It’s either you adore compact binoculars or you hate them. Some discourage others to use them, while others swear by its convenience and practicality. Compact binoculars regularly measure around 20mm to 25mm. There are both advantages and disadvantages in using them.
PROS
- They are good backups for your primary binoculars as they are light and small.
- They can be used to magnify nearer objects due to their close focus.
- Because they are lightweight, they can be comfortably carried around your neck and you can just get your much larger binoculars when a situation requires to.
- They are best for kids as their tiny size and light weight prove to be suitable for the kids’ small hands and faces. Some women also prefer using them because of the same reasons. Also, compact binoculars have a shorter distance between its lenses.
- They are more affordable than the regular-sized binoculars, particularly that they are meant for kids.
- Some units can be easily folded up and be stored in your pockets or belt bags.
- As they can be easily put inside bags and pockets, they can also be quickly pulled out from where they’re stored.
- They can be used to help users to have a closer look on their favorite artists in a concert even when seated afar.
- In fishing, they can be used for inspecting if the object you see floating from a distance is a fish or a branch.
DISADVANTAGES
- Since its mechanical parts are smaller and the system is limited to a narrow space, compact binoculars usually produce lower quality images.
- Their smaller objective lenses hinder light from entering the binoculars, making them unusable during night and in low light situations.
- Compact binoculars are difficult to operate if the user has thick and long fingers.
- It might be difficult to hold them still, and the slightest movement can cause the images to be distorted.
- They have smaller objective lenses, thus smaller field of view.
- They may lack some features that standard-sized models have such as image stabilization.
- They have small exit pupils which can result in loss in image quality at exit pupil decentration and limitations in the freedom of movement of the eye.
MODELS AVAILABLE
Bushnell has a wide selection for compact binoculars. One of these is the 8x21mm Powerviews which can be conveniently folded down and just weighs 7oz. This model is fully coated, is center-focus type and has BK-7 roof prisms. Also, its exit pupil is 2.6mm. Although only recommended for daylight use, with its price of $15, it’s already an excellent first set for kids.
Nikon also offers a set of compact binoculars. The Eagleview binoculars are sold on the market in 8-24x25mm. It measures 119mm long and 100mm wide, and weighs just around 350g. It has a larger exit pupil of 3.1mm, allowing use in slightly dim environments. It is sold for as low as $130 and can go up to $200 for newer models.
Zeiss also has its own compact models referred to as Victory Compacts. They are available in 8x20mm and 10x25mm models. They weigh about 8oz to 9oz and only measure 4 and 5 inches, respectively. Their exit pupils of 2.5mm are ideal for daylight use. However, they are priced like regular-sized binoculars at $570.
