Think of all those times the �compact� binocs stayed home because they weighed a ton. The latest batch is freakishly light, so you can focus on finding a top performer. When you do, don�t be suckered into even more magnification — anything stronger than 8x makes for shaky sustained viewing.
SPLURGE
Leica Duovid 8+12x42
Leica gives gearheads the best of everything in a tiny package. The 2-pound binocs accelerate from all-day 8x viewing to ultra close-up 12x mode (so you can zoom in when you finally spot that elusive ivory-billed woodpecker). The 12x optics are equivalent to a huge 600-mm telephoto lens, yet the Duovid is only 6.1 inches long. The 42-mm objective lens gathers lots of light for a clear view at dusk or in shadows.
$1,495, www.leica-camera.com.
BEST BUY
Zeiss Victory Compact 8x20 B T*
Many folding binocs sacrifice features for size, but not these. Although less than 8 ounces and only 4 inches long, they perform like full-size models, thanks to a new lightweight glass and special lens coating (the same used in the Hasselblad camera). If the price seems steep, check out Zeiss� cheaper models; they run circles around better-known brands.
$479, www.zeiss.com.
OVERRATED
Nikon Titanium 7x15T
The sleek Titanium 7x15T looks like an antimatter-propulsion unit from the starship Enterprise, right down to its trendy yet useless shiny blue glass (great — your friends can see their reflections). But $775 should buy more than 7x magnification. Other flaws: It�s not waterproof, and it can�t be folded in half like the others. The flip-down eyecups are a hassle, and the 15-mm front lens doesn�t gather much light, yielding a dim view.
$775, www.nikonusa.com.
PLAY
Boys Will Be Girls
Gettin� Jiggly Wit It
Arcade Aerobics
Schooled in Design
Machinimania!
Drilling Into The Core
Built for Sound
Hit Machine
As Heard on TV
DAVID "BROON" BROWN Swayzak
Earth Angels
A Fine Balance, by Rohinton Mistry
reviews
Fetish
Rough Riders
Light and Loaded
Sharper Imagery
Easy on the Eyes
