CarsonMiniMight 6x18mm Pocket Monocular with Carabiner Clip, Green (MM-618CG)

I live in the country where there are lots of birds. I have a very good set of binoculars for birding, but they don’t focus closer than about 20 yards. Great for distant birds, but I couldn’t see the birds that landed close in my back yard, so I couldn’t identify them. With this tiny monocular I can easily observe the small birds I couldn’t focus on with the binoculars. The focus ring is smooth and brings in a sharp image. Surprisingly good optics. Not a very wide field of view, but that’s not a problem, since I only want to look at one bird at a time. Field is wide enough that spotting the small birds is not a problem. I like the very small size. I can have my binoculars for longer range, but when I need to see something much closer, this little monocular stows easily in a pocket and is quickly accessible. Not great for longer distances (but not bad, all things considered). Not for prolonged use, since you have to keep one eye closed. It works great for what I need.

Despite not having Bak-4 glass like the similar Brunton models, this Carson seems brighter. That might be because it is 6x18 instead of 7x18 or 8x18, but it is brighter. It is smaller too. Fine focusing is easier as well. One has to turn the focus more than the Brunton, but that means you don’t ‘overshoot’ your in-focus. It’s got a cheap little pouch to put it in, a wrist strap too (if I remember correctly). It is extremely small and compact. It’ll fit in any pocket. Best of all, it will focus down to a very short range, inches! This is great for looking at butterflies, bugs, flowers, etc. And 6x is about perfect for such a small, light monocular. And this gives you a slightly better exit pupil too. Get this one if you want something to throw in your pocket for that ‘just in case’ factor. I use it all the time.

The Carson CloseUp: Handy, good quality monocular. I use it all the time. Very small, lightweight, cheap. Comes with a strap to carry it around your neck, and a little black pouch with belt loop. So very easy to carry along. Good for seniors like myself, or for kids who like to explore. You do need two hands to twist the two telescoping parts to focus-in on things. Carson did not place a scale with markings to make it easy to pre-set the monocular to an approximate distance, before fine-tuning the focus. This is a drawback that would have been easy to prevent by adding some little lines with viewing distances. Read on for my work-arounds.This monocular has a very wide viewing range, with two main areas of use (and focus work-arounds):1) FAR: for distance viewing (mostly outdoors). See a bus number or street name from far away, or deer and birds on a nature walk. -- Prepare the monocular by screwing the two parts together, so it is at its shortest (only 2.5 inches long). The monocular is now focused for far away. This is the opposite of what you would expect (counter-intuitive). You would normally expect the monocular to be at its longest for viewing far away, like a telescope. But no. This is what took me the longest to get used to. So: short for far away. From this position it takes only 2 or 3 twists (quarter-turns) to focus in to as close as 8 feet. So easy to use, not much effort.2) CLOSE: for close-up viewing (mostly indoors). Clearly read the finest print, see the smallest detail. Nature lovers can observe the details of flowers or strange little insects. You can see sharply from as close up as 11 inches. That is what makes this monocular so special, and why it is obviously called the Carson CloseUp. -- Prepare to use it for close-up by twisting the two parts apart, unscrewing them, so the monocular is at its longest (about 4.5 inches long). It is now focused at its closest, or less than 1 foot away (again, counter-intuitive). Then twist to adjust the focus to further away. It takes about 8 twists (quarter-turns) to get it to focus 3 feet away. So that is more work. Closer in, it has a very narrow depth of field. That means you do have to very exactly focus it to see sharp. So that takes a bit of work twisting it, adjusting the focus.A tip if you regularly use the CloseUp at medium distances. Like reading product labels and prices on the bottom shelf, without having to bend over or go down on your knees. Take a fine-tipped permanent marker, and draw some little lines, so you can pre-set the focus before viewing and fine-tuning the focus. That will save you a lot of work in finding the right focus in the mid area. Carson should have done this, engraving little lines. So little effort to save the user so much work. I hope these work-arounds will help make this product even more useful and easy to use, if you decide to get it.

Lightweight and compact enough for a shirt pocket, with a small lightweight black nylon belt pouch and lanyard included. But I'm a little disappointed with this item despite having researched it thoroughly and having modest expectations.Its optics are quite good at close distances; for a nature walk, you will see excellent detail on an interesting plant, leaf, etc. But don't expect it to also serve for long distance viewing.In my experience it is NOT a viable longer distance substitute for binoculars. I can't make out street name signage or park trail signposts at a distance, for instance. It won't help with the street sign at the end of my block 100 yards away. So it's very good close up for enjoying details of a flower, a leaf, a seashell , but not very helpful as a trail-hiking navigation tool.Birdwatcher's note: This does give pretty fair results out to about 60-80 feet, so if you're fairly close you might get a better look at a bird in a very nearby tree. But (to my eye) beyond 60-80 feet you're out of range and it's not very helpful.It requires two hands to focus the lens.Build quality and small carry case are fine. It feels sturdy enough, and I've dropped it once or twice and it was fine. The 'lifetime warranty' requires you send in a $12.00 check for service, LOL, which is about what the unit costs new.As a plus, this item might also be very useful at museums, to see details of items in glass cases or hung on walls behind barrier ropes.I give it only 3 stars because it's just not useful for the distance work I would have liked to use it for in addition to the closer work--and at close work, it's just fine.SUMMARY: This is very good for up close details of outdoor plants, flowers, and other small close up details. Handy, compact and light enough for a shirt pocket. Good value for money. I like it. But don't buy it thinking it will also be a binoculars substitute, even occasionally, the lens is not that versatile.Hope this is helpful. Happy viewing, everybody.

Es muy bueno, tiene buen Zoom, adjunto imagen, (Foto de la palapa) y también funciona para ver cosas más de cerca, como tipo microscopio (foto del peso) se ven un poco borrosas en las fotos, pero esto es culpa de mi pulso, la imagen del monocular es muy nítida, otra cosa no sabia usarlo muy bien, así que pensé que no servía el Zoom, no sean como yo, les explico, si quieren ver cosas de cerca, tienen que sacar todo el lente, para el Zoom lo tienen que hacer más chico , es muy compacto , puse una moneda de 10 pesos como referencia para que puedan ver el tamaño, Lo recomiendo

Produto bem construido, compacto; de facil transporte e manuseio. O alcance é bem limitado, cerca de 30 metros com alkguma nitidez. Comprei pq tenho dificuldade de ler placas e paineis a distancia, mas para pessoas que tem uma boa visão, creio ser inutil. Recomendo para pessoas portadoras de de baixa visao. Para oa demais, nem tanto. Mas podem arriscar e comprar. Caso nao funcione adequadamente para voce, so devolver dentro do prazo e como recebeu, que sera reembolsado.

Muito bom.Realmente entrega o que promete.Pequeno, leve e potente.Uso óculos e como ele tem 2 regulagens de lente, não preciso usar os óculos e obtenho ótimos resultados.

Es un monocular basico pero potente, una vez que haces uso de todo el zoom te daras cuenta que no tiene mucha definición pero por el precio es mas que excelente a eso hay que agregarle la portabilidad, es muy compacto. Lo use durante unas vacaciones y estoy MUY satisfecho con la compra.

This little monocular sight is impressive. Excellent optics, very clear image. Magnification is just right, any stronger and image shake would prevent clarity. Very good in low light, and the macro ability to focus to 10 inches makes this unit very versatile. Possible to focus with one hand, but requires some dexterity. Super small and light, will be handy on the golf course. A sealed tube case would be an improvement, to allow safe pocket storage. Think I'll buy another!