Kowa SV 8x25 Compact Binocular

The positives: very small and lightweight, easy to slip into pants pocket. The optics are very good, exceeding most under $100 binos, but I do not own the high-end brands and cannot compare them to same. Capable of close focus around 4' for "macro" world view. Quality to bino size ratio seems very good.While there are more positives than negatives, I will say its a bit disappointing these do not come with 4 lens covers, we just get two for the ocular which are going to get lost immediately. This contrasts with the Athalon full sized bino with secure-able covers on all 4 lenses, which is a nice touch. Note that the 8x25 work for eyeglass wearers; their 10x25s probably will not.

Compacts have improved in recent years. My old Nikon compacts were bulky and heavier. I tried a few compact models at the Cape May Bird Observatory, including the $345 Zeiss Terra, and enjoyed handling these the most. As for the optics, well SV is Kowa's budget model line, and compacts are always going to be subpar. Indeed the field of view at 6.2 degrees is just OK, and the image brightness in (very infrequent) dark situations is a bit of a disappointment. Those issues exist with any <$200 compact. On the plus side, the image overall - especially sharpness - is very good, Kowa is known for this. This would not be a demanding birder's primary binocular, but for backup purposes, the glovebox or wherever a compact is needed, these are great. Going up to the next level of FOV and brightness will cost several hundred $$$.