The Cornell Lab review recommends the Bushnell Custom Compact 7x26 binoculars (*est. $330) , which testers rate especially high for overall feel. They have a field of view of 363 feet and a minimum focus of seven feet. At 12 ounces, they weigh a bit more than the Pentax Papilio binoculars, but are still comfortable to carry. Like the Papilio binoculars, they're not waterproof, but the Bushnell binoculars do carry a lifetime, non-transferable warranty.

In the Birdwatching.com rating of 56 mid-priced binoculars, the top two are compact models from Leica. The Leica Ultravid Compact 8x20 (*est. $620) and the Leica Ultravid Compact 10x25 (*est. $680) receive close to perfect scores in all aspects tested. According to birding experts Michael and Diane Porter, the 8x20 binocular works "amazingly well" for people who wear glasses. The field of view of the 8x20 is 330 feet, 60 feet wider than that of the 10x25 model.

Hikers, campers and hunters might look for waterproof compact binoculars. Outdoor Life recommends the Zeiss Victory B T* Compact 8x20 binoculars (*est. $500) , which weigh only 7.9 ounces. The review finds the image "amazingly sharp, with excellent color fidelity and… amazingly bright." In the Cornell Lab review, the Zeiss 8x20 binoculars rank in the number eleven spot overall (very good for compact binoculars), just under the Leupold Wind River Katmai 8x32 binoculars, which are compact enough for backpacking, but weigh three times as much.

The Zeiss Victory Compact 10x25 binoculars (*est. $500) , at 8.6 ounces, are also well reviewed. In formal testing, these binoculars are ranked among the highest. They also receive good but not extensive feedback in user reviews. Reports praise the brightness of the image and the ease of use. (Note that although these are Zeiss Victory binoculars, they don't have the fluorite glass used in the latest Zeiss Victory binoculars, which don't yet come in a compact size.)

Some of the Cornell Lab testers criticize the Zeiss 8x20 binoculars, finding them awkward to handle. The same was true for the Nikon Premier LX L 8x20 (*est. $430), which testers said had great image quality but poor ergonomics.

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