Leupold is the Optics Authority of America. With 100 years of history in America they have been creating and refining optics for many purposes. Leupold engineers have made optics for hunting and birdwatching and super high tech military needs. Optical precision and care in construction cannot be beat. Leupold is a company that is designed for success and will outlast recessions like the one we have right now.
I like compact binoculars because I have small hands and often carry my binoculars far into the field or woods on hiking or backpacking trips. That makes the lighter weight and smaller sizes more appealing to me. The Olympic Compact Dual Hinge Series is less than 15 ounces and only 4.3 inches long. It can fold very small for easy packing.
By comparison, the Katmai Compact binoculars offer full-size features and weigh only 18.9 ounces plus they are only 4.1 inches long. Both have fully coated lenses to provide the best clarity, light transmission and good contrast. Both have rugged and waterproof casings. I learned that all Leupold binoculars are fog-proof and waterproof and all of them have had their internal parts purged with nitrogen to ensure the best visibility and highest quality optical preparation.
If you choose the Olympic Compact Dual Hinge Series binoculars you have a choice in the color of the casing too. It is either black or mossy oak tree camo, nice feature. Katmai is only black. The magnification for the Olympic series is either 8×25 or 10×25. Both are acceptable for me but I much prefer the field of vision with the 8×25.
The specs and application information available at the Leupold site are exceptionally detailed and helpful. It makes comparing binoculars incredibly easy and practical.
I especially like the Katmai because it uses full-size components and has a wider range of recommended uses. Nonetheless these are still compact binoculars. The distance between the pupils of my eyes are well suited to the interpupillary distance of both of these binoculars, from 60-70 mm. They both offer good eye relief and the exit pupil of the Katmai is larger by less than 1 mm.
With the closer focus range of 4 feet for the Leupold Katmai binoculars, I could easily magnify flowers along the footpaths. I like that. The Olympic series gives close focus range only up to 8 feet which is fine for birding.
Nonetheless the Katmai has full size eye cups which are good for people who wear glasses, which I do. That could be the primary point that makes me swing toward these gems for my new birdwatching binoculars. The Katmai Compact Binoculars are available in 6×32, 8×32 or 10×32 magnification. My preference is 8×32. They are comfortable in my hands and sturdy enough to be my primary binoculars. It is not possible to go wrong with Leupold binoculars.
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