Is there such a thing as good compact binocs?

[primavera]

I've been debating for years whether to get a pair of pocket binocs small enough to keep in the glove compartment of my car, so that I would never again find myself in that awful predicament of seeing some really cool bird but not having binocs with me at that crucial moment and thus being unable to make an identification.

But my sense is that there really aren't any decent compact binocs out there, that the size constraints compel a magnification to lens ratio that is inevitably going to doom them to poor light-gathering capacity and consequently dim images with marginal color. I've considered some of the high end compacts, like the Zeiss and the Swarovskis, but I've wondered whether it's worth the money if the magnification to apperture ratio is going to be an overwhelmingly limiting factor anyway. By such reasoning, if the image quality is doomed to be marginal at best anyway, I might as well save the money and buy some cheapies and just not expect them to perform like full sized binocs.

Am I doing compact binocs an injustice? Are there compact binocs out there that people have tried and found to possess genuinely good optics? Any recommendations?

Alternatively, what do people think of monoculars? It struck me that one way of greatly reducing the size would be to go with a monocular as opposed to a binocular and, after all, we use spotting scopes to good effect, so maybe it's not such a big deal to have binocular vision. Yet I notice they don't seem to be terribly popular, making me wonder whether it's all that great an idea. Any thoughts?

[blindpig]

1. to be honest

I own a pair of compact Swarovskis and am not thrilled with them for the reason stated, no good for crepsucular(sp) work or under canopy. Good thing I paid next to nothing for them.

Only monocular that I've looked at was Russian made and crummy.

[amazona]

2. no luck here with compact binoculars

You need the size for the light-gathering power in my humble view.

My car binoculars are junk, but at least if the car is stolen, I won't tear my hair. They are really just for emergencies -- on the way to the grocery store and I see a raptor on the wire, like that.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[semillama]

3. If they are going to be car binocs, then forget about comparing

to largeer binocs. Just get a decent pair and live with it. It's not like you will be using them for your main birding.

I have three sets of compact binocs. One really shitty 10x50s that magnify shake like hell: these stay in my archeological field kit. I keep an old pair of Bushnell 8X28s in the glove compartment, and a newer pair for travel when I am not going to be bird watching but you never know when something weird shows up outside the window.

the last pair I mentioned I picked up at target, and for what they are, they aren't a bad pair of binoculars.

[mopinko]

4. i like my little minoltas

they are not as good as my big ones, true.
but they function well as glove compartment binocs. usually they tell me that, although that bird looked like it might be something unusual, it is a robin or another redtail.
i bought them cheap on e-bay from someone that did reconditioning.

[Kolesar]

5. coated optics have less light loss

Maybe that could make up the difference for having a small objective lens.

[HeeBGBz]

6. I just bought a Bushnell binocular

Bushnell Powerview 12x25 Folding Roof Prism Compact Binoculars

Compact in size and good quality viewing. I think it would be excellent for birding. Inexpensive too! Only $20!

[Be Brave]

7. I have a Brunton 8x25.

I like it a lot. It's waterproof and has a sturdy rubber outer coat. I throw it in my backpack when I go for hikes. It's also a visually comfortable pair of bins for me. The others I tried at the store were not comfortable for me when I tried them.

I guess the important thing is to "test-drive" before you buy. The store I bought it from had a test poster posted at a distant wall so I could check the resolution, etc. I thought that helped.

Of course, it is a given that a small aperture would gather less light than a larger aperture.