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Originally Posted by JMR40
Last fall I was in an Academy Sports and saw a box of these with a "Clearance" sticker on the box. No price and no display model, just a few boxes under the counter.

https://swfa.com/steiner-8x22-predator-binocular.html?___SID=U

I got a sales clerk to scan a box and the price came up $34.99. I told the guy if that price was accurate I'd take every pair he had.

The manager approved that price and I walked out with 5 pairs for less than the retail price of 1 pair. They ain't the best, but do fine in good light. Definitely a step up from what comes in blister packs for about the same money.

I kept 2 pair for my wife and I and the rest were Christmas presents.


That was almost grand theft grin

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FVA, when I was looking for a compact set of binoculars, I compared the Zeiss Conquest, the Leica Trinovid and the Nikon Premier LX.

I ended up buying the Nikon Premier LX 10x25s. They were a little more than the Leica or Zeiss, but, to my eyes, they offered a sharper view and just fit my face better. They're are nice, light and compact. My hunting buddies are really impressed with them too.

I like 'em so much that sometimes, when I won't be doing extended glassing and I'm just tired of lugging full size binos, I'll carry them and don't feel disadvantaged at all.

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I have compact Swarovski in 8X and 10X, and Leica Ultravid in 8x20. I think the Leica is better.

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Originally Posted by Oldelkhunter
Originally Posted by JMR40
Last fall I was in an Academy Sports and saw a box of these with a "Clearance" sticker on the box. No price and no display model, just a few boxes under the counter.

https://swfa.com/steiner-8x22-predator-binocular.html?___SID=U

I got a sales clerk to scan a box and the price came up $34.99. I told the guy if that price was accurate I'd take every pair he had.

The manager approved that price and I walked out with 5 pairs for less than the retail price of 1 pair. They ain't the best, but do fine in good light. Definitely a step up from what comes in blister packs for about the same money.

I kept 2 pair for my wife and I and the rest were Christmas presents.


That was almost grand theft grin


Those Steiners were worth exactly what was paid.......

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Not sure what I am going to do but have plenty to consider Thanks for all the input.


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Not tiny, but light and small, the Sightron Blue Sky 8x32 offer lots of bang for the buck.


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Originally Posted by JMR40
Last fall I was in an Academy Sports and saw a box of these with a "Clearance" sticker on the box. No price and no display model, just a few boxes under the counter.

https://swfa.com/steiner-8x22-predator-binocular.html?___SID=U

I got a sales clerk to scan a box and the price came up $34.99. I told the guy if that price was accurate I'd take every pair he had.

The manager approved that price and I walked out with 5 pairs for less than the retail price of 1 pair. They ain't the best, but do fine in good light. Definitely a step up from what comes in blister packs for about the same money.

I kept 2 pair for my wife and I and the rest were Christmas presents.


I have an older Steiner Predator in 10x26 that is pretty nice. Not exactly pocket size though.


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I've used a pile of various 8x20-ish bins, and have owed the Zeiss 8x20 Victory, which is a fine little instrument. However, I currently have a Leica 8x20 Ultravid which is guaranteed to ruin looking through any other compact.


“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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Lol, I do not doubt that Brad. Just a bit more than I want to put out at this time.


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Then absolutely go with the Zeiss Victory 8x20 T*. A really fine bin, better than anything else out there including the Leica 8x20 Trinovid. Another good one is the Nikon Premier 8x20 LX.

A good buy on the Zeiss:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/677815-USA/Zeiss_52_20_78_Victory_Compact_8x20_T.html


“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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I got fed up with some cheap, small binos and tried the Vortex 10x36 monocular. It works well for sitting in a treestand and having something handy. Seriously doubt it's the quality of the binos mentioned, but it works for getting a better look at things.

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Originally Posted by prm
I got fed up with some cheap, small binos and tried the Vortex 10x36 monocular. It works well for sitting in a treestand and having something handy. Seriously doubt it's the quality of the binos mentioned, but it works for getting a better look at things.


That's the sort of thing that got me started on looking through small binos.


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The best ones I've ver used are the Bushnell or B&L Custom compact 7x26 porro prism binoculars. Not waterproof, but very good image quality and easy to use even with glasses. No other compact roof prism binocular that I have tried comes close.

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Have some 7x? Gold Ring Leupolds that easily tuck into a shirt pocket. Independently front focused. Very sharp edge to edge and great depth of field (i.e. everything from about 30yds to infinity is in focus). Easily used with a single hand. Most excellent for hunting the timber. For big sky country I go with some 7x50's and spotting scopes.

Last edited by 1minute; 04/26/17.

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They might be a tight fit into a shirt pocket but I have been really happy with my Swarovski 8x30 CL. They are smaller and lighter than most all of the other 30/32 glass. I feel they were a big step up from the 20/22/25 glass.


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Check out the Meopta 8x20 at Cameraland.

As with others, I prefer my 8X30s but these are very good for the price.

http://cameralandny.com/spec-sheet.html?catalog[name]=Meopta-MeoStar-8x20-ED-Event-%26-MeoPix-iScoping-Adapter-Binoculars-and-Scopes&catalog[product_guids][0]=1208301

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My Swarovski SLC 7x30 are the smallest Binoculars I have found that are worth carrying.


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Are those Swaro SLC 7x30's the shirt pocket size? Sounds too big, but they do have stunning optics. The Swaro's that will fit a shirt pocket are also jaw dropping. I'd like to get a set someday.

Last edited by 22250rem; 04/28/17.
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Originally Posted by castnblast
The best ones I've ver used are the Bushnell or B&L Custom compact 7x26 porro prism binoculars. Not waterproof, but very good image quality and easy to use even with glasses. No other compact roof prism binocular that I have tried comes close.


This.

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I've had a pair of Pentax UCF-Mini 9x21 compact porro prisms since 1996 that handle my pocket needs. Better performance than you'd think and enough that I simply haven't felt the need for something newer.

FOV 330' (TFOV 6.3*), 3.4" x 4.1", 7.4 oz
[Linked Image]

Accordingly I agree with those who recommend auditioning the current Bushnell / B&L custom compact porro prisms.

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