at the numbers. For example, binocular 8×21 model means the following.

First number 8 is the magnification and second number 21 is aperture ( objective lens size in mm).

I decided to choose for my review binoculars with the following configurations:

• 4×21
• 8×21
• 8×22
• 8×25
• 8×32
• 10×21
• 10×22
• 10×25
• 10×32

These two types of compact binoculars are the best ones. Magnification 4, 7, 8 and 10 give you a wide field of view.

Lens size 21mm – 32mm allows to keep binoculars compact. Any binocular with aperture higher than 32 is already not compact.

All compact binoculars that I’m going to list here are of good quality. Most of them are branded but some are not.

Even those that are not branded are still good (acceptable quality) though I always recommend to choose branded optical instruments.

Their quality is always supreme.

Some binoculars are very expensive like Zeiss, Minox, Steiner, Swarovski which is very normal for those brands.

But I will list binoculars of different price tags so you can choose one that is affordable for you.

 

Super Compact Binoculars

 

  OperaView OV-4×10 – BK-7 prism

– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 4x
– Customer satisfaction: Yes
– Price: $75

 

 

 

 

  Levenhuk Broadway 325F Opera Glasses 3×25
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 3×25
– BaK-4 prism
– 70% customer satisfaction
– Price: $29.35

 

 

 

 

 

 

  ESSLNB Opera Glasses Binoculars 4X30mm Theater Compact Binoculars 
– Wide field of view binocular
– Magnification power 4x
– BaK-4 prism
– 75% customer satisfaction
– Price: $29.99

 

 

 

 

 

 

  TrailMaxx TM-8×21 – (BK-7 prism)

– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 8x
– Customer satisfaction: Yes
– Price: $40

 

 

 

 

 

 Mini Compact Lightweight 8×21 Small Binoculars
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 8x
– BK-7 prism
– Customer satisfaction: 85%
– Price: $9.79

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Bushnell Powerview Compact Folding Roof Prism Binocular 8×21
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 8x
– BK-7 prism
– Customer satisfaction: 75%
– Price: $11.99

 

 

 

 

 

  Small Binoculars for Adults Compact – 8×21 Mini Lightweight Binoculars
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 8x
– Prism type: BAK-4 roof prism
– Customer satisfaction: 96%
– Price: $15.99

 

 

 

 

 

  Pentax UP 8 x 21 Binoculars (Navy) – Porro prism

– Bak-4 Prism
– Magnification power 8
– Customer satisfaction: Yes
– Price: $99

 

 

 

 

 

  POLDR 8×21 Small Compact Lightweight Binoculars
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 8x
– BaK-4 prism
– 82% of customers are happy with the quality of the product
– Price: $14.99

 

 

 

 

 

  Stinger HW-8×22 – BK-7 prism

– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 8x
– Customer satisfaction: Yes
– Price: $50

 

 

 

 

 

  Steiner BluHorizons Binoculars 8×22

– Wide angle of view
– Steiner Autobright optics
– Magnification power 8
– Customer satisfaction: 100%
– Price: $192.53

 

 

 

 

 

  Leica Silverline BR 8×20

– Wide field of view (waterproof/fog proof)
– Magnification power 8x
– BAK-4 prism
– Customer satisfaction: 100%
– Price: $829

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Tracker TZ-8×21 – BK-7 prism

– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 8x
– Customer satisfaction: Yes
– Price: $30

 

 

 

 

 

 Scout JD-8×22 – BK-7 prism

– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 8x
– Customer satisfaction: Yes
– Price: $49

 

 

 

 

 

Medium Compact Binoculars

 

  Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Compact Binocular 10×25

– Wide field of view (waterproof/fog proof)
– Magnification power 10x
– BAK-4 prism
– Customer satisfaction: 90%
– Price: $149

 

 

 

 

 

  Leica Ultravid BR 10×25

– Wide field of view (waterproof)
– Magnification power 10x
– BAK-4 prism
– Customer satisfaction: 90%
– Price: $779

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Steiner Optics Safari Series Binoculars 10×26

– Wide angle of view, waterproof
– Steiner high-contrast optics
– Magnification power 10
– Customer satisfaction: Yes
– Price: $154

 

 

 

 

 

  Nikon Trailblazer 10×25 Binoculars

– Wide field of view (waterproof/fog proof)
– Magnification power 10x
– BAK-4 prism
– Customer satisfaction: 90%
– Price: $79

 

 

 

 

 

 

      Bresser Montana 8×25

•  Wide field of view
•  Waterproof, fog proof
•  Magnification power 8x
•  High quality optics BAK-4
•  Fully multi-coated
•  Customer satisfaction: Yes
•  Price: $299.99

 

 

 

 

 

 

       Minox BF 8×25 lightweight binoculars

• Wide field of view
• Waterproof, fog proof
• Magnification power 8x
• High quality optics BAK-4
• Fully multi-coated
• Customer satisfaction: 90%
• Price: $99.99

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Zeiss 8×25 Terra ED Compact Pocket Grey-Black Binocular

– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 8x
– High quality ED glass optics, waterproof
– 92% customer satisfaction
– Price: $289.99

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Zeiss Victory Pocket 8×25 Binoculars

– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 8x
– High quality ED glass optics, waterproof
– 100% customer satisfaction
– Price: $749

 

 

 

 

 

  Zeiss Victory Pocket 10×25 Binoculars

– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 10x
– High quality ED glass optics, waterproof
– 100% customer satisfaction
– Price: $879

 

 

 

 

 

  Bushnell H2O Waterproof Compact Roof Prism Binocular 10×25
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 10x
– Prism type: BAK4
– Waterproof and Fogproof
– Customer satisfaction: 76%
– Price: $56.89

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Pentax UP 10 x 25 Binoculars – Porro prism

– Bak-4 Prism
– Magnification power 10
– Customer satisfaction: Yes
– Price: $129

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Binoculars for Adults Compact and High Powered – 10×25
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 10x
– BaK-4 prism
– 97% Customer satisfaction
– Price: $30.97

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Swarovski 46211 CL Pocket 10×25 Binoculars (Green)

– Wide angle of view
– HD Glass Prism
– Magnification power 10
– Customer satisfaction: 94%
– Price: $879
– 10-year warranty

 

 

 

 

 

  Leupold BX-1 Rogue 10x25mm Compact Binoculars
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 10x
– BaK-4 prism
– 91% Customer satisfaction
– Price: $94.79

 

 

 

 

 

       Bresser C-Series 8×25

• Waterproof
• Magnification power 8x
• High quality optics BAK-4
• Customer satisfaction: Yes
• Price: $67.49

 

 

 

 

 

  Olympus 10×25 WP II Binoculars
– Wide field of view
– Waterproof/Fogproof
– Magnification power 10x
– High quality optics BAK-4
– 90% customer satisfaction
– Price: $99,99

 

 

 

 

 

  Carson VP Series Compact High Definition Binoculars 10×25
– Wide field of view
– Waterproof/Fogproof
– Magnification power 10x
– High quality optics BAK-4
– 82% customer satisfaction
– Price: $165

 

 

 

 

 

  Carson RD Series – 8x26mm

– Wide field of view
– Waterproof
– Magnification power 8x
– High quality optics BAK-4
– 100% customer satisfaction
– Price: $105

 

 

 

 

 

        Bresser Pirsch 8×26

•  Wide field of view
•  Waterproof, fog proof
•  Magnification power 8x
•  High quality optics BAK-4
•  Fully multi-coated
•  Customer satisfaction: Yes
•  Price: $142

 

 

 

 

 

  Vortex Optics Vanquish Reverse Porro Prism Binoculars 10×26
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 10x
– High quality optics, porro prism
– 95% customer satisfaction
– Price: $99

 

 

 

 

 

  Vortex Optics Vanquish Reverse Porro Prism Binoculars 8×26
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 10x
– High quality optics, porro prism
– 95% customer satisfaction
– Price: $129

 

 

 

 

 

  Pentax AD 9 x 28 WP Binoculars – Roof prism

– Bak-4 Prism, Waterproof, Fogproof
– Magnification power 9
– Customer satisfaction: YES
– Price: $259

 

 

 

 

 

  Vortex Optics Diamondback Roof Prism Binoculars 10×28
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 10x
– High quality optics
– 93% customer satisfaction
– Price: $149

 

 

 

 

 

  Steiner Tactical Binoculars 10×28
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 10x
– High quality optics
– 100% customer satisfaction
– Price: $304

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Nikon Prostaff 7 S 10×30 Compact Binocular, Waterproof, Fog proof
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 10x
– High quality optics
– 90% customer satisfaction
– Price: $186

 

 

 

 

 

  Pentax AD 8 x 30 WP Binoculars – Porro prism

– Bak-4 Prism, Waterproof, Fogproof
– Magnification power 8
– Customer satisfaction: Yes
– Price: $249

 

 

 

 

 

 Celestron Nature DX 8×32

– Bak-4 Prism, Waterproof
– Magnification power 8x
– Customer satisfaction: 90%
– Price: $87,44

 

 

 

 

 

       Bresser Condor 8×32

•  Wide field of view (7.3 degrees)
•  Waterproof
•  Magnification power 8x
•  High quality optics BAK-4
•  Customer satisfaction: Yes
•  Price: $99.99

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Pentax AD 9 x 32 WP Binoculars – Roof prism

– Bak-4 Prism, Waterproof, Fogproof
– Magnification power 9
– Customer satisfaction: 80%
– Price: $276

 

 

 

 

 

  Bresser Condor Binocular, 8x32mm

– Wide field of view ( Field of view 6.97 degrees)
– Magnification power 8x
– BaK-4 prism
– 90% Customer satisfaction
– Price: $67.79

 

 

 

 

 

  Wingspan Optics Willow UltraHD 8X32
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 8x
– Extra-Low Dispersion ED Glass
– Waterproof, Fogproof
– 94% customer satisfaction
– Price: $97.92

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Wingspan Optics Pro Birder 8X32
– Extra wide field of view
– Magnification power 8x
– Extra-Low Dispersion ED Glass
– Waterproof, Fogproof
– 93% customer satisfaction
– Price: $109.92

 

 

 

 

 

  Vortex Optics Diamondback Roof Prism Binoculars 8×32
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 8x
– High quality optics
– 93% of customers are happy with the quality of the product
– Price: $188.99

 

 

 

 

 

  Vortex Optics Raptor Porro Prism Binoculars 10×32

– Wide field of view ( 6.3 degrees field of view)
– Magnification power 10x,
– Fully multi-coated high quality optics
– 86% Customer satisfaction
– Price: $129

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Vortex Optics Raptor Porro Prism Binoculars 8×32

– Wide field of view ( 6.3 degrees field of view)
– Magnification power 10x,
– Fully multi-coated high quality optics
– 86% Customer satisfaction
– Price: $129

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Wingspan Optics Spectator 8X32 Compact Binoculars
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 8x
– BaK-4 prism
– 94% of customers are happy with the quality of the product
– Price: $64.92

 

 

 

 

 

 

        Bresser Hunters specialties 8×32

•  Wide field of view
•  Waterproof, fog proof
•  Magnification power 8x
•  High quality optics BAK-4
•  Fully multi-coated
•  Customer satisfaction: Yes
•  Price: $129.99

 

 

 

 

 

 

        Bresser Hunters specialties 10×32

•  Wide field of view
•  Waterproof, fog proof
•  Magnification power 10x
•  High quality optics BAK-4
•  Fully multi-coated
•  Customer satisfaction: Yes
•  Price: $139.99

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Carson 3D Series High Definition Waterproof Binoculars, 8×32, ED glass

– Wide field of view
– Waterproof/Fogproof
– Magnification power 10x
– High quality optics BAK-4 with ED Glass
– 100% customer satisfaction
– Price: $258