by Diane and Michael Porter
| The
following two tables (Roof Prism and Porro
Prism) show the pocket binoculars tested.
Each tables shows the models with highest magnification at the top. Within the same magnification, the higher resolution scores lead the list. |
| Maker | Model | Power |
Prism Design |
Wt. (oz.) | Eye Relief (mm.) | Close Focus (ft.) |
Nitrogen
filled
|
Length (in.) | Width (in.) | Depth (in.) |
Strap
Design
|
Strap Width | Dangle Factor | |||||||||
| 10x |
8x
|
7x
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| Leica | Trinovid BCA | 10x25 | Roof | 8.6 | 13.7 | 16.4 |
10
|
Resist
|
285
|
No
|
FMC
|
Yes
|
snap
|
4.3 | 2.5 | 1.5 |
cord
|
1/8 | straight | $429.00 | ||
| Zeiss | Victory | 10x25 | Roof | 8.6 | 13.5 | 18 |
Yes
|
285
|
Yes
|
MC
|
Yes
|
fold
|
4.7 | 3.8 | 2.0 |
cord
|
1/16 | straight | $429.95 | |||
| Zeiss | ClassiC | 10x25 | Roof | 7.1 | 14 | 18 |
10
|
Yes
|
285
|
No
|
MC
|
Yes
|
fold
|
4.4 | 2.4 | 2.0 |
cord
|
1/16 | straight | $499.99 | ||
| Minox | Minox BD | 10x25 | Roof | 10.2 | 17 | 9.5 |
9
|
No
|
261
|
Yes
|
MC
|
Yes
|
twist
|
4.3 | 2.5 | 1.8 |
cord
|
3/32 | head-in | $159.00 | ||
| Pentax | DCF MP | 10x28 | Roof | 15.5 | 20 | 6 |
Yes
|
261
|
Yes
|
FMC
|
Yes
|
twist
|
strap
|
1/4 | straight | $279 + | ||||||
| Swarovski | 10x25 | Roof | 8.1 | 13 | 16 |
9
|
Yes
|
285
|
Yes
|
FMC
|
Yes
|
snap
|
4.3 | 2.4 | 1.8 |
strap
|
3/16 | toe-in | $576.00 | |||
| Weaver | Compact | 10x28 | Roof | 8.8 | 10 | 19 |
9
|
Yes
|
254
|
Yes
|
FMC
|
No
|
fold
|
4.3 | 3.0 | 2.0 |
strap
|
1/4 | toe-in | $218.99 | ||
| Brunton | Compact Eterna | 10x25 | Roof | 12 | 17 | 13 |
8
|
Yes
|
260
|
Yes
|
FMC
|
Yes
|
snap
|
4.6 | 2.8 | 2.0 |
padded
|
1 1/4 | head-in | $229.00 | ||
| Tasco | EXP Waterproof | 10x25 | Roof | 12.6 | 8 | 16 |
8
|
Yes
|
345
|
Yes
|
FMC
|
No
|
fold
|
4.3 | 4.0 | 2.4 |
strap
|
1/4 | toe-in | $169.99 | ||
| Tasco | Amphibian | 10x25 | Roof | 12.9 | 13 | 13.5 |
7
|
Yes
|
315
|
Yes
|
FC
|
No
|
fold
|
3.8 | 3.3 | 2.0 |
cord
|
1/16 | head-in | $49.99 | ||
| Canon | Compact | 10x25 | Roof | 10.6 | 11 | 9.8 |
5
|
No
|
275
|
No
|
MC
|
No
|
fold
|
4.1 | 2.6 | 2.0 |
cord
|
3/32 | head-in | $140.00 | ||
| Weaver | Compact | 8x24 | Roof | 7.9 | 10 | 17 |
8
|
Yes
|
315
|
Yes
|
FMC
|
No
|
fold
|
3.9 | 2.8 | 2.0 |
strap
|
1/4 | toe-in | $204.99 | ||
| Deutsche Optik | B/Ga Compact | 8x22 | Roof | 11 | 14 | 13 |
8
|
Resist
|
360
|
Yes
|
FMC
|
Yes
|
fold
|
4.0 | 2.8 | 2.0 |
cord
|
3/16 | straight | $199.00 | ||
| Pentax | DCF MC | 8x28 | Roof | 15.5 | 20 | 6 |
|
Yes
|
330
|
Yes
|
FMC
|
Yes
|
twist
|
strap
|
1/4 | straight | $259 + | |||||
| Swarovski | Compact | 8x20 | Roof | 7.6 | 13 | 13 |
8
|
Yes
|
345
|
Yes
|
FMC
|
Yes
|
snap
|
3.8 | 2.4 | 1.8 |
strap
|
3/16 | toe-in | $521.00 | ||
| Zeiss | ClassiC | 8x20 | Roof | 6.3 | 14 | 10.8 |
8
|
Yes
|
345
|
No
|
MC
|
Yes
|
fold
|
3.8 | 2.3 | 2.0 |
cord
|
1/16 | straight | $399.95 | ||
| Zeiss | Victory | 8x20 | Roof | 8 | 13.5 | 10.8 |
Yes
|
351
|
Yes
|
MC
|
Yes
|
fold
|
4.7 | 3.8 | 2.0 |
cord
|
1/16 | straight | $479.99 | |||
| Leica | Trinovid BCA | 8x20 | Roof | 7.9 | 13.9 | 9.8 |
8
|
Resist
|
345
|
No
|
FMC
|
Yes
|
snap
|
3.6 | 2.5 | 1.5 |
cord
|
1/8 | straight | $399.00 | ||
| Minox | Minox BD | 8x24 | Roof | 10.4 | 18 | 9.5 |
7
|
No
|
273
|
No
|
MC
|
No
|
twist
|
4.3 | 2.5 | 1.8 |
cord
|
3/32 | head-in | $149.00 | ||
| Brunton | Lite-Tech Compact | 8x25 | Roof | 12 | 12.5 | 28 |
6
|
Yes
|
429
|
Yes
|
FC
|
No
|
fold
|
4.3 | 4.4 | 2.3 |
strap
|
3/8 | toe-in | $99.00 | ||
| Brunton | Compact Eterna | 8x25 | Roof | 12 | 18.5 | 9.1 |
6
|
Yes
|
270
|
Yes
|
FMC
|
Yes
|
snap
|
4.6 | 2.8 | 2.0 |
padded
|
1 1/4 | head-in | $229.00 | ||
| Opticron | Aspheric LE | 8x25 | Roof | 10.3 | 22 | 6.6 |
6
|
No
|
298
|
No
|
FMC
|
Yes
|
twist
|
4.4 | 2.8 | 2.5 |
cord
|
3/32 | head-in | $115.00 | ||
| Eagle Optics | Explorer | 8x22 | Roof | 7.76 | 10 | 6.6 |
6
|
No
|
370
|
No
|
MC
|
No
|
fold
|
3.8 | 2.8 | 2.6 |
cord
|
1/8 | head-in | $59.00 | ||
| Maker | Model | Power |
Prism Design |
Wt. (oz.) | Eye Relief (mm.) | Close Focus (ft.) |
Nitrogen filled
|
Length (in.) | Width (in.) | Depth (in.) |
Strap Design
|
Strap Width | Dangle Factor | |||||||||
| 10x |
8x
|
7x
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| Eagle Optics | Voyager | 10x25 | Porro | 9.5 | 18 | 8.2 |
9
|
No
|
262
|
No
|
MC
|
NA
|
twist
|
3.8 | 4.3 | 2.0 |
strap
|
1/4 | toe-in | $78.00 | ||
| Swift | Micron CF (A) | 10x22 | Porro | 5.25 | 8 | 22 |
9
|
Yes
|
258
|
Yes
|
FMC
|
NA
|
fold
|
3.4 | 4.1 | 2.0 |
strap
|
1/4 | toe-in | $110.00 | ||
| Bausche & Lomb | Legacy Compact 2001 | 10x24 | Porro | 9.3 | 16 | 10 |
8
|
Yes
|
272
|
Yes
|
FMC
|
NA
|
twist
|
4.0 | 4.1 | 2.0 |
strap
|
3/4 | toe-in | $89.99 | ||
| Olympus | PC I | 8x25 | Porro | 9.9 | 16.5 | 8.2 |
9
|
No
|
315
|
No
|
MC
|
NA
|
twist
|
3.9 | 4.5 | 2.0 |
lace
|
1/4 | toe-in | $129.00 | ||
| Swift | Trekker ZWCF (A) | 8x26 | Porro | 12 | 14 | 10 |
8
|
No
|
341
|
No
|
FMC
|
NA
|
fold
|
3.5 | 4.5 | 2.1 |
strap
|
1 1/4 | toe-in | $360.00 | ||
| Eagle Optics | Voyager | 8x25 | Porro | 9.9 | 18 | 8.2 |
8
|
No
|
330
|
No
|
MC
|
NA
|
twist
|
3.8 | 4.3 | 2.0 |
strap
|
1/4 | toe-in | $68.00 | ||
| Nikon Inc. | Travelite | 8x25 | Porro | 9 | 14 | 9.8 |
8
|
No
|
294
|
No
|
FMC
|
NA
|
fold
|
4.4 | 5.0 | 1.3 |
strap
|
5/8 | toe-in | $156.95 | ||
| Pentax | UCF X | 8x25 | Porro | 11.1 | 15 | 6.2 |
8
|
No
|
324
|
No
|
MC
|
NA
|
snap
|
4.5 | 4.9 | 2.3 |
strap
|
1/4 | toe-in | $109.00 | ||
| Pentax | UCF WR | 8x24 | Porro | 12.8 | 13 | 13.1 |
8
|
Resist
|
393
|
Yes
|
MC
|
NA
|
snap
|
4.3 | 5.0 | 2.5 |
strap
|
3/4 | toe-in | $139.00 | ||
| Swift | Micron CF (A) | 8x25 | Porro | 11 | 8 | 8 |
7
|
No
|
331
|
No
|
FMC
|
NA
|
fold
|
3.5 | 4.3 | 2.0 |
strap
|
1/4 | toe-in | $99.95 | ||
| Meade | Travel View | 8x25 | Porro | 10.5 | 12 | 20 |
6
|
No
|
426
|
No
|
FC
|
NA
|
fold
|
3.9 | 5.0 | 2.3 |
strap
|
3/8 | toe-in | $39.99 | ||
| Opticron | Taiga | 8x25 | Porro | 9.9 | 18 | 8.2 |
6
|
No
|
361
|
No
|
FMC
|
NA
|
twist
|
4.0 | 4.5 | 2.0 |
strap
|
1/4 | toe-in | $99.00 | ||
| Olympus | DPC I | 8x21 | Porro | 6 | 11 | 7.2 |
6
|
No
|
336
|
No
|
C
|
NA
|
fold
|
3.0 | 4.1 | 1.8 |
strap
|
1/4 | toe-in | $59.00 | ||
| Canon | Canon | 8x23 | Porro | 8.8 | 11 | 9.8 |
4
|
No
|
338
|
No
|
MC
|
NA
|
fold
|
4.0 | 3.6 | 2.5 |
strap
|
1/4 | toe-in | $110.00 | ||
| Bausche & Lomb | Custom | 7x26 | Porro | 12 | 16 | 8 |
8
|
No
|
363
|
No
|
FMC
|
NA
|
fold
|
3.8 | 4.2 | 2.0 |
strap
|
1 1/2 | toe-in | $420.00 | ||
| Nikon Inc. | Sprint | 7x21 | Porro | 8.5 | 12.5 | 9.8 |
5
|
No
|
351
|
No
|
FMC
|
NA
|
fold
|
3.5 | 4.6 | 2.3 |
strap
|
1/4 | toe-in | $112.95 | ||
|
THE BIG DEAL ABOUT POCKET OPTICS |
|
| PART I | Why Get Pocket Optics? |
| PART II | Features to look for in pocket binoculars |
| PART III | The Reviews |
