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Message: <blockquote data-quote="elkcub" data-source="post: 1741675" data-attributes="member: 14473">Hi Alberto,I guess the word "compact" is a bit fuzzy, so one might be led to consider a whole range of products.  Inevitably this leads to "size creep," however, and before you know it the whole idea of a true compact has been abandoned.All I can say is that I started birding with a Swaro 10x25 SLC, and observed a goodly percentage of my life list with them.  Much of that was shore birding, so the 10x was ideal. The optics are superb and it's always available for unscheduled events.  Due to an oversight, for example, they turned out to be my only binocular on a Costa Rica trip, where they performed beautifully, even in rain and heavy overcast.  Since compacts are typically folded for easy carry, they do require deployment, but once done are as responsive as any other binocular.  Eyeglasses can be a problem unless there is adequate eye relief (true for any binocular), but in my case the small exit pupil has the added advantage of allowing me to view without glasses.  The 2.5 mm EP optimizes my far-sighted vision by increasing depth of focus and also minimizing the adverse effects of visual astigmatism.  Finally, the somewhat narrow field limits both true and apparent color fringing.Ed</blockquote>