small & light monocular

While hiking last week I met another hiker who had a very interesting monocular. It turned out to be a Zeiss "Mini-Quick" scope


I borrowed it from him for a bit and was impressed at the image sharpness. The scope weighs only 0.8oz (that's right, zero point eight) and looks like a fat inkpen.

The small lens size is sure to provide mediocre performance in low light, but for the overall unit size & weight it is impressive. It's small enough that you won't think twice about bringing it along. It looks to be perfect for situations like discerning far-off signs or traffic jams, but where you wouldn't carry "real" optics with your business suit. It really appeals to ultralight hikers like me who simply won't put up with the weight of traditional optics.

The best price I've found online is around $90. I plan to get one soon and will provide a review then.

Had one for years....Love it!
Only one problem....I have not been able to find it for the last month!!!!!!!! <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I'd love to get one my own self some time. But there always seems to be another knife I have to own.

I've been contenting myself in the meantime with this:

http://www.eagleoptics.com/search.asp?q=mono&pid=3526

Which is available in metallic and yellow colors. It's not a Zeiss, but it does seem to provide a sharper, clearer image than comparable monoculars.

Bear

I like mine, but I'm glad I found it for $60 on clearance a while back. Even at that price, I feel kinda silly paying that much for a plastic tube with a couple of lenses. I know they're Ziess and all, but it weighs almost nothing. Just doesn't feel like $90, ya know?

I've also avoided carrying it, since mine didn't come with a pouch. I haven't gotten around to making or finding a case for it either. But it is nice. It's amazing how crisp the image is, right out to the edge of the view.

How about those little rings with a sparkly rock on it? Seems like even less of a deal to me. Fortunately, my wife agrees. For our first anniversary, I got her a Zeiss Classic birdwatching binoculars for $900.

That would be me as well. I need to see one of these to try it out. Sure sounds cool! <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Many years ago, I had an old Bauch & Lomb 10X monocular that I thought was better because of its size for carrying while hunting. Did not like it at all and went to a 10X by 50mm roof prism binoculars and lived with the extra bulk and weight in exchange for much better performance.

Currently, I have an inexpensive Tasco 10X by 25mm in the straight line prizm style that folds very flat, has a right eye adjustment ring with center focusing wheel that I bought for $3.99 and $.49 for a Vivatar carrying case that was just the right size from my local Goodwill store. Nowhere near as good as a Zeiss, but a hell of a lot cheaper and they work well with crisp images.

Bountyhunter

Any opinions about the CountyComm monocular? The price is certainly great.

I've got a Steiner monocular 8x22 power porro-prismatic optics. It's over 10 years old and I've never had any problems with the quality.

http://www.hotbuyselectronics.com/steiner_monoculars_8x22_mini_scope_binoculars.htm
(Mine's flat 'military' green color)

The 'porro-prismatic' part means when you unfold it, it only works along one sight axis. They're quite lightweight and the optics are quite good because they're Steiner.

My old Steiner 7X50 Military/Marine binos (with the compass) have lasted over 20 years with only a problem with the compass housing leaking damping liquid. I sent it back to them and they fixed it free except for the cost of shipping to the repair center. Those things have gone on almost every camping, hunting, fishing and road trips I've been through and since college so they've got some mileage and the optics still look great.

But, with the higer power monoculars it's really hard to hold still to use the full resolution quality they build in. You almost have to lay them down on something and move them around to find your subject. Steiner didn't seem to have them in their catalog that I could see and may not make them anymore. I paid about $200.00 and although they've been pretty good for the purpose, I wish I'd gone with the Zeiss model in the above posts. I'd probably go with the 4X12 model at the bottom of the next link if I were going with a dedicated monocular at that price point. An array:

http://www.bizrate.com/buy/products__att...--12180000.html

Personally, if buying ANY brand small, light optics like these, I'd go with lower magnification as you just can't really hold them still enough to use the higher magnifications - even your heartbeat shakes these light optics.

If I were going to spend that on a monocular these days, I'd spend a bit more and get the Zeiss monocular/adaptor for about $300. It works as its own 3x fogproof and water'proof' monocular and can be installed on your favorite Zeiss Classic binocular (my next optics purchase) to *triple* its magnification, effectively turning it into a spotting scope with magnification somewhere in the 21-30x power. Add mini-pod and you've got magnification from 3x to approx 30x in two quality items.

I've been looking for a cheap monocular for a while too. Need something to magnify view but not look too obvious or weird (having a bit of trouble seeing the black boards in lecture).

I use a Pentax 7 x 20 monocular (2 ounces). It came with a small leather case, although it usually ends up on a pouch on my backpack shoulder strap where it can easily be accessed. When I was climbing Wheeler Peak (New Mexico's highest point), one of the guys that I went with laughed at the monocular, calling it "too heavy". About an hour later, he was confused about our route and wanted to use it to see above us. Guess what I told him... In fact, he also thought it was hilarious that I carry a Fox-40 whistle and Photon II in my pocket. I'm sure I'll be reading about him getting stranded in the Sierra Nevadas in the not too distant future....