Something's got to give - Nikon Trailblazer ATB Waterproof Compact 8x25mm Roof Prism Binoculars

This pair of binoculars has nice, coated optics that give great images. It's waterproof and small enough to fit in a pocket, and it's cheap - much cheaper than other binoculars giving a similarly crisp and pretty image.

So where's the catch? Getting a focus out of these binoculars is like pulling teeth. Notably, the diopter adjustment (the one that makes both eyes focus at the same time) is very strongly coupled with the focal point; one must adjust the diopter adjustment over almost its entire range of motion when going from a nearby focus to infinity.

Also, the focus adjustment itself does not turn smoothly, and the eye relief is not really enough for easy use with eyeglasses.

This pair would be fine for looking at more or less stationary things - looking at landscapes, going to the opera, etc. You can take off your glasses if you wear them, wrestle with the adjustments until you get both eyes to focus, leave the adjustments alone, and enjoy the view. But for more demanding applications, e.g. birding and other wildlife watching, or for sharing between people with substantially different eyesight, you're in for a world of hurt with these binoculars.
Pros: Good optics, waterproof, light
Cons: A pain to focus, insufficient eye relief

This review was written in the old system and had content requirements that are different than reviews written today.