Q1: I am looking for a tuff monocular that will be used on a daily basis that can focus up close, say fifteen to twenty inches to whatever power it is.

A: You have a couple of choices. One is the Brunton Macroscope 7x40 Close Focus Monocular. It offers 7X magnification and the superior light-gathering ability of a 40mm objective lens. Close focus is just 18 inches. Here's the URL; just paste it into your browser's address window: http://binoculars.com/products/brunton-macroscope-7x40-close-focus-monocular-21813.html. The second is smaller and light, making it easier to carry. It's the Minox Macroscope MS 8x25. It offers 8X magnification with a 25mm objective lens, making it a less bright scope than the Brunton. However, its focus range is 35cm to infinity, making extremely versatile. Here's the URL: http://binoculars.com/products/minox-macroscope-ms-8x25-53441.html.