All -

Does anybody have comments, recommendations, etc. on compact (aka mini) roof
prism binoculars? I am looking into getting a pair for hiking, backpacking,
and and upcoming rafting trip (hence waterproof is preferred). A 1994 Better
View Desired article (http://betterviewdesired.com/Compacts.html) suggests
these binoculars should be avoided in favor of compact porroprisms. But the
compact roofs look much more compact and are probably better for "rough
use". I also note that there are now coated, phase corrected minis on the
market (notably a Swift and a Pentx in the ~$200 range), presumably these
are much improved from the 1994 models.

Several mini roofs that look interesting are below, info & prices from Eagle
optics (www.eagleoptic.com), the bottom 2 are multicoated and phase
corrected

Bushnell Trophy 8X25 (13 oz, 14' close focus) WP $69
Pentax DCF MP 8X28 (16 oz, 9 ' close focus) $219
Swift Trilyte 8X25 (compact, 13 oz., 8' close focus) $179

Any comments or experience on these or similar would be greatly appreciated.

thanks!
Charles.

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Charles E. Swift
Moscow, ID, USA
charless at moscow.com
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