Many optics offer a good look at distant objects, but the Carson X-View 7x32 Monocular is among the few that let you examine items up close. Its minimum focus distance of just 18" affords a detailed view of everything from a butterfly to the brushstrokes on a painting – and there's a tripod mount to make sure the X-View stays perfectly still.

This 5 x 2 x 2", 7.4 oz monocular is equipped with BAK4 prisms and fully multi-coated lenses. Along with its close-focus capabilities, it features a 7x magnification that's more than adequate for distance viewing but isn't subject to image shake like higher-powered optics. Its long 19mm eye relief gives users who wear eyeglasses access to the full 7° field of view (that's 381' at 1000 yards.)