Pocket binos/monocular

[ASHCROFT9491]

Looking at a small travel size binos and toying with the vortex 10x32 diamondback hd or potentially their 10x36 monocular

Any users of the 10x32 Diamondbacks with feedback pro or cons

Want compact for holiday travels and glove box use

 

[Keith Edmunds]

I use Diamond 8x32's - no complaints at all, very compact and lightweight.

 

[opticron1]

I have to be honest and say I like my 10 x 25 Swarovski's, easy to use and very compact, but obviously a bit more expensive than the Vortex. The one thing I would caution about the monocular (and I have a 10 x 42 opticron monocular) is the fact that you need both hands to focus it, whereas the bino's are single hand use.

 

[Tazz]

Go double hinge reduces the size and makes them properly “pocket” size, more money than you want pay but I have the Swarovski 10x25 pockets they are excellent.

 

[finnbear270]

I got a "Youth" sized Vortex "Bantam" 6.5 x 32, for a must fit in a pocket binocular.

 

[sauer]

I have 10x32 diamondbacks and great in car etc but I still wanted true pocket binos so also on black Friday got a deal on leica trinovid 10x25 and they are superb

Depends if want true pocket pair or happy with wee bit bigger for car or dog walking ..can put them round d neck with supplied comfy strap and I side a jacket then don't swing about

Both good ...your choice

Monarch country products speak to Rob for price on 10x25 diamondbacks

Paul

 

[ASHCROFT9491]

Thanks chaps some useful info, they'll mainly be in a bag when on holibobs so not essential they fit in a pocket

I think the 10x32 diamondback will be compact enough and in budget for a cheaper pair

 

[Will the chippy]

I got a "Youth" sized Vortex "Bantam" 6.5 x 32, for a must fit in a pocket binocular.

I bought a pair of these for about 70quid. There fab and no eye strain, and you don't get the wobbles like higher mag binos. There my go to set.

 

[Rutland lad]

My better half wanted a pair of small binos and at a birdwatching event I was stunned by the performance of a pair of Leica Trinovid 8x20. I was also stunned momentarily by the price, but buy once and cry once and all that PLUS she liked them so I bought them. I’ve actually taken them stalking, and up until the last 10 minutes of light when my 8x56 Steiner were missed, they did bloody well.
I’ve looked through lots of ‘small’ binos, but some are much better than you’d believe.

 

[Spikelet]

After quite a bit of research I went for Viking Merlin 8x32. Good construction, compact and awesome clarity.
More than happy

 

[SimpleSimon]

I've got a pair of 8x32 Diamondbacks. They're not truly pocket sized, but they're light enough to hang around your neck and forget about. I keep them in the car and they go with me on dog walks and the like "just in case" I see something interesting.
I had the 8x36 monocular previously, and I sold it to buy the Diamondbacks. I couldn't get on with the monocular, it was OK for a quick glance but I found it fatiguing if you wanted a longer look...

 

[ASHCROFT9491]

Thanks buddy, that helps

 

[jthyttin]

I think the 10x32 diamondback will be compact enough and in budget for a cheaper pair

I have 10x25 Zeiss Conquest for true pocket size, and "New Diamondback" 8x42 in glovebox (bought it 2017, Vortex nomenclature is not very self evident at times to distinguish between models).

Zeiss needs some support if you want to really see some detail. It has quite narrow depth of field (was aware of this and it was one reason I bought them), so you can use that to your advantage to pick up stuff you couldn't detect otherwise. Like birds in tree.

I think you can support 10x32 better (handheld that is), so you might get away with them. But I might also look at 8x32.

Look at birdwatching sites for bino reviews.

 

[Plummer]

Monocular Pulsar XG35

 

[oldhamstocks]

This is one of these dangerous SD threads for me - absolutely DO NOT NEED a pair of compact binoculars but went down an online research rabbit hole for the last hour and was about to order a set of Hawke Compact ED 10 x 25, when I suddenly remembered I have a pair of Nikon Sportstar EX 10 x 25 with London Olympics branding from 2012. Just found them and by golly they’re good! Very light and very crisp glass.