Issues with Small but Powerful Binoculars

Binoculars are arguably a necessity when you go on a hunting expedition or just watching a sporting event from the “not so near” seat in the venue. These activities may take a few hours or even longer. Hence, most binocular users always consider the weight of the binocular before buying it. Compact or Mini Binoculars are perfect for these purpose since they are light and portable. However, despite these benefits, there are some features that might be compromised when you prefer a small binocular but with high magnification.

Field of View

Field of view or FOV, at least in the binocular language, is the viewable area that you can see through the eyepieces of the binocular. Regardless of what you are using the binoculars for, you would usually prefer wider FOV for obvious reason. However, when you use small binoculars, this is one of the features that is usually sacrificed.

Small Binoculars tend to have a narrower field of view compared to the regular ones. FOV further narrows down when you choose a compact binocular with even higher magnification. Thus, the key for a good compact binocular is having the right balance between the magnification power and the FOV.

Focus

The importance of focus in binoculars is self-explanatory. No one would want a binocular that is indeed light but viewing through it is like peeking through a dirty glass. Focus is another feature that is somewhat sacrificed when you prefer portability. Let me be clear, this does not mean that compact binoculars are blurry and useless. They are still capable of providing you crisp and bright images. However, you might need to spend a little more time adjusting the focus compared to regularly sized binoculars.

All Weather Resistance

We want our binos to last for a long time, right? This is the very reason why water, dust, and fog proof binoculars are more in demand than those that are not. When it comes to mini binoculars, you might need to forgo these features. There are only a few compact binoculars that are built to withstand extreme weather conditions. Some could be dust and fog proof while other are absolutely NOT waterproof. Hence, extra care must be given or else, you will need a new one sooner than you expected.

Requires Add-On Accessories

Another drawback if you prefer small binoculars is the need to buy more accessories. Since the fact that it is portable sacrificed some of the features that you would like to enjoy, you will need to buy add-ons just to get the same functionality that you’ve expected. Thus, be prepared to spend a little extra.

 

As what a famous phrase says, “You can’t have it all”. Don’t get us wrong. We are not saying that compact binoculars are dumb options. We just want to set your expectations that by selecting small and portable binos, some features that may be crucial for you will be sacrificed. The bottom line is to purchase and invest in a set of binoculars that satisfies your purpose of having. Whether compact or regular size, what is important is you’re getting the best value for your money.