Individual-focus binoculars should be able to be inverted and adjusted quickly with the thumbs, and adjusted while held to the eyes.

Our last evaluation of 7x50 binoculars was back in December of 1996. More recently, we covered compact binoculars in March of this year, and were so cross-eyed from that group of 16 that we decided to return again soon to the more interesting field of the big light-gatherers. Binoculars rated at 7x50 are ideally suited for on-water use, and should probably be aboard any boat with space to stow them.

We've managed return engagements from over half of the brands rated in '96, plus one newcomer—this time limiting our field to armored 7x50s featuring built-in compasses and claiming resistance to water. Limiting the field to binoculars with compasses was a…