Best compact binoculars in 2024

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The best compact binoculars help you bring the faraway closer, yet avoid having to bring an extra bag or rucksack to cart around a heavier pair of bins. And we've brought the best of the best together in our guide below.

The two main specs to focus on are magnification and lens (objective) size, typically shown as in the manufacturers' blurb in the form, 10x25 (10x magnification, 25mm diameter lens). 

Higher magnification gives more zoomed-in view but narrower field of view, making it harder to locate objects. Larger lenses allow more light for brighter images, but make binoculars bulkier and heavier. It's also worth taking into account weight and size, because you don't want to sacrifice too much portability.

Our quick list

Best compact binoculars in 2024

Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.

Best quality compact binoculars

Swarovski CL Companion 10x30

(Image credit: Sebastian Oakley/Digital Camera World)
The best quality compact binoculars overall

Specifications

Magnification: 8x
Objective diameter: 30mm
Field of view at 1000m: 132 metres
Closest focusing distance: 3m
Weight: 490g
Dimensions: 127 x 55 x 118mm

Reasons to buy

+
Amazing build quality
+
Superb optical clarity
+
Lightweight & compact

Reasons to avoid

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Expensive
-
Eye cups could be better
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Accessories don't match the price

If price isn't a concern and you want the best optical quality on the market to date, then these pair of Swarovski CL Companion 8x30 compact binoculars are just the thing to let you observe wildlife from as close to 3 meters all the way up to 132 meters with crystal clear vision.

If you are looking for the best optical quality binoculars that are also lightweight for carrying long distances, and that let you see your observations from a far distance, these are possibly the best compact binoculars you can buy to date.

With the lightweight construction of the CL Companion binoculars and the impeccable build quality, you can be sure your investment will withstand the test of time, which is what would expect as these are far from cheap. But you get what you pay for and the optical quality of these binoculars is possibly the best on the market.

Read our full Swarovski CL Companion 10x30 review for more details.

Best compact binoculars for birding

(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
The best compact binoculars for bird watching

Specifications

Magnification: 8x
Objective diameter: 42mm
Field of view at 1000m: 142 metres
Closest focusing distance: 2m
Weight: 655g/23.1oz
Dimensions: 141x130x51mm/5.5x5.1x2 inches

Reasons to buy

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Excellent image quality
+
Compact and lightweight
+
Waterproof
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Stuff sack and harness included

Reasons to avoid

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Not the cheapest (but not the most expensive)

An 8x42 pair of binoculars is a great basic specification for birdwatching. That gives you enough magnification for getting in close, without the binoculars becoming too hard to hold steady. The 42mm diameter lenses, meanwhile, mean that the image is bright enough to make them suitable for use on dull days and at dusk. 

On testing these Celestron binoculars, we found them to give exceptional image quality for the price. You can pay more to get these with ED (extra-low dispersion lenses), but in our test we think that the basic Trailfinders are brilliant enough not to warrant paying the extra.

We loved that these are waterproofed, and come supplied with a harness (a binocular harness is otherwise an extra investment for birdwatchers). Overall, these are perfect combination of portability, performance and affordability.

Best compact binoculars for travel

(Image credit: Jason Parnell-Brookes)
The best compact binoculars for travel

Specifications

Magnification: 8x
Objective diameter: 42mm
Field of view at 1000m: 126 metres
Closest focusing distance: 3m
Weight: 575g/20.3oz
Dimensions: 125 x 130 x 52mm / 6 x 5.1 x 2.0 inches

Reasons to buy

+
Bright image and great quality for the money
+
Lighter than rival 8x42mm
+
Rubber coated

Reasons to avoid

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The lens caps feel cheap

What you wan from a pair of travel binoculars may well depend on where you are going, and what you expect to see. But we think that you will want decent magnification and decent image brightness - so you can make the most of them in a variety of conditions. It is also not worth investing very heavily, perhaps, just in case they go missing. For this reason we pick this pair of Nikon Prostaff P3 8x42 binoculars - which we think are a really great buy. The 8x42 spec means they are perfect for wildlife watching - and can be used in lowlight, so you are not limited to using them in bright daylight. 

The rubberized exterior means that they can be packed in your suitcase without you worrying about how they will fare being thrown around by baggage handlers. 

In our tests, we did observe some chromatic aberration - but for the price this is perfectly understandable, and is more than acceptable for the casual holiday maker.

Best cheap

(Image credit: Gavin Stoker)
The best cheap compact binoculars

Specifications

Magnification: 16x
Waterproofing: Yes
Objective diameter: 21mm
Field of view at 1000m: 124m
Closest focusing distance: Not given
Eye relief: 10mm
Weight: 195g (6.9oz)
Dimensions: 94 x 106mm / 3.7 x 4.17 inches

Reasons to buy

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Cheap
+
Very light
+
Good value for money

Reasons to avoid

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Modest 21mm objective lens
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Lacks sharpness 

Short on funds? These lovely binoculars are pocket friendly in terms of both size and price. Weighing just 195g and fitting in your palm, they're lovely and portable. As you'd expect from the price these binoculars are basic; simply point-and-view. But our reviewer found they did a good job in situations like bringing athletes closer from our seat faraway in the stands, or performers’ faces more clearly into focus at a concert. 

Overall, performance veers between adequate and good depending on available light, but it broadly feels like you're getting decent value for money.

Read our Vanguard Vesta 8x21 compact binoculars review for more details.

Best for hiking

(Image credit: Gavin Stoker / Digital Camera World)
Best for compact binoculars for hiking

Specifications

Magnification: 10x
Waterproofing: no
Objective diameter: 21mm
Field of view at 1000m: 87 metres
Closest focusing distance: 3 metres
Eye relief: 8.3mm
Weight: 195g
Dimensions: 10.4x4.1x11.4cm

Reasons to buy

+
Budget priced, jack of all trades device
+
Multi coated lenses to increase light transmission

Reasons to avoid

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No indication of waterproofing

An inexpensive and portable offering for travelers and hikers alike, this compact pair of binos would also be suitable for concert and theatre-goers, as well as sports fans, or indeed anyone wanting an unobtrusive pair for daily use. Available in non-nonsense black plus several other colors, one of the main selling points here is that, at 195g in weight, users will barely notice they’re carrying Nikon’s Aculon T02. 

While they are slightly light on features too for their budget-friendly price, we do get adjustable turn-and-slide eyecups, and a familiar central focus knob, as well as multi-coated lenses, to increase light transmission for a crisper view. 

In our tests we found that these binoculars are best used in bright light - which is not surprising due to the 10x21 basic specification. Similarly, the relatively high magnification means they are easy to use when sitting down that standing up.

Best for high magnification

(Image credit: Jamie Carter / Digital Camera World)
Best compact binoculars for high magnification

Specifications

Magnification: 16x
Waterproofing: Yes
Objective diameter: 32mm
Field of view at 1000m: 62m
Closest focusing distance: 8m/26 ft.
Eye relief: 10mm
Weight: 369g/13 oz
Dimensions: 91 x 56 x 142mm / 3.6 x 2.2 x 5.6”

Reasons to buy

+
High magnification
+
Rugged build quality
+
Compact and lightweight

Reasons to avoid

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Images lack immersive feel
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Average contrast and some false color
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Limited light gathering

Incredibly affordable and with rugged build quality, the images created by the Celestron UpClose G2 16x32 binoculars lack ultimate brightness, clarity, and contrast yet prove useful for getting impressive close-ups. Binoculars with 16x magnification are often huge and cumbersome - but this pair are small enough to take away with you on trips. 

Handy, travel-friendly, and highly affordable, these will suit anyone after close-ups of birds, animals, and objects in the middle distance. And they’re good enough for occasional use in vast landscapes and at sea, too. 

Read our full Celestron UpClose G2 16x32 review for more details.

How to choose the best compact binoculars

Binoculars have lots of different specs, but there are two key ones that are best to focus on: magnification and lens size. 

Most binoculars will list both in their name. When you're browsing for binoculars, you'll quickly notice that their names tend to include something like "10x20" or "6x30". These two numbers refer respectively to the magnification factor and the size of the lenses. So in this example, we've got binoculars with 10x magnification and 6x magnification. You might think it'd be a matter of picking the binoculars with the largest magnification, but in practicality, it limits your field of view, which can make things harder to spot. 

The second number refers to lens size. A larger lens will make the image brighter and clearer, especially in low light, but will also make the binoculars bigger and heavier (and probably more expensive)

This means that for your hobby or subject, it's worth thinking about what the best combination of magnification of objective lens size will work for you. However, also ask yourself how far you’re willing to compromise on portablity. 

For example, physically larger objective lenses and greater magnifications usually mean more sizable binoculars too, which is why we find most ultra-compact binoculars stick to magnifications of, say 8x or 10x, and objective lens sizes of a relatively modest 21mm or 25mm. That being said, for daytime use a lens size with a diameter of 21 to 25mm is arguably ideal.

FAQs

What are the best compact binoculars for observing nature?

A high magnification combined with a smaller and lighter objective lens will make for a good combination here. Some binoculars offer 10x26, and anything in that ballpark should work. However, if you do want to use a heavy pair, consider choosing one that can be affixed to a tripod. That way, you don't have to get tired arms from holding it.

What are the best compact binoculars for horse racing and other sports?

Sports tend to happen during the day, so a bright objective lens is less of a concern. Something like an 8x30 will hit the spot, as the 8x magnification should be plenty to see what's going on from the stand. There's no point getting something big and heavy if you don't need it.

What is a roof prism?

Due to the positioning of the internal prisms that make up their construction, roof prisms tend to be narrower and far more compact than the alternative Porro prism design also commonly used for binoculars. Thus compact binoculars always use the roof prism design.

How we test the best compact binoculars

When we test compact binoculars, we focus on three main things: optical performance, durability, and user experience. Our experts assess factors like image clarity, field of view, and low-light performance to ensure superior visual acuity across various conditions. Durability tests examine ruggedness, weather resistance, and ergonomic design for comfortable handling. And user experience evaluations gauge factors such as focusing mechanisms, eye relief, and overall usability to guarantee an exceptional viewing experience. 

Read more:

The best binoculars
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Best marine binoculars
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Best opera glasses
Best binocular harnesses
Best binocular tripod adapter 

Sebastian Oakley
Ecommerce Editor

For nearly two decades Sebastian's work has been published internationally. Originally specializing in Equestrianism, his visuals have been used by the leading names in the equestrian industry such as The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), The Jockey Club, Horse & Hound, and many more for various advertising campaigns, books, and pre/post-event highlights.


He is a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts, holds a Foundation Degree in Equitation Science, and is a Master of Arts in Publishing.  He is a member of Nikon NPS and has been a Nikon user since the film days using a Nikon F5 and saw the digital transition with Nikon's D series cameras and is still to this day the youngest member to be elected into BEWA, The British Equestrian Writers' Association. 


He is familiar with and shows great interest in street, medium, and large format photography with products by Leica, Phase One, Hasselblad, Alpa, and Sinar. Sebastian has also used many cinema cameras from the likes of Sony, RED, ARRI, and everything in between. He now spends his spare time using his trusted Leica M-E or Leica M2 shooting Street photography or general life as he sees it, usually in Black and White.