"RangeFinder Today is reader supported. When you purchase through links on our website, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you."
If you are in the market for a new set of compact binoculars, you have to ask yourself, what makes compact binoculars a good buy? We will cover that in more detail below. You can always get the best of everything if you are willing to pay the price but fortunately, with the Occer 12×25 Compact Binoculars, you won’t have to.
You may have to compromise a little; that is just the way it works when on a budget. The trick is to compromise only where it counts. You still want a quality product in the end; otherwise, what’s the point in making a purchase?
Somehow, the Occer binoculars have managed to come out on top regarding price and have very few compromises for a compact binocular. How they did this is a little bit of a mystery. After several months, I have yet to find a real weak point that would be a deal-breaker for this price.
Optically, they aren’t amazing, but they are definitely good enough with plenty of power. I have worse binoculars that cost twice the price. These are ahead of fully half of the binoculars on the market regardless of the cost.
When it comes to size, even here, the Occer binoculars excel. They are one of the smallest and lightest binoculars you can get, especially when you consider the power. Most binoculars this size are very low power, and the Occer is not.
I will admit that there are more durable binoculars available. Still, these are designed to hold up to the worst conditions and have had no issues performing in everything you can imagine. Rain, mud, muck, no matter where they have gone, they did well although I wouldn’t advise submerging them underwater or letting them become soaked.
I wouldn’t want to abuse them to see if they break, but I would say the same about any binocular. All in all, these have proven to be a solid choice in a compact. I worry about them no more than I do any other binoculars I have.
How Good are They?
Starting optically, these are astoundingly good for the price. They have all the features you would expect from much higher-priced binoculars like multicoated lenses and a finely tuned BAK4 prism. Images are always clear and vibrant.
They also have a ton of power at 12x magnification. This is far better than any binocular of this size or this price, much less both. Combined with the 25mm objective lenses, you get plenty of light transmission for bright images, even in low light.
Size-wise, these are some of the smallest binoculars I have owned, fitting directly in the palm of my hand. They also fit in a pocket or pack and weigh only a bit over 10 ounces. You can easily forget you are carrying them until you need them.
Their size is perhaps their greatest strength. They are so easy to carry that you will take them everywhere with you. These are the binoculars you are most likely to have on you when you need them.
Durability is quite good with rubberized armor coating and provides a secure grip so you never drop them. It is quite a good feature that enhances their usability. They also come with a neck strap which is nice for carrying or for some extra security and a small carrying case.
They are waterproof but not fog proof. As long as you let them slowly adapt to the temperatures outside, you won’t have much of a fog issue. However, if you take them from your heated truck to the cold outside, it could be a problem.
These really are the total package when it comes to a compact binocular for a great price. You are not likely to find anything as good for the price or anywhere close to it.
What are the Negatives?
Being a budget model, there are a few points to mention on the downside. However, none of these is a killer for what is ultimately a very good product. You have to take the bad with the good, and the good definitely outweighs the bad.
The main concern that I have is the unsealed lenses. This leads to fog issues as described above. While this isn’t a killer, it can be a big negative depending on where you live and when you use them. I would have preferred a fog-resistant coating at the least.
This doesn’t mean you will have to worry about displaced lenses. They are firmly supported; they just don’t have a seal to prevent condensation. It is tight enough that it keeps out water that isn’t vapor. It also keeps out dust, so that isn’t a concern either.
The second negative I would give is that there are far better binoculars optically. They just cost a whole lot more. These are still at the top of the quality spectrum but not as good as some big brands out there.
If you can live with these few negatives, these are well worth the cost. They are worth more than the cost actually, which is the most you could ask for.
The Final Word
Eventually, it would be good to break down and get a really good set of binoculars. Until then, these serve the purpose very well. Even when you have a really good pair, these are the perfect backup, just in case.
For the price, I think getting a pair of these to keep in your pack or your truck is solid advice. There will never be a time you are not glad to have them. Binoculars are just one of those things you end up using more than you think you would.
In my opinion, I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase these. If not for you, they make a great first set for younger hunters. I am sure anyone would appreciate these as a gift. They even look high-speed enough to impress anyone with a tactical persuasion.
