The Binocular Advisor
Page 2
by Michael and Diane Porter
  Answers to questions from real people with real questions about how to choose a binocular.
Situation: I want to get my husband a binocular that will fit in the
pocket of his shirt.
 Advice: Check out the National Audubon Society's Audubon Vector 8x25 Binocular. It's pretty cute, with passable optical quality. The price is at the low end of the spectrum.
The main drawback is
that it has very short eye relief, which means it doesn't let you see the whole picture if you're wearing glasses.
(If
you want a higher-quality pocket binocular, please see the next
question.)
Situation: Is there a compact binocular of higher quality but still affordable?
 Advice: We're partial to the Vortex Fury 8x28. It has surprisingly good optics for a relatively inexpensive binocular. With its 28mm objective lenses, it's a bit larger than the items ahead and behind it on this page. But it's still under 12 ounces.
Additional advantages are that it's waterproof, and it works well with eyeglasses.
Situation: OK, what is the best pocket binocular?
 Advice: We think it's the Leica Ultravid Compact. Our jaws dropped open the first time we looked through it and saw how bright and clear the image was. This gem has good eye relief, so it works even with glasses. It folds up the smallest of any of the top-quality tinies. It will slip neatly into the breast pocket of a man's shirt. The quality is stunning—both the optical quality and the engineering.
 Zeiss also makes a fine pocket binocular, the Victory
Compact. It costs somewhat less than the Leica. It's very small, but its asymmetrical design makes it a bit wider than the Leica when folded. The 8x20 model is shorter than the 10x25, and it focuses
closer. It works fairly well with glasses.
Copyright 2007 by Michael and Diane Porter.
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