ZeissCarl DesignSelection - Monoclular 10 x 25 B T*

The Zeiss Conquest monocular is the only quality product out there that can conveniently fit in a small space for immediate use when needed, a shirt pocket or small purse will do. My wife finds that it fits into her purse without taking too much room. The 5 x magnification may seem underwhelming but is more than sufficient for spotting detail that one might not have noticed otherwise....or not at all because your other monocular was too bulky to bring with you. I highly recommend.

It’s a 4 star (maybe 3 for the price) if used exclusively for long range. At long range, it’s not quite sharp to the edge. With anything there are always compromises. At near focus, it is tack sharp to the edge (I believe it’s optimized for this purpose). It really is incredible and extremely useful. What I love is that it’s a microscope at 9X power (a quarter looks like a dinner plate). It's also amazing at seeing detail far off (reading signs, looking for trail markers, seeing birds, I can even see some astronomy objects like Andromeda or M13)…the best part is the size and weight. There’s no excuse to leave it behind. It’s 2 oz and about has about the same feel in my pocket as the inhaler I had as a kid, lol! With binoculars, or a larger mono, there’s the debate of having it on me. This one leaves no room for debate so I can always pull it out if needed. Amazing for backpacking light.

If you are looking for a super light high quality monocular for say backpacking then this is a great choice. Yes, it does not have the chromatic pop and clarity of the Leica 8x20 Monovid so the color of birds will not be quite as standout. And it's not waterproof so you shouldn't pull it out in the pouring rain and you'll have to be a little careful to not let it get too wet. And the slide focus takes a little getting used to in contrast to the turning ring of the Leica. But then it weighs half as much, 2 ounces versus 4, and the optics are superb. 2 ounces. That's light compared to 4 ounces for the Leica Monovid, 8 oz for the Leica 8x20 binoculars, 14 ounces for the typical 8x20 and a pound or two for a pair of 8x40's. And 6 power is the sweet spot for stability versus magnification in a monocular. And it's easier to see the image since 6x18 gives you a 3 mm exit pupil rather than 8x20 giving you 2.5mm. So is it the best out there? No. But is it a no brainer to toss in the pack for the occasional birding? You bet! Lightest high quality optics I've found.

Compact size makes it easy to carry in your pocket. Use it to identify birds and other distant objects.

So far, so good w this little monocular. It’s light and a perfect size for my large woman’s hand. The focus is very easy to access and fluid. The optics are fantastic. I see detail that I can’t believe. My dings are the thin little case the offers virtually no protection (who cares if it’s leather?) and the price. $400 just seems a bit high. Btw I bought and returned the $500 Leica monocular. The optics and hard case were terrific but it was a little too small for my hand and I wanted something w more magnification.