Home > Consumer Reviews > Carl Zeiss Victory Compact Binoculars (10x25)

Excellent clarity and brightness with compact size and weight for multi-use, whether it be Formula 1 racing, a night at the opera, on a boat cruise, or nature scenery. That being said, it will only complement but won't replace larger binoculars for dedicated activity such as bird watching. But for a compact, general purpose binoculars, this is a terrific value.

This is my second pair of Zeiss 10x25 conmpact binoculars and I wouldn't even consider another brand or style. These are so compact they can fold down to fit in a shirt pocket. I love this feature so I don't have them banging against my chest while walking through the field. Birder friends think the apeture is too small for forest birding, but I don't have any trouble distinguising color and field markings even in fairly low light.

I asked a salesman at the biggest camera store in NY if I should by Leica or Swarovski in 10x25 binoculars. I was surprised when he said neither and pointed me towards the Zeiss. I had bought larger binoculars from him before and I trusted his opinion. Sure enough, he was right. The Zeiss were at least as good as the other two brands and over $200.00 cheaper. I have had them for a few months now and they are great. Eye relief is perfect with or without glasses. Brightness is excellent and they are tack sharp. I have no complaints about the glasses at all. The were also just a top pick by consumer reports. The are light, compact and easy to use. I carry them a lot more than my Trinovids which are larger and heavier.

PS The Amazon picture is wrong. Search for the Zeiss 8x20's to see what the glasses really look like.

PPS To Amazon's credit they fixed the picture.

The first Zeiss Victory Compact binocular I ever tried was this one, borrowing one from a fellow Carnegie Hall concert goer. I was simply amazed by how bright and contrasty the binocular was, and also by its relative ease in focusing. After looking at this binocular and comparing it with its 8 X 20 sibling at a major New York City photography store, I opted instead for the 8 X 20 only because of its wider field of view. I wouldn't hesitate acquiring this 10 x 25 binocular if I really needed it, since there are some instances when a narrower field of view would be handy. Without a doubt both Zeiss Victory Compact binoculars are still the finest in their class, and I would not hesitate recommending them to anyone interested in buying an excellent compact binocular with great resolving power.