Golfers, hikers and bird watchers like to carry a monocular since it is only half the weight and size of a binocular and much easier to pack. This article is intended to help cut through some of the confusion on getting a good pair of binoculars.
Compact binoculars are mostly used by travelers, sportsmen, hunters, bird watchers, and nature lovers. Some are better optically while others excel in cost. The first number is the amount of magnification or zoom the pair has.
A good rule of thumb is, unless you are a private investigator or international spy, avoid buying a pair of binoculars with a magnification/zoom greater then 10x's. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of repair. Each coating is designed to provide the maximum transmission of light through the lens, and minimum reflection and diffraction, resulting in a brighter, clearer picture than with standard non-coated lens models.
Prices of modern day monoculars range from the most expensive to very cheap. I have been waiting to buy a pair of Nikon Monarch binoculars for nearly a year now. When buying a telescope, look at your aspirations for owning a telescope, and what you want to get out of the telescope.
The newer binoculars are very lightweight making them ideal to pack in your lightweight luggage. If you are going to be a birder, you are going to need binoculars.