Szimi, I can only speak from experience of the Zeiss Victory Compact 10x25T* which I bought recently for the bargain price (new) of £279. It comes with a nice quality leather pouch case with magnetic clasp, but the thin neckstrap is less impressive. First thing I did was to compare it with my Zeiss Design Selection Compact 6x18T*, Zeiss Conquest
8x30T*, Zeiss Classic 10x40 BGAT* (not P*) and Hawke Frontier 8x43ED, just for fun...
Considering its small size, the 10x25 is amazingly bright (I agree with Tero that a 10x25 might normally be expected to be rather dim against larger optics, but my Zeiss Compact
defies that presumption; perhaps it's the dielectric coating that enhances brightness?). The 6x18 Compact is very good (1990s) and is about 60% the size of the 10x25, but its optics are not in the same class as its slightly larger (and much newer) 10x25 sibling. I like the 6x18, despite its 'wrong-way' focus, but I'm glad to say the 10x25 has returned to the traditional 'clockwise to infinity' focus, just like all my other Zeiss (including Zeiss Jena Octarem 8x50). I'm also fond of the 8x30 Conquest, a quietly modest, smallish bin', but the 10x25 is sharper, not a lot, but just discernible (to my eyes); contrast is superb in both, but again I'd say the 10x25 has a slight edge. In fact, the 10x25 resolution can only be described as 'outstanding'. I was surprised how well the old 10x40 BGAT stands up to the much more modern models I have (perhaps it's my old eyes?) but the Hawke ED has the most relaxing 'big view', if not quite as sharp as the 10x25 or even the 8x30. As a test target, I try to read the (tiny) wording on a wall vent on a building across the lane at the back of my house, then switch to the details on a lamp post, then to a TV aerial on the roof, silhouetted against the sky. This tests not only sharpness but ability to hand-hold the image steady: again, I was amazed by the 10x25; it's not as stable as the 6x and 8x (as you'd expect) but it's far better than I'd hoped, and reading details is not a problem (perhaps because of the single off-set hinge?). I've had several compact binoculars over the years, eg. Nikon 7x20 Travelite (a little gem) and a Docter 8x22 that was rather good, plus of course the Zeiss 6x18 I've become attached to, but the Zeiss 10x25 really is in a 'wow' class of its own. With such a small bin, eye placement is quite important, as is the right amount of push-pull adjustment on the eye-cups, so it's more fiddly than a Conquest or Frontier to get comfortable; nevertheless, once it's set up to suit your eyes, the image is 'magic'. You have to wonder how Zeiss can produce such a wonderful view from a miniature binocular. So, although I have never tried any 'mini bins'
from other 'alpha' manufacturers, I'd be surprised if they're better than the Zeiss 10x25 Victory. These are just my subjective views, of course, but I do think Zeiss are nice...
