Getting the best compact binoculars is not just simply about enhancing your sightseeing, but it’s more about the experience.
Observing a magnificent picture with just a click has never been easier for nature lovers, artists, and photographers. With a small size and foldable structure, compact binoculars are portable and neat, making them suitable for bird-watching, stargazing, or even when you’re in a football game and your seat is the furthest from the field. For angry wives, seeing is believing, and a good pair of compact binoculars can help you spy on your cheating husband.
For guys, and we mean it, stalking on the girl you like would be easier without getting noticed thanks to that awesome spyglass. Not to mention compact binoculars are much cheaper than regular binoculars. Plus 3D (three-dimensional) and HD (high definition) images can be included in some compact binoculars, hence, giving you an even better experience.
Since there are too many options out there, finding the best compact binoculars can be super difficult. But there is nothing to be worried about, here in this article, our experts have chosen and reviewed the top 17 best compact binoculars in 2021. Let’s buckle up your backpack and see what we have to offer.
Best Binoculars In 2021 | Best Binoculars For Night Vision | Best Binoculars for Birdwatching | Best Binoculars For Hunting | Best Binoculars For Marine |
** Below, you will find our detailed reviews of the Best Compact Binoculars, but you can also click these following links to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
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Top Best Compact Binoculars Reviews 2021
Swarovski SLC 10x42 Waterproof Binoculars with FieldPro Package, Green
- The purchase Includes: Swarovski Optik SLC 10x42 Binoculars, Field Bag, Eyepiece Cover, Objective Lens Cover, Lift Carrying Strap, Swarovski Optik Limited Warranty
- 10x Magnification, 61-degree apparent field of view
You will have the best hunting time of your life with the SLC 10x42 binoculars from the famous brand Swarovski.
The Swarovski SLC 10x42 is coated with a flexible, yet durable rugged design that comes with attached covers for better protection against collisions and steam. Hence, the lenses are completely waterproof. The durability of the glass comes from the fact that they are roof prism.
Along with the modern Swarovision HD technology, short eye relief of 16 mm, 10x magnification and a lens size of 42 mm, the images are bigger, clearer, and more colorful. Larger field of view also enables hunters to seek out and locate moving targets a lot easier, even at night.
Other features come with a tight rubber handgrip to prevent hand slippery and a small field bag to hold the whole set of SLC 10x42.
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Steiner Military-Marine Series Binoculars
- MILITARY OPTICS FOR CIVILIANS - With 10x magnification and a 302ft wide field of view, the Steiner Military-Marine 10x50 Binoculars offer sharp images in an easy-to-handle design.
- SPORTS AUTO FOCUS - Delivers, once shot, always sharp, briliant 3D images from 20yds to infinity without refocusing, perfect for your active life.
You should never miss out on this awesome pair of binoculars because the images are as lively as watching a whale through the window of a submarine.
The Steiner Military-Marine binoculars come with a set of 5, each has a different magnification power, price, and field of view. However, all 5 have military-based quality for a strong NBR rubber armored coat that is superb at keeping the moisture out.
Special floating Porro prism system ensures steady images and resists any environmental impact at the same time. Additionally, the 3D trajectory under wide eyepiece and lowlight features will maintain the sharpness and clarity of the pictures, even at night.
These binoculars are absolutely lightweight and easy to be carried around.
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Leupold BX-4 Pro Guide HD 12x50mm Binocular
- Model #172675 - BX-4 Pro Guide HD 12x50mm binoculars in shadow gray
- 100% Waterproof and fogproof and backed by Leupold's legendary customer care
With superb magnification of 12x plus a long range of objective lenses at 50 mm, the Leupold BX-4 is an astounding choice for both day and night hunting.
The binoculars have a double-hinged design and are made of durable, stainless aluminum that not only blocks water and fog, but they are also well shock-resistant. HD calcium-fluoride lenses under the highest rank prism, BAK-4, gradually provide smooth and bright images with minimal chromatic aberration.
A bino case, shoulder strap, and lens covers are included to keep your binoculars safe and sound. Not too mention the Leupold BX-4 offers 3 types of colors to choose.
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YaNovate 12x42 Binoculars for Adults & Kids
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A perfect gift for both adults and kids, YaNovate 12x42 is a must-have for special events like sports or concerts, and also for outdoor activities like bird watching or hunting.
A BAK-4 prism along with a wide, fully multi-coated pair of lenses, and a 12x HD magnification dictate the brightness and sharpness of the picture. All of this propitiousness supports night vision. Rugged style is used to construct these binoculars, making them more pliable and stout at the same time.
The design also enhances water- and fogproof, and slip- and shock-resistant capability for the shell although the lenses are not. The YaNovate 12x42 is pretty slim too due to its 500-gram weight. Furthermore, 18-mm eye relief is built to assist glasses wearers.
There is a big, tight grip with a focus wheel to encourage higher definition at a quick pace and reduce hand slippery, and water- and fogproof rubber covers to prevent blurry images. A small packet and a piece of rubber rope are included.
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Carson 3D Series High Definition Full Sized and Compact Waterproof Binoculars
- High Definition Binoculars with Fully Multi-Coated Lenses for Bright and Sharp Images
- Shock-Resistant Rubberized Armor Coating - Waterproof and Fogproof
The Carson 3D Series has 4 different types of binoculars with 4 different magnification powers that possess 4 different weights, giving you more options to choose from.
The full sized binoculars are coated with strong rubber that ensures both water and fogproof with high level of impact-resistance. As mentioned above, each of the 4 types of compact binoculars in the series has a different magnification number, hence, there will be different fields of view and resolution.
However, the 4 binoculars have a BAK-4 prismatic function and a 3D system, so the overall clarity is the same for all 4. Long eye relief will decrease the chances of getting an eye strain.
Other accessories included are: leather neck and shoulder strap, eye cups, a small case, lens covers, and a wiping cloth. All of which are necessary to reinforce a better travelling experience.
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Nikon 16001 10x30 Prostaff 7S Binoculars
- PROSTAFF 7S 10x30 Binocular delivers sharper images that are full of brightness and optical clarity with multi-coated lenses and roof prism, with 10x magnification
- Lightweight, ergonomic body design makes these binoculars great for bird watching, travel, and more
The Nikon brand makes its way to the list with many advanced technologies contributing to camera devices. This time, the brand offers its service to produce fine compact binoculars, and this Nikon 16001 10x30 is one of those good examples.
Made of strong, non-slippery, and abrasion-resistant rubber, the Nikon 16001 can withstand any impact from the environment and keep the water away from the lenses. 10x magnification and the use of new digital PROSTAFF 7S technology will deliver super sharp, clear, and bright images under roof prism.
Furthermore, the long eye relief feature is added to prevent direct eye contact, especially helpful for people wearing glasses. The pair of binoculars is lightweight, and there are 2 options of these binoculars with different magnifications as well.
Extra features include a leather neck strap, small case, lens covers, lens pen, and wiping cloth. All of which can be used for better preservation of the binoculars.
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Olympus Binocular 10x50 S
- Wide field of view optimal for tracking fast-moving subjects - find a subject quicker with a wider view of your surroundings, whilst enjoying sharply defined details and brilliant natural colours.
- High-performance optics provide a bright, clear field of view with superb transmittance and sharp, high-resolution images with minimal distortion and chromatic aberration even in low light conditions.
Next in the list, we have a very competing candidate for the universal observation, the Olympus Binocular 10x50 S.
There are 2 models of this Olympus Binocular, 10x50 and 8x40, with different price and magnification. Though the 10x50 is more costly than the 8x40, its image quality is bigger and clearer due to higher magnification and wider objective lenses.
Still, both types of binoculars have 12 mm eye relief which improves comfortness for your eyes, an ergonomic, strong rubberized coat for a better grip and shock-resistance, soft plastic tubes for easier folding, and high-performance optics under Porro prism will give you a sharp image with supreme color fidelity and brightness. Olympus binoculars are no doubt lightweight and easy to use.
Furthermore, the whole set includes a small case with lens covers and a leather neck strap.
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LIANGZAI 10x42 Compact Binoculars for Adults
Another wise choice for conquering the outside world, the LIANGZAI 10x42 comes with many cool features and an awesome design.
These binoculars are built with durable yet flexible, Nitrogen-filled material that blocks both water and fog nicely. BAK-4 prism along with fully multi-coated lenses with strong 10x magnification will deliver smooth, crisp, and large images even at 100 yards away.
Low Light is not a problem as the LIANGZAI 10x42 is also equipped with HD vision for dusk views. Eye cups are also included to help glasses wearers see clearer at a longer eye relief. Thus, you don’t need to be afraid of the progressing myopia while looking at these tubes for too long.
These binoculars are roughly 650 grams which are light enough. Other than that, there are extra pairs of lenses, a small case, a tripod adapter, and an eyepiece cover. All of which are helpful for preserving your precious binoculars from dust and scratches.
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Beenate Binoculars for Adults and Kids, Beenate 10x25 Compact Binoculars
- 【FMC Broadband Coating Technology】 The objective lens uses optical FMC multilayer broadband green film, and the eyepiece optical components are made of blue FMC coating. A light transmittance of 99.5% can be achieved to maintain a good image and bring you an extraordinary experience.
- 【10x25 High Magnification】This small pocket binoculars has a high magnification of 10 times and a large objective lens of 25 mm, which can provide you with clear and sharp images and a large field of view of 374ft/1000m.Excellent details can be obtained from 1000 yards away, so you can observe many things without actually adjusting the position.
Quality and prices may not always be on the same side, but this Beenate 10x25 can bring you both.
The first thing to notice is the large 10x magnification under BAK-4 prismatic, multi-coated lenses will provide a more detailed and brighter image at a long distance of about 1000 yards.
Wider field of view dictates sharper edges and a variety of different eyepieces to suit you and your family members. Although the binoculars possess a sturdy, scratch-resistant body, the pair is super light with just under 500 grams.
The manual focus helps you zoom in and out a lot faster so that you can fix your sight at the target easier.
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Reeful 12X42 Binoculars for Adults
For being the top tier on the list, the Reeful 12x42 for Adults marks its name for being the best at everything: bird watching, hunting, sightseeing sport games and concerts.
Made of tough, inodorous ABS plastic with the best Porro prismatic glass in the field, BAK-4, the Reeful 12x42 is no doubt a solid pair of compact binoculars. For imaging and brightness, the binoculars have 12x magnification with a pair of multi-coated lenses containing HD visionary system and 18mm large eyepiece.
All of which will give you the highest quality of an image, even when you’re in low light places such as opera, concert, or night hunting. Not to mention the Reeful 12x42 is pretty light, easy to fold, and waterproof, a great combination to boost your travelling experience. The 16.4-mm eye relief is also added to amplify your vision while decreasing the chances of getting eyes disorder such as a lazy eye.
Other features include a phone adapter to take pictures or videos at a further distance easier. Additionally, there is a pair of sunglasses to make you look cooler, a small field bag to hold the binoculars and their components, and adjustable eye cups to assist glasses wearers.
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Nikon Monarch 7 Binocular Roof Prism
- The MONARCH 7 8x42 provides an exceptionally wide field of view that makes it easy to find your subject.
- Dielectric High-Reflective Multilayer Prism Coatings are applied to all lenses and prism coatings to provide high-contrast images and accurate color reproduction.
For being substantial at producing binoculars, the brand Nikon offers another pair of binoculars and this one is a real piece of work.
8x42 magnification power provides a clearer view. Multi-coated lenses with high-reflective roof prism, low-dispersion glass, and phase-correction help decrease chromatic irregularity, while increasing color fidelity and resolution for a crisper and brighter image.
The Nikon Monarch 7 is constructed with Nitrogen-based coating and rugged style to completely prevent water and mist. Long eye relief is added to prevent eyes disorder.
Other features include a small case, a leather strap, and lens covers.
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Bushnell Trophy Binocular, Green 8x32
- the Bushnell Trophy 8x32 Binocular is armor-plated, waterproof, fogproof and built to take nature's worst while delivering best-in-class durability and clarity. This aggressive, ergonomic performer houses fully multi-coated lenses with new objective lens covers that stay in place
- This aggressive, ergonomic performer houses fully multi-coated lenses with new objective lens covers that stay in place. And all four models feature 2-step eyecups for improved fit and comfort. For serious hunters who won't settle for anything less than the brightest images, at a price that's more than affordable
Another day in the woods is another day of adventure as Bushnell presents to you a Trophy 8x32 binocular, an amazing choice for campers and hikers.
The reason is that these binoculars have multi-coated lenses with lead-free construction and BAK-4 prism to enhance image quality. 8x magnification with 32 mm objective lenses guarantee a good quality of an image.
The Bushnell Trophy 8x32 is durable due to its heavy duty metal coating that is well water- and fogproof. And this pair is absolutely lightweight as it’s only about 440 grams.
There are also eye cups to assist glasses wearers, a center knob for easier control over the zooming system, a shock-resistant and anti-slid armored coat, a leather neck strap, and a small case.
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EACONN Binoculars, 10x50 Binoculars for Adults Kid
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With an affordable price of less than 60 dollars, you can owe or get for your kids a cool pair of EACONN 10x50 binoculars.
The futuristic look with a touch of orange really makes these binoculars stand out under Porro prismatic design. Achieving a nicer image is so easy as these binoculars have a powerful HD magnification of 10x plus 50 mm long objective lenses, BAK-4 prism, fully multi-coated lenses, and adjustable eyepieces.
As a result, you don’t have to worry about getting a pair of sore eyes when looking at the binoculars for a long time. The superb leather coating with Nitrogen-based optics are there to ensure a complete waterproof capability for both the tubes and the lenses.
Phone and tripod adapters are included, plus an anti-skid grip and an easy-to-adjust central focus wheel.
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Nikon 16032 ProStaff 3s 10x42mm Binoculars, Clamshell
- 10x Magnification
- Rugged rubber-armored coating to provide a non-slip grip, even in the wettest conditions
With a new color texture, clamshell, being introduced, the Nikon 16032 is a great option for people who are interested in binoculars’ design.
Not only the texture, but the structure of Nikon 16032 is a blast as the tubes are made of roof prism and the outer skin is coated with durable, waterproof rugged rubber, the same rubber material that made up the small pocket bag that keeps the binoculars in place.
Weighing less than 500 grams, this pair of binoculars are powerful enough to inspect smaller objects with ease, thanks to high 10x magnification, a wide 42 mm objective lens, and multi coated lenses with anti-reflection technology that maximizes light beam absorption.
A leather strap and waterproof lens covers are also included.
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Celestron - Cometron 7x50 Binoculars
- EASY-TO-USE ASTRONOMY BINOCULARS FOR BEGINNERS: Cometron 7x50 binoculars are an easy, affordable way to learn the night sky and get started with astronomy.
- 7X MAGNIFICATION: With their wide field of view that reveals a larger portion of the night sky, Cometron is ideal for panning across the Milky Way, exploring constellations, and viewing large objects like comets.
The name says it all - the Cometron 7x50 from the brand Celestron is made for watching comets.
Though having only 7x magnification resulting in lower clarity, this pair of binoculars offers more expanding options of an image under low light conditions with a large 50 mm, Porro prismatic objective lens and a large exit pupil.
Another great thing that balances out the low magnification of these binoculars is that they come with multi coated lenses and wide field of view, providing more contrast and resolution to display a sharper and brighter image.
Moreover, the design is created by elastic nylon with aluminum housing that will be easier for you to fold the binoculars, yet strong enough to keep them steady and scratch-proof.
Other features include a smartphone and tripod adapter, a very convenient source of outdoor equipment to capture important moments.
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Bushnell Falcon 10x50 Wide Angle Binoculars
- Exit Pupil (millimeter):5, Eye Relief (millimeter):9
- 25 Feet close focusing distance, 27 Ounce weigh
Bushnell has been known for their tough binocular products with high quality abrasion-resistant and waterproof rubber, and this one is no exception.
The binoculars have 10x magnification with a massive 50-mm-wide objective lens to capture massive images. Porro prism plus an InstaFocus lever, 9 mm eyepiece, and coated lenses will maximize your experience with brighter and sharper viewing. Furthermore, the Bushnell Falcon 10x50 weighs about 765 grams.
Eye cups are included to support people with glasses.
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Vabogu 12x42 Binoculars for Adults and Kids
- 【 Binoculars for Adults, 22mm Large Eyepiece, Larger Image, Clearer Details】2.25 times the image size of 12mm eyepiece (e.g. 10x25, 12x25, 10x21 binoculars), 1.28 times of 16mm eyepiece (e.g. Ordinary 10x42, 12x42 binoculars). Large eyepiece binoculars make full use of 12x magnification, deliver larger image, ensure clearer details
- 【Binoculars BAK4 Prism Lens, Super Bright, Crisp View】328ft@1,093 yards provides a closer, more detailed look so that you can stand on the far-off places to enjoy the view. BAK4 prisms are easy to collimate you will not face the problem of losing focus or seeing distorted imagery. Prism lens take 100% advantage of 42mm objective lens, collect more lights, deliver brighter view
From the brand Vagobu, this pair of BAK-4 prismatic binoculars are made of tough, water- and fogproof plastic. 12x HD magnification with 42 mm objective lens and 16 mm eyepiece will deliver bigger and clearer images, even for people with glasses.
Hence, you don’t need to worry about looking through those lenses for too long will cause eye disorders. Multiple coatings are added to enhance the sharpness of the image and support night vision though the target needs to have a weak light spot.
Other than that, the Vagobu 12x42 is pretty lightweight and comes with a tripod interface and a shoulder strap, a great combination for any outdoor activities.
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The Ultimate Buying Guide: Aiming For The Best Compact Binoculars
The outdoors is a real eye-opener, especially when you’re on a bird-watch, hike, camping trip, an opera concert or even a football game. Either way, the best compact binoculars will definitely give you the best experience. Here’s why.
Due to its small size, a pair of compact binoculars can be carried around effortlessly. Their wide lens and longer eye relief mechanics will enhance your focus on interesting views for hours without having some lazy eyes afterwards.
For photographers or artists, bigger magnification on those small telescopes help zoom in more details, thus, capturing every last bit of that natural art. However, water-based activities or foggy zones are not ideal places for higher magnification of those binoculars.
Keep in mind that you cannot get the best resolution out of a compact binocular due to its smaller size, thus, smaller lens.
On the other hand, compact binoculars are small enough to fit your pocket and they are not too expensive to have. With all of that said, let’s take a closer look at what you need to think about before purchasing the best compact binoculars.
Types
There are 2 common types of compact binoculars: roof prism and Porro prism. The main difference between these 2 types of compact binoculars lies on the structure. While roof prism design has 2 straight tubes, Porro prism design is more zig-zag.
Here we conduct a table to see both advantages and disadvantages of these 2.
Roof prism | Porro prism | |
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Due to their design and function, we recommend using roof prism binoculars for long-range birding and daytime activities such as day hunting and boating. On the other hand, you should use Porro prism binoculars for short-range birding and nighttime activities such as night hunting and stargazing.
The Power Behind The Numbers
Warning: we will need to go through some terminology which might be super boring, but please stay with us because these terms are the key for choosing the best compact binoculars.
Everytime you go shopping for a pair of compact binoculars, there will be a set of numbers in the middle like 12x42. For this example, the ‘12’ represents the magnification strength, clarifying the view of an object 12 times closer.
The ‘42’ is the diameter of the front lens which dictates the luminosity and sharpness of the image. The bigger the diameter, the more light captured, thus, the clearer the image.
Another thing to consider on binoculars is the exit pupil - the center width between a human’s pupil and the eyepiece of the binocular where all the light beams are absorbed. Just like the diameter of the front lens, the larger the exit pupil, the clearer the image, and it works even when there is not much light around.
During night times, you should find an exit pupil around 5-7 mm. During day times, around 2.5-3 mm should be the best. For either occasion, more and less than such numbers we provided might not be ideal for your eyes, otherwise, eye strain and even lazy eyes can occur which will significantly lower your sight overtime.
This is also related to eye relief, a short distance starting from the exit pupil to the eyepiece that allows you to see the entire field of view. If you hold the binoculars too close to your eyes, the image will become blurry at the corners.
On the other hand, if you hold them too far, there won’t be enough concentration to clarify the image, hence, a black dot will appear in the middle of the image. The higher the magnification and the larger the field of view (FOV), the shorter the eye relief.
The field of view (FOV) refers to a space where a person can see through while wearing an optical device. With more FOV, you can see more of the surroundings though the clearness of further objects will decrease. In other words, the higher the magnification, the lower the FOV. The wider the angle, the higher the FOV.
Size And Weight
It is called ‘compact’ binoculars for a reason. You never want to add your bird-watching equipment to a fully stuffed backpack. As a result, we suggest anything below 680 grams or 1.5 lbs, so it will be easier for you to carry around your neck or put inside your pocket. Otherwise, you may need a tripod to hold the binoculars in place.
Hinges on binoculars are a smart choice as you can fold down the binoculars and carry them around easier.
Magnification
Magnification has to do with a lot of things in a binocular that we have already discussed. In short, the higher the magnification, the better you can see at a longer range. Nonetheless, having a magnification that is too high will lead to an unstable zoom, resulting in blurry images. Hence, we recommend 8 - 10x for the best sighting experience.
Furthermore, lens size is built based on magnification. Although larger lens size allows you to view brighter images even under low-light conditions, it will be a burden for you to carry around. Because of this, we recommend a lens size of 20 - 30 mm for better portability.
Free Of Water/Fog
It would be such a bummer if you have your awesome compact binoculars, but the weather is too foggy or rainy. Therefore, choosing either a water- or fog-proof pair of lens is a good idea, but having both of them at the same time is even better though can be a bit more costly. A rubber coat can also be a cheaper solution, but it only prevents the water or mist from attaching to the scopes, not when you’re using the binocular.
We know all of these information are very hard to digest, thus, here is a short video to generalize everything we just talked about:
Our Top 5 Picks Of The Best Compact Binoculars
Reading and thinking are absolutely difficult, we get that and we are here to help you. Hence, our hard-working experts have sought out to find the 5 ‘best of the best’ options out of the top 17 best compact binoculars.
We picked these out based on 5 different categories: the winner (the best compact binoculars in 2021), the best for night vision, the best for birding, the best for hunting, and the best for marine (waterproof at its finest). Please note that these options are based solely on our opinions and the quality may vary overtime, so stay tuned to find out more.
Best Binoculars In 2021:
- Model #172675 - BX-4 Pro Guide HD 12x50mm binoculars in shadow gray
- 100% Waterproof and fogproof and backed by Leupold's legendary customer care
Best Binoculars For Night Vision:
- High Definition Binoculars with Fully Multi-Coated Lenses for Bright and Sharp Images
- Shock-Resistant Rubberized Armor Coating - Waterproof and Fogproof
Best Binoculars for Birdwatching:
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Best Binoculars For Hunting:
- The purchase Includes: Swarovski Optik SLC 10x42 Binoculars, Field Bag, Eyepiece Cover, Objective Lens Cover, Lift Carrying Strap, Swarovski Optik Limited Warranty
- 10x Magnification, 61-degree apparent field of view
Best Binoculars For Marine:
- MILITARY OPTICS FOR CIVILIANS - With 10x magnification and a 302ft wide field of view, the Steiner Military-Marine 10x50 Binoculars offer sharp images in an easy-to-handle design.
- SPORTS AUTO FOCUS - Delivers, once shot, always sharp, briliant 3D images from 20yds to infinity without refocusing, perfect for your active life.