Binoculars compact style are something everyone should have in their car, or pocket. You just never know when you might see something at a distance that you would like a closer look at. Some compact binoculars are small and light but still very effective. We are not talking about toys here; they are the real thing.
The big plus factor in using binoculars compact is that you do not have to worry about weight. If you are back-packing you do not want to carry any more weight than is really essential and even the smallest pair of standard binoculars will be a good eight ounces heavier that a compact pair. Bulk wise you might find that compact binoculars take up about the same space but they will be lighter. If space is a problem for you as it would be in a back pack you might want to consider that a pair of Leica 8×32’s will go into the same space as a pair of Bushnell 7×26 custom binoculars, but there is considerable difference in weight.
Compact binoculars are lighter than standard ones but they are not so easy to use. You have to line them up properly with the pupils of your own eyes or you lose focus. Compacts have a limited depth of field so it is essential to turn the focus until it is absolutely perfect if you want to see any detail, such as watching animals, or birds at a distance. Having to keep adjusting your binoculars compact zoom can be very tiring on the eyes. They can also be difficult for some people to hold. It’s fine if you have very small hands.
So, it seems to be a trade off between weight and ease of use when you choose between compact binoculars and standards. There are, however some good binoculars compact style available on the market. A pair of compact porro prisms costs around $99 and only the Bushnell Nature View Plus standards with their 8×42 prism are comparable in quality for the same money.
Compact binoculars at the lower of the scale cost from as little as $50 and some of these come with folding eye cups, are easy to operate and well made, they do tend to give a bit of a blurred, indistinct view compared with prism lenses priced in the same range. A pair of Pentax Papilio can focus as close as 24 inches and will cost around $99 and the prism lenses will give a great view at a distance.
Choosing a price range and quality of binoculars compact size depends really on what you want them for. If you just want to carry them with you in case you spy something interesting on the horizon and want to take a closer look, then a cheaper pair with probably suffice. If, however, you want to watch birds or wildlife and would be looking to view things in detail, then a more expensive pair of compact binoculars with better lenses is probably the best option.