Compact Binoculars are fantastic if you’re an outdoor enthusiast or someone who likes to carry a pair when travelling as they’re lightweight and don’t take up so much space. However, with so many binoculars for sale, how do you know which are the best binocular brands and who makes the best value binoculars?
If you want a quick answer, the best compact binoculars when money is no object, are the Leica Ultravid.
If you’re on a budget, you may need to think more carefully before purchasing the best affordable binoculars for yourself. That’s why Passport and Piano have put together this best compact binoculars buying guide.
This binocular guide will take you through how to choose binoculars, best binoculars for the money and the 10 top rated compact binoculars.
You’ll also find the binocular reviews and recommendations for the best theatre binoculars, best budget binoculars and the best lightweight binoculars for travel.
If you’re not sure whether compact binoculars are for you, check out my reviews here of full-size binoculars and compare the difference.
This article may contain compensated links. Please read my disclaimer policy for more info.
I suggest you start by checking out the comparison chart below, then go on to read the section on how to buy binoculars before scrolling down further to my best binocular reviews.
Best compact Binoculars Comparison Chart
| Make | Image | Size | Use | Weight | Price | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leica Ultravid BR |    |
10×25 4.4 x 4.4 x1.9 in |
birding |
9.4oz 265g |
$$$ | |
| Bushnell H20 |   |
10×25 5 x 4 x 2.8 in |
birding nature |
10.23oz 290kg |
$ | |
| Wingspan Optics Spectator |
  |
8X32 4.5 x 4.5 x 1.8 in |
birding travel theatre |
15.2 oz 431g |
$$ | |
| Skygenius |   |
8×21
2.4 x 4.1 x 3.6 in |
travel |
6.08 oz 172g |
$ | |
| Bushnell
Powerview |
  |
10×25
4 x 2 x 2.8 |
General |
8.5 oz 241g |
$ | |
| SGODDE |   |
10×25 5.1 x 5.1 x 2.5 in |
birding |
8.8 oz 265g |
$ | |
| Eschenbach
Sektor F |
  |
10×25 4 x 4.3 x 1.5 in |
birding nature |
10.6oz 300g |
$$ | |
| Zeiss Terra ED Compact |
  |
10×25 4.4 x 4.4 x1.9 in |
birding |
9.4oz 265g |
$$$ | |
| Nikon ACULON
A30 |
  |
10X25
4.5 x 4.8 x 1 in |
birding |
9.8 oz 278g |
$$ | |
| Olympus Tracker |     |
10×25 4.4 x 1.9 x 4.5 |
birding |
9.88oz 278g |
$$ |
A comparison chart is great but if your not sure what all the numbers mean don’t worry the answers are below.
How to buy binoculars?
The first thing to decide is what are you going to use your compact binoculars for. Consider which of the following would best suit your needs.
Birding binoculars Opera Binoculars Travel Binoculars Best all round binoculars
This will help you when you read the reviews.
Do you wear glasses?
If so you need to pay particular attention to the eye relief of the binoculars. The eye relief gives you the furthest distance your eye can be from the eyepiece while still being able to see the whole field of view.
A pair of glasses adds extra distance from your eye to the eyepiece. Therefore, you need to look for an eye relief greater than 14mm when choosing a pair of compact binoculars.
If you wear thick glasses, chose an eye relief nearer 17 mm.
If you still don’t understand eye relief, this video will help.
Folding binoculars
Compact binoculars are designed to be small but how slim they fold down to depends on the type of hinge system.
Hinges on both sides
Having a hinge for each barrel and a focusing wheel in the centre of the bridge allows binoculars of this type to fold down small. This design makes for the best pocket binoculars.
One hinge
Binoculars which have a hinge in the centre of the two barrels tend to be scaled down versions of their full-size brothers. Most of these tend to be roof prism binoculars and are less compact in design.
Binoculars explained
Binocular Magnification
All binoculars have two numbers such as 10×50 binoculars or 8×42 binoculars. The first of these numbers refer to the magnification power, so if it’s eight, the binoculars will magnify the object by eight times.
In other words, if a bird is 400 yards away and you look through a pair of 8x binoculars, the bird will appear 50 yards away. If you look through a set of 10x binoculars, the bird will appear 40 yards away.
A higher magnification usually means that the depth of field is smaller, and the brightness of the image is compromised.
Compact Binocular size
8 x25 or 10x 25 binoculars are the most common when buying compact binoculars.
If you’re going to use your compact binoculars at the opera or theatre, go for a lower magnification size as the recommended magnification for the theatre is 5 or 6x.
Objective Lens
The second number refers to the objective lens size. The larger the number here, the brighter the image will be through the binoculars. However, a large objective lens makes the binoculars heavier so compact binos tend to compromise here.
If the brightness of the image is essential to you, but you still want lightweight binoculars make sure you check the coatings on the lenses.
Cheap binoculars tend to have the lowest quality lens coatings so light transmission will be compromised further.
Lens coatings
The light that enters the binoculars can be reflected many times through the set of lenses before it reaches your eye. Non coated lenses lose some light each time it is reflected.
There are four types of lens coatings:
- Coated Lenses – One or more surfaces have a single coating.
- Fully Coated – All air to glass surfaces have a single coating.
- Multi-Coated – One or more surfaces are multi-coated
- Fully Multi-Coated – All air to glass surfaces are multi-coated.
Fully Multi-coated lenses reduce the most reflection and give the brightest images. This type of coating is usually only found in high-quality binoculars.
Field of View
This number tells you the width of an area that you can see through the binoculars. The higher the magnification number, the lower the field of view width will be.
The best binoculars for Bird watching have a wide field of view, and this is also important if you’re looking for a pair of opera binoculars. However, if your more likely to view stationary objects and want to see a higher level of detail a narrow field of view is better.
Waterproofing
If you’re looking for hiking binoculars or outdoor binoculars its essential to consider the level of waterproofing. Even if you keep your binoculars in your backpack when it rains they can still get damp, so its best to have some degree of waterproofing if you’re going to use your binoculars frequently outside.
There are different levels of waterproofing from water resistant to fully submersible. Water resistant means that the binoculars can be used in light rain, but they are not designed to get completely wet.
O rings are used to make binoculars watertight, and it’s worth noting that these also prevent dirt and debris entering the lenses. So even if you’re not intending to use your binoculars in the rain its worth considering waterproof binoculars as they have extra lens protection.
Fog Proofing
When you move between different temperatures, binoculars are known for fogging up. If for example you spot something from the window inside your house and you go outside into the colder air, binocular fogging can occur. It’s not only annoying, but it can also cause damage to the binoculars if the moisture is trapped inside.
To prevent fogging, high-end binoculars are filled with inert gas. This is a special kind of gas that is sealed in and prevents moisture from entering the binoculars through atmospheric gas.
Type of Glass in Lenses
The type of glass used in binoculars affects the quality of the image. Good binoculars will use BAK 4 lenses whereas the best cheap binoculars will probably use BAK 7 lenses.
Bak 7 Glass
This is a low-quality glass that suffers from chromatic aberration, which results in image blur.
Bak 4 Glass
Many binocular manufacturers use this type of glass; it has a low refractive index and is resistant to environmental damage.
ED Glass
This is the best type of glass and is usually only found in high-end binoculars. ED glass gives excellent clarity and crispness to the image.
My Top 10 Compact Binocular Reviews
These top 10 recommended binoculars have been tested and compared, and the reviews will help you decide what the best binoculars for your budget are.
| Table of Contents | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Leica Ultravid BR |
| 2 | Bushnell H20 |
| 3 | Wingspan Optics Spectator |
| 4 | Skygenius |
| 5 | Bushnell Powerview |
| 6 | SGODDE |
| 7 | Eschenbach Sektor F |
| 8 | Zeiss Terra ED Compact |
| 9 | Nikon ACULONA30 |
| 10 | Olympus Tracker |
In the binocular reviews, you’ll find detail on the specifications, what activity the binoculars are best for and a link to click if you want to find the best deals on binoculars.
Leica Ultravid BR 10×25
Compact Binocular with AquaDura Lens Coating
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Exit Pupil | 2.5 |
| Twilight factor | 15.8 |
| Field of view at 1,000 yds/m | 273 ft/90 m |
| Eye-relief | 15 mm |
| Suitable for spectacle wearers | Yes |
| Waterproof | Yes |
Making anything smaller is always a challenge as something (usually optical clarity in binoculars) has to give.
However, Leica binoculars have succeeded in making a fantastic compact binocular that doesn’t sacrifice the optical clarity and yet they are lighter and smaller than their competitors.
Body
The aluminium body is what makes them super lightweight binoculars, and the barrels each have a hinge, so they fold up to make very compact binos.
They have a rubberised armor coating which makes them comfortable to hold, and the eyecups are suitable for people who wear glasses.
Image clarity
Images are razor sharp and there’s no colour fringing at the edges. Leica doesn’t specify what glass they use in the lenses, but I suspect its ED, which would explain why the image clarity is up there with the high-end compact binoculars.
Binocular lens
What’s impressive about these Leica binoculars is the high level of optical performance.
Leicas multi-coating on all air to glass surfaces and the dielectric coating on the prisms prevents light from straying. So although the objective lens is quite small in these binoculars, the brightness of the image is not compromised, and if you didn’t know you would think the objective lens size was much bigger.
The centre focusing wheel is easy to use, and you can quickly switch from close range to distance.
Value
The Leica Ultravid are top rated binoculars which do come at a price. If you’re looking for compact bird watching binoculars, you won’t be disappointed with these. Yes, they are expensive, but the image clarity is excellent, and the technology used to achieve this in compact binoculars is worth paying for.
My Verdict
These are my recommendation for the best compact binoculars. If you’re looking for quality optics and lightweight, compact binoculars, these are one of the best in the field. If you can afford to spend the money, get these, they tick all the boxes.
Bushnell H2O Waterproof/Fogproof Roof Prism Binocular
| Specifications | 10×25 |
|---|---|
| Exit Pupil | 2.5 |
| Field of view at 1,000 yds/m | 407 ft/124 m |
| Eye-relief | 12 mm |
| Suitable for spectacle wearers | Yes |
| Waterproof | Yes |
Fogproof and Waterproof Binoculars
Bushnell is a well known an American Brand that makes excellent quality optics. The H20 range is 100% waterproof, which makes this a great set of binoculars for outdoor use and travelling.
They are also sealed with nitrogen, so they are fog proof as well.
The long eye relief makes them an excellent choice for spectacle wearers, and the twisting eyecups are easy to adjust.
Binocular lens
Unlike many compact binoculars in this price range, H20 Bushnell binoculars come with Bak 4 prism lenses as opposed to Bak 7. They are also multi-coated, which means that the images are more precise and more defined compared to other binocular brands.
Roof Prism Design
The Bushnell H20 is also reasonably lightweight considering that they are roof prism bins. Being roof prism the design is more durable, and with a non-slip rubber armour protecting the outside, these bino’s are built for longevity.
Binocular Strength
The 10x magnification and 25 mm objective lens means that the Bushnell H20 is an excellent choice for viewing wildlife or birdwatching. They also have a good close up focus range, and you’ll be able to see objects as close as 3.6 metres.
The binoculars are complemented with a neck strap and a carrying case with lens caps and a lens cleaning cloth is provided as well.
Value
The Bushnell H20 binoculars are the best inexpensive binoculars if your looking for bino’s that are fully waterproof. You get a lot of technology, high magnification and focus range which makes these good binoculars for the money.
My Verdict
The Bushnell H20 is an excellent choice if you’re looking for the best budget compact binoculars for travel, backpacking and wildlife watching.
Wingspan Optics Spectator 8X32 Compact Binoculars
Lightweight and Compact binoculars for Hours of Bright, Clear Bird Watching. Also for Outdoor Sports Games and Concerts
| Specifications | 8×32 |
|---|---|
| Exit Pupil | 4 |
| Field of view at 1,000 yds/m | 362 ft/110 m |
| Eye-relief | 14.8 mm |
| Suitable for spectacle wearers | Yes |
| Waterproof Resistant | Yes |
| Tripod Adaptable | Yes |
The wingspan optics spectator is the best pocket binoculars in this top 10. They fit almost entirely in your hand, so they are small binoculars.
Bird Watching Binoculars
They were designed for bird watching, and they’re perfect for keeping in the glove box of your car so that you’ve always got a pair of bino’s to hand.
They can be used for other activities too and as they fit in your pocket, they make a great pair to take with you when you go hiking.
Field of View
They have an excellent wide field of view, and for such a small size they are reasonably high powered binoculars.
While these are not the most powerful binoculars and the magnification is not as good as some of its competitors, Wingspan optics wins hands down on the clarity of detail.
This pair of binoculars will allow you to spot specific detail and colouring on animals that other makes wouldn’t.
Image Quality
The BAk 4 prism lenses offer excellent crisp vision, and the fog proofing is excellent if you want to use them when the dew is out in the morning.
They are lightweight, but if you want to use them for extended periods, they are capable of being tripod mounted, which is a bonus.
They come with a strap, and a carrying case while covers are provided for both the eyepiece and lenses.
Skygenius 8×21 Small Compact Lightweight Binoculars
For Concerts, Theater or Opera use and Mini Pocket Folding Binoculars For Travel, Hiking and Bird Watching
| Specifications | 8×21 |
|---|---|
| Exit Pupil | 5.2 |
| Field of view at 1,000 yds/m | 369 ft/112 m |
| Eye-relief | 16 mm |
| Suitable for spectacle wearers | Yes |
| Waterproof Resistant | No |
The sky genius is the perfect binocular choice for the theatre.They are lightweight and super compact, and as such, they’ll fit in your travel purse or pocket.
Lens Coatings
The sky genius compact binoculars have fully coated lenses so not only do they make good opera binoculars they perform well in low light conditions outdoors. This pair of binoculars would be good to take hiking although you won’t get the clarity of vision for bird watching that you would with some of the other compact binoculars.
Smooth Focusing Ring
The smooth centre focusing knob is easy to adjust and perfect for when your watching performances at the theatre or opera. For such mini binoculars, you get a wide field of view, and the eye relief is enough that most people who wear glasses will find these binoculars easy to focus through.
Value
The smaller objective lens makes them very lightweight, which again is perfect if you’re using them for a theatre production. For the price, they offer excellent value, and they’re hard to beat.
My Verdict
These are cheap binoculars that are excellent value for money if you’re mainly going to use them for the theatre, with occasional outdoor use. If you’re looking for a pair of small binoculars for outdoors there are better ones on the market.
Bushnell Powerview Compact Folding Roof Prism Binocular
| Specifications | 10×25 |
|---|---|
| Exit Pupil | 2.5 |
| Field of view at 1,000 yds/m | 300 ft/91 m |
| Eye-relief | 9 mm |
| Suitable for spectacle wearers | Not the Best |
| Waterproof Resistant | No |
Bushnell binoculars are a well-known brand that has been around for 50 years. They have an excellent reputation and excellent image quality at an affordable price.
Good all around Binoculars
The Bushnell Powerview range comes in a variety of sizes, and their versatility as a binocular makes them a great choice. Whether you’re looking for a compact binocular to take travelling, observe wildlife and nature or to take to the theatre this range will have a size that’s suitable for the purpose.
Binocular Design
They have a contemporary look while keeping the durability and build quality of other Bushnell binoculars. The black rubber armour offers protection and ensures that they’re comfortable to hold for sustained periods. While the BAk7 lenses are not fog proof, they are fully coated, which means you get a brighter image in low light situations.
Image Quality
The range is also built on the roof prism design, which means that you get crystal clear, sharp images For theatre goers the 10×32 is a good choice although the optimum pair would be the 12 x21.
The downside of these binoculars is that they are not waterproof, so they are not the best compact binoculars to take on your travels. That said on a summers day you wouldn’t find a better binocular in this price range to take on your nature walks.
Value
The fold-away design means that they easily fit in your pocket or travel purse and for the price they offer excellent value.
My Verdict
If your a beginner, or want a cheap pair of binos to leave in the car or use with children this range is an excellent choice.
SGODDE-Compact Binoculars 10×25 –
Waterproof Binoculars that are good in weak light and fold to a handy compact size.
| Specifications | 10×25 |
|---|---|
| Exit Pupil | 2.5 |
| Field of view at 1,000 yds/m | 362 ft/110 m |
| Eye-relief | 20 mm |
| Suitable for spectacle wearers | Yes |
| Waterproof Resistant | Yes |
SGodde is not a brand that you may have heard of, but don’t write these binoculars off; they offer a lot for their small price tag.
Image Quality – Excellent in Low light conditions
The Bak 4 Prism lenses are fully coated with a green film which increases the light transmission phenomenally, resulting in bright, crisp images.
The reasonably sizeable objective lens means that you’ll have good vision in low light conditions too, so these binoculars are a great choice if your wildlife watching at sunrise or sunset.
You also get an excellent field of view, which is useful if you want to use them while hiking or exploring. The central focusing wheel is easy to use and the adjustable eyecups make them perfect for people that wear glasses.
Binocular Design
The contemporary design has a rubber armour that is anti-slip making them easy to hold and they’re very lightweight. They also fit in your pocket, which makes them handy if you want to use them while hiking or at the theatre.
Although the SGODDE binoculars are not fully waterproof they are water resistant, so you don’t need to worry if a few drops of rain fall on them.
Value
These binoculars are the best lightweight binoculars in their price bracket. They’re cheap, but with Bak 4 lenses, water-resistant armor and a reasonably sizeable objective lens you get a lot for your money.
They come with a portable bag, cleaning cloth and strap and a 30-day refund if you’re not happy with them.
My Verdict
These are a fabulous pair of binoculars that you can leave in the glove box of your car and have to hand whenever you need them. You could even buy a couple of pairs they cost so little.
Eschenbach Sektor F 8×25 Waterproof Compact Binoculars for Bird Watching
| Specifications | 8×25 |
|---|---|
| Exit Pupil | 3.1 |
| Field of view at 1,000 yds/m | 429 ft/131 m |
| Eye-relief | 10 mm |
| Suitable for spectacle wearers | Not the Best |
| Waterproof | Yes |
These are an excellent choice of compact German binoculars for birdwatching, taking on safari or nature watching.
Fully Multicoated lenses
The image quality is crystal clear, which is not surprising as Eschenbach uses fully-coated optics, and Bak4 corrected prism lenses. The lenses are also filled with nitrogen, which prevents them from fogging, and they are fully waterproof, which makes them an excellent choice for outdoor use.
The case is also watertight, so they are an excellent choice when travelling. Eschenbach is a German company that has been around for 100 years, and with all this experience, their optics are always highly regarded.
Durability
The Sektor F binoculars have the excellent build quality that you would expect from a German manufacturer, and the anti-slip rubber coating offers both protection and a better grip. For small binoculars, they have a wide field of view, and they’re great for spotting fast moving objects.
The binocular eyecups are fully adjustable, which makes them an excellent choice for spectacle wearers.
Value
For the size and price, these are excellent value, so it’s no surprise that they are often featured in best compact binocular reviews.
My Verdict
If you’re looking for a good pair of mini binoculars to take on your travels or to have in the glove box of your car, these are a great buy.
Zeiss 8×25 Terra ED Compact Pocket Binoculars
| Specifications | 8×25 |
|---|---|
| Exit Pupil | 3.1 |
| Field of view at 1,000 yds/m | 357 ft/109 m |
| Eye-relief | 16 mm |
| Suitable for spectacle wearers | Yes |
| Waterproof | Yes |
Best Travel Binoculars
This is a fabulous pair of outdoor binoculars that are perfect for taking to any travel destination. They operate in temperatures as low as -20c and as high as 60°C which is a far greater range than most.
This model of Zeiss binoculars is also water resistant, which adds to their suitability for outdoor activities and bird watching. They are lightweight and fold up small, which makes transporting them easy. The smooth focusing wheel gives specific focus quickly and the covering armor gives plenty of grip.
Image Quality
The ED lenses produce razor-sharp images, and with one of the most extensive fields of view and the closest near focus range, these are one of the leaders in the field of midrange compact binoculars.
Value
These are mid-range binoculars but with high-end features. The ED glass in the lenses makes these binoculars excellent value for money. They are also robust, which makes them the perfect choice for taking on your travels.
My Verdict
If you can afford these binoculars, they are one of the best compact binoculars for outdoor activities. The only downside is that they are water resistant as opposed to fully waterproof.
Nikon Aculon A30 10×25 Binoculars
| Specifications | 10×25 |
|---|---|
| Exit Pupil | 2.5 |
| Field of view at 1,000 yds/m | 262 ft/80 m |
| Eye-relief | 10.6 mm |
| Suitable for spectacle wearers | Not the best |
| Waterproof | Yes |
Nikon is a well-known brand that has a long history of engineering quality lenses at an affordable price. These Nikon binoculars offer fantastic image quality and are great for outdoor use.
Image Quality
The Bak 4 prisms and multicoated lenses produce images that are crisp and super clear with good light transmission. They are lightweight and fold up small so fitting them in your pocket is not a problem.
Value
They make a great pair of travel binoculars and for the price, they perform well. Some may find the interpupillary distance isn’t great as there’s no way of locking the barrel distance, so they can move when you’re adjusting the focusing wheel.
My Verdict
If your looking for a budget pair of binoculars to pack in your suitcase these would be a good choice, particularly if you prefer a well-known brand.
Olympus Tracker 10×25
Porro Prism Binoculars
| Specifications | 10×25 |
|---|---|
| Exit Pupil | 2.5 |
| Field of view at 1,000 yds/m | 299 ft/91 m |
| Eye-relief | 15 mm |
| Suitable for spectacle wearers | Yes |
| Waterproof | No |
Performance
The smooth focusing ring is easy to use, and the high magnification gives excellent sharp images which are much brighter than you’d expect from such a small objective lens.
The BaK-4 prisms are multi-coated to improve their image brightness, sharpness and the high-performance optics offer UV ray protection.
Contemporary Design
The contemporary design makes them exceedingly stylish although they are not waterproof. The centre focusing knob is well placed, and they have a great close up focus range.
They are extremely lightweight which makes them a great set of travel binoculars. They are, however, tricky to hold and the field of view is somewhat narrow at 5.2 degrees. I should also point out that they are not great for people with a pupillary distance over 70 millimetres.
Value
For the price, these are small, powerful binoculars and the best compact binoculars for birding so long as the weather is dry.
My Verdict
If your looking for the best inexpensive binoculars and are not concerned about them being waterproof, then these are a great choice. They’re also one of the best lightweight binoculars on the market it’s just a shame they’re not waterproof.
Conclusion
I hope after reading this guide you’ve found all the answers to your questions and chosen the perfect compact binoculars for yourself. If you’re still unsure about compact binoculars you may also be interested in reading my guide on the best binoculars for birding, wildlife and travel which you can do so here.
If you’re packing your binoculars in a suitcase check out my guide to the best TSA travel locks here. Although thieves can still break into TSA locks they do act as a deterrent.
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Hi, I’m Fiona Berry- I live in Lancashire in the North of England, but my job as an instrumental music examiner takes me all over the world. Travel has enriched my life in so many ways and allowed me to experience different cultures, make new friends and see extraordinary sights. Through this blog, I share my knowledge and expertise so that my readers have all the resources they require to ensure their travels provide unique and unforgettable memories to destinations that are beyond the ordinary.
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