[Super Dave]

What's the smallest bino that can really deliver an optical high?

The views from my 8x32SE and 6x30 Yosemite give my brain some kind of rush. The view is stimulating and hard to put down.

I picked up a Bushnell Custom in 6x25 and 7x26. They are excellent binoculars and do what they are supposed to do. But, they don't give me that same wow feeling as the other two.

I'm wondering what's the smallest binocular you have tried that wowed you with the view?

Thanks,
Dave

[Matt_RTH]

I would consider the view of the 7x26 very close to your description of the SE and Yose so I guess it's in the eye of the beholder. When you carry a light 8x20 on a long hike that doesn't break your back and you get a great view of whatever, I guarantee that will give you a rush. OTOH, I guess I think of binoculars more of a tool than a device for a happy...nevermind.

[typo]

Dave,

I diagnose a severe case of Porromania. It's one of a family of diseases of which Swarromania may be the most painful. The symptoms may be relieved by staying home, drawing the blinds, disconnecting the internet and cutting up you credit cards, but it is very difficult to cure. A number of substitution therapies have been advocated, but withdrawal symptoms may be severe. It is good that you have acknowledged the problem and asking for help. The Bushnell Custom Elite program may be one of the more palatable options, but brace yourself for a difficult period of rehab.

David

[edwincjones]

my pentax papillio at 19mm gives me a WOW over and over

edj

[tpcollins]

I too have a 20 year or so old Bushnell 7x26 Custom Compact and it is still a great binoc. However, my Leica 8x20 BC Trinovid is hard to beat. I bought a Zeiss Victory 8x42 T*FL this past spring, and I can sit on my front deck, looking at license plates on cars up the street, and the little Leica is just as crisp and clear as the Zeiss. They don't have the low light capability and the eye relief is right on the edge for eyeglass wearers, but they are so dang great I would only trade them for the Ultravids (with more eye relief).

[denco@comcast.n]

Originally Posted by Super Dave

What's the smallest bino that can really deliver an optical high?

The views from my 8x32SE and 6x30 Yosemite give my brain some kind of rush. The view is stimulating and hard to put down.

I picked up a Bushnell Custom in 6x25 and 7x26. They are excellent binoculars and do what they are supposed to do. But, they don't give me that same wow feeling as the other two.

I'm wondering what's the smallest binocular you have tried that wowed you with the view?

Thanks,
Dave

I wouldn't recommend anything under a 32mm for that rush. The Bushnell Custome Elite 7x26 certainly didn't do it for me. It was a big dissapointment and it went back to the store the next day. The 20mm's are only alright if you really need the small size. The optics are a PIA compared to a 32mm.

[Roadbike]

Originally Posted by Super Dave

What's the smallest bino that can really deliver an optical high?

The views from my 8x32SE and 6x30 Yosemite give my brain some kind of rush. The view is stimulating and hard to put down.

I picked up a Bushnell Custom in 6x25 and 7x26. They are excellent binoculars and do what they are supposed to do. But, they don't give me that same wow feeling as the other two.

I'm wondering what's the smallest binocular you have tried that wowed you with the view?

Thanks,
Dave

Well, sure a small binocular can deliver - but it really depends on what you want and where it should be delivered. For example my wife's Swarovski 8x20 delivers very sharp and clear images in the lighting conditions it was designed to. My Nikon 6x15 Mikron reissue also delivers very well focused images. Both are very useful in situations ranging from nightime theater perfomances to daytime wildlife observation. Neither of them will perform like the Celestron 9.5x44 ED's at night or the Nikon 8x30 EII in the field birding nor would I expect them to.

The smallest (power and objective) binocular that impressed me with the quality of it's view was the Nikon 5x15 Titanium.

[Sancho]

I love compacts because you can really have them with you always. None of them I´ve owned (Ultravid, Victory, HGL, Taiga, Elite, Vanquish, BGA/TPC, DBA Oasis) will match a top-end like EII, SE or SV in demanding (low-light) conditions. The only reason to own a superb compact is.....compactness. That is, do you really need a high-performing binocular that´s so small as to fit in a small pocket, to keep with you all the time? My rationale for having a compact (now that the kids are growing and I don´t need to carry loads of child-care stuff) is when cycling on a road-bike wearing all that silly lycra stuff that cyclists wear. I need tiny binos, in case I see a bird I need to check out (thereby losing a valuable 60 seconds cycling-time). The only ones that fit the bill (top-class, tiny, quick-focussing and waterproof) are Leica Ultravid 8x20. Unfortunately I sold my pair about 3 years ago. C´est la vie.

[Tvc15_2000]

While at the Festaval of the Cranes at Bosque Del Apache, New Mexico http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/newmex/bosque/ 2 weeks ago we were walking to dinner with several birders we met. Off in the distance we spotted a bird. I was the only one with binoculars - Leica 10X25 and had great views of a Golden Eagle. My view was brief becasue I had to share the 10x25s with everyone else. Lots of appreciative WOW's from the viewers. I have a very long list of birds I have seen because I have them with me when any other bins are to large or heavy to carry.

Morning Snow Goose fly out at Bosque(not my videos).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB2xj...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qk2K...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1bGX...eature=related

[denco@comcast.n]

Originally Posted by Tvc15_2000

While at the Festaval of the Cranes at Bosque Del Apache, New Mexico http://www.friendsofthebosque.org/crane/ 2 weeks ago we were walking to dinner with several birders we met. Off in the distance we spotted a bird. I was the only one with binoculars - Leica 10X25 and had great views of a Golden Eagle. My view was brief becasue I had to share the 10x25s with everyone else. Lots of appreciative WOW's from the viewers. I have a very long list of birds I have seen because I have them with me when any other bins are to large or heavy to carry.

I guess you could say compacts aren't that great when compared to 32mm's but they are better than nothing!

[Tero]

Some 8x20s have fantastic views. Alphas.

For the mid price, the limit is in the 28-32mm range.

[Super Dave]

Thanks for the input. My perspective was wrong. I get it now.

I took the 6x25 Bushnell's on a bike ride and stopped at this lookout (Search for this in Google Maps and do the street view: Alala Dr + Kaneapu Pl, Kailua, HI )

It sure was nice to have some binos on the ride.
Thanks,
Dave

[Tvc15_2000]

Originally Posted by denco@comcast.n

I guess you could say compacts aren't that great when compared to 32mm's but they are better than nothing!

Just curious which ones you have seen?

[denco@comcast.n]

Originally Posted by Tvc15_2000

Just curious which ones you have seen?

I have had the Leica 8x20 Ultravid. the Leica 8x20 Trinovid, the Zeiss 8x20 Victory, the Nikon 8x20 LXL, the Nikon 10x25 LXL, The BL 7x26 Custom Elite and other assorted cheap compacts. Basically got tired of them all. They are really bad when the sun starts going down compared to a 32mm. Eye placement is a big PIA with them. I thought the Zeiss 8x20 Victory was pretty good until I tried the Zen Ray ZRS HD 8x42mm monocular and found out I like it better especially at dusk. I would rather have half of a real binocular than a 20mm toy. Just my feelings.

[John Dracon]

Dave - The old Bushnell 6x25 porro is still very useful in many ways - small enough to tuck in your shirt for protection, good clarity due to low power, wide fov, adequate eye relief for eye glass wearers, 4.1 exit pupil, mechanically very reliable. Bow hunters, in particular here in Montana, love them because they give plenty of magnification in the brush and timber. Birds do show up quite well with them. Really a bit better than best quality monoculars. Greatly underestimated all around compact binocular IMO. John

[Kevin Purcell]

Originally Posted by John Dracon

Dave - The old Bushnell 6x25 porro is still very useful in many ways - small enough to tuck in your shirt for protection, good clarity due to low power, wide fov, adequate eye relief for eye glass wearers, 4.1 exit pupil, mechanically very reliable. Bow hunters, in particular here in Montana, love them because they give plenty of magnification in the brush and timber. Birds do show up quite well with them. Really a bit better than best quality monoculars. Greatly underestimated all around compact binocular IMO. John

I'm still surprised that we don't see more low magnification (6x or 7x) compacts (even up to 32mm).

I guess the marketers know that the general public buy on magnification rather than other useful parameters (like wide FOV, brightness and reduced shake). Which is of course a shame as they miss out on bins that match their needs.

The older Zeiss 6x18 compacts may be worth looking at (though they didn't have a huge FOV).

And to address one of the OPs original comments: people do go "wow" at small "top 4" compacts when they use them. It happened when I gave my Zeiss Victory 8x20 to a friend to pick out a shorebird. He said "wow" and I was a bit surprised. I think sometimes we forget just how good the top-end compacts we use are. Not quite an SE but closer to an SE than the small Nikon reverse porro he was using.

But the real point of small compacts is so you can carry them when you wouldn't carry other bins. Then any bin beats no bin at all. But I do like my single hinge Zeiss.

[Sancho]

Originally Posted by Sancho

I love compacts because you can really have them with you always. None of them I´ve owned (Ultravid, Victory, HGL, Taiga, Elite, Vanquish, BGA/TPC, DBA Oasis) will match a top-end like EII, SE or SV in demanding (low-light) conditions.

On the other hand, all of the above compacts are excellent, and do exactly what compacts are supposed to do - provide great views in a very small package. They vary in optical quality, but for practical purposes the variation between them is pretty irrelevant in the field. More important considerations are price (80 euro to 600 euro!!!), whether or not you need waterproofing, double-hinged roof or single-hinge reverse-porro (or the really handy Zeiss Victory single-hinge roof), and most importantly, how tiny and light you actually need (from the cute and ultra-light Ultravid, to the bulkier but very comfortable "8x32-feel" DBA Oasis, or the solid, chunky, grippy Vanquish. Try them all out, you might be perfectly happy with the cheaper Taigas (superb optics), or the Vanquish (which is waterproof to boot).

[optiman]

Originally Posted by Sancho

On the other hand, all of the above compacts are excellent, and do exactly what compacts are supposed to do - provide great views in a very small package. They vary in optical quality, but for practical purposes the variation between them is pretty irrelevant in the field. More important considerations are price (80 euro to 600 euro!!!), whether or not you need waterproofing, double-hinged roof or single-hinge reverse-porro (or the really handy Zeiss Victory single-hinge roof), and most importantly, how tiny and light you actually need (from the cute and ultra-light Ultravid, to the bulkier but very comfortable "8x32-feel" DBA Oasis, or the solid, chunky, grippy Vanquish. Try them all out, you might be perfectly happy with the cheaper Taigas (superb optics), or the Vanquish (which is waterproof to boot).

Great thread Sancho...even though you didn't start it. Yours, and the other guys in-put is dynamic, purposeful, and very knowledgeable in all respects of compacts. I NEED a good quality compact NOW! How ever finance always gets in the way . I 'd love an Opticron Taiga, but it's useless if not waterproof, as is most non-waterproofs also. The Bushnell Elite 7X26 is SUPERB optically, but, again, not waterproof . Does this mean I'm 'gonna have to wait and save for a nice alpha compact: Zeiss Victory or Leica Ultravid?? Is it worth saving for one of these alleged beauties? Do i stick to buying an Olympus DC I, Taiga or Bushnell Elite....

[elkcub]

You will have to save considerably less for a waterproof Nikon LXL (Premier) 10x25 or 8x20. Some people prefer the view, and the eye relief is 15mm.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/nikon-10...inoculars.html
Ed

[optiman]

Originally Posted by elkcub

You will have to save considerably less for a waterproof Nikon LXL (Premier) 10x25 or 8x20. Some people prefer the view, and the eye relief is 15mm.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/nikon-10...inoculars.html
Ed

Thanks elkcub,
It's a fine binocular I've experienced viewing through the LXL and it's a beautiful, crisp clear view. How ever, the Bushnell Elite 7x26 rival them in my humble opinion. They ARE a bargain for i believe an 'alpha bin'. I'm wondering if the 10x25 FOV is much less than the 8x??

[rick ward]

l have a little top pocket pair of leica 10x25 crisp clear good field of view 4mm exit pupil go abroad with these, remember leaving them in the airport screening tray and having to go back iooyds and still there, that would have killed the holiday

[elkcub]

Originally Posted by optiman

Thanks elkcub,
It's a fine binocular I've experienced viewing through the LXL and it's a beautiful, crisp clear view. How ever, the Bushnell Elite 7x26 rival them in my humble opinion. They ARE a bargain for i believe an 'alpha bin'. I'm wondering if the 10x25 FOV is much less than the 8x??

The 10x and 8x produce the same apparent field, which I compute as 54 deg. (I don't use Nikon's method, which computes to 50 deg.)
http://shop.nikonusa.com/DRHM/store

The Bushnell produces a smaller apparent field of 48.5 deg. (with my method).
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=380297100375

A price difference of $200 or so is quite reasonable for what you'd get. Of course, if you already own the Elite 7x26 I'd just tuck them under my jacket.

Ed

[Super Dave]

After trying the new Bushnell Elite 7x26 and the old Bushnell Custom 6x25 I decided to keep the older one. The Elite is a little brighter but I couldn't tell much of a difference in the image quality (other than the 7x being a little more powerful). I also had less eye placement issues with the 6x25.

The 6x25's are a lot smaller as these photos show.

Although the case on the 7x26 is really cool I thought it was bigger than it needed to be. The case definately makes it way too big to fit in any baggy pockets I have.

The build quality on both is excellent. I'm really surprised how smooth the old one has remained after all these years. The focus wheel is tied into the objective lens side of the binocular. When I stand the 6x25's up on their objective lenses the focus wheel will spin just from the light weight of the bino. That some good machine work. Whatever grease they used is still working great.

Can someone fill me in about the production years of the 6x25's? I thought they were only produced in the beginning of the Custom Compact line.

I also have one question on the Nikon 10x25 LXLs. I've read that the resolution of all compacts drops over longer distances due to their small objective size. How do you find the resolution of the 10x25 LXL's when looking out over long distances...like on the ocean, etc?

Aloha,
Dave

[tpcollins]

I thought the original thread was "can small binos deliver" and somehow 32mm and 42mm objectives became involved. I have 20mm, 26mm, 32mm, 42mm binocs and they each have their place. I don't try to compare them against each other, and my Leica 8x20 Trinovid does exactly what I want it to do.

[denco@comcast.n]

Originally Posted by tpcollins

I thought the original thread was "can small binos deliver" and somehow 32mm and 42mm objectives became involved. I have 20mm, 26mm, 32mm, 42mm binocs and they each have their place. I don't try to compare them against each other, and my Leica 8x20 Trinovid does exactly what I want it to do.

Another limitation of compacts is their lack of resolution at anything beyond about 100 feet because of their small aperture. Fine for close range birding but good luck at any distant birds. I really noticed that with my compacts. Beyond 100 feet you don't get near the detail of the full size binoculars. Here is a good article from Better View Desired describing the limitations of compacts.

http://www.betterviewdesired.com/com...culars-bvd.php