Several years ago I bought some cheap 8x22 roofs, they were "half price" and therefore, I reasoned, a bargain. Needless to say I soon realised that they were rubbish and the experience put me off compacts for a long time.
When retirement arrived a year ago I planned lots of long walks and bike rides to keep fit so had no difficulty in convincing myself that some tiny binoculars should always accompany me. A budget of around £100 seemed about right for something that would only see occasional use and I was not intending them to be a replacement for my existing binoculars. Around a dozen were compared at various optics days and shops, none of the cheaper models were satifactory and just a single mid priced one stood out. Three expensive ones Nikon HGL, Leica UV and Zeiss Victory were exellent. For around half the price of these the Opticron BGA 8x24 was nearly as good. Two reverse porro prism models were also exellent but neither was waterproof and both were a little bulky, compact to me means double hinged roofs, anything larger is pointless, I would rather carry the extra weight of a good 8x32.
I chose the 8x20 Leica BL as these suited be best overall. I have not used them much, when going out birdwatching a mid or large glass is the natural choice and most of my "retirement" so far seems to have consisted of doing all those jobs around ths house and garden that I have been putting off for the past 20 years! However I have used them often enough to form an opinion as to why so many people say that they dont like or can't get on with compacts. Firstly they compare them with full sized glasses, if you visit an optics day and after using a premium 8x42 for a while you look through any compact you will be underwhelmed, secondly while you can get away with sloppy technique with a large binocular, a compact needs everything to be just right to give of it's best, IPD, focus, eyecups and a very steady hold together with spotlessly clean lenses, get all of that right (which you probably won't during a brief squint at an optics fair) and they can be very good indeed.
I found out yesterday just how good. I planned a long birding walk along a section of the South Devon coast, the day was hot and as I didn't want to carry much decided to rely on the little Leica. Using them in the same way as my usual binocular was more difficult ,6.4* FOV vs 7.8* together with the small focus knob and very light weight conspired against the normal precision in tracking moving birds but when I sat down, elbows on knees to watch a flock of Goldfinches demolish some thistle heads 20 yards away and a Kestrel hunting voles at 100 - 200 yards I don't think that any binocular would have given a better view. Throughout the day both my focus Technique (finger and thumb) and steady hold improved (using available rests whenever possible) and I began to appreciate just what these little jewels are capable of! They will never replace full sized binoculars for serious birdwatching but used carefully can give a wonderful views and should satisfy even the most demanding readers of this forum.
Petroc.
Thank you. That's a perfect summary of why compacts are so useful.
Hermann
[QUOTE=Hermann;2183646]Thank you. That's a perfect summary of why compacts are so useful.
Hermann[/QUOTE]
Allow me to second that. An excellent summary. Compacts can be fussy, especially the small exit pupils, and in the long run you might find yourself using them less than you might anticipate, but my little Leica 8x20's will probably be with me for years.
Mark