Replacement bins

[Bean Counter]

Having just had my Leica BN 10 X 42's stolen I now need to replace them. Do you reckon I should go the same again? or how about the Duovids - or are they just a gimmick? Don't get me wrong I really like the BN's but want to make sure I get the best option

[Swissboy]

Having just had my Leica BN 10 X 42's stolen I now need to replace them. Do you reckon I should go the same again? or how about the Duovids - or are they just a gimmick? Don't get me wrong I really like the BN's but want to make sure I get the best option

Go for the Ultravids now if you want to stick with Leica. But make sure you also check Zeiss FLs at least. Duovids are, above all, HEAVY!

[Ben O]

Having just had my Leica BN 10 X 42's stolen I now need to replace them. Do you reckon I should go the same again? or how about the Duovids - or are they just a gimmick? Don't get me wrong I really like the BN's but want to make sure I get the best option

I was very sad to see that you had your beloved BN's stolen. My BN's were almost an extension of my arm and I could never imagine parting with them, that was until I tried the Zeiss FL.
If you enjoyed the BN, stay with them as I'm sure you can pick them up for a bargain these days. I didn't part with my BN's, my better half now uses them.

Ben

[Bubbs]

Having just had my Leica BN 10 X 42's stolen I now need to replace them. Do you reckon I should go the same again? or how about the Duovids - or are they just a gimmick? Don't get me wrong I really like the BN's but want to make sure I get the best option

Hopefully you were insured. If money is no problem then go for the wonderful Ultravids. You can pick up the old BN's but they are hardly a bargain..even now! Although 'old' the BN's are still brilliant.

Ultavids V FL's = I think the vast majority of the hundreds of posters on BF come out in favour of Ultravids.

John

[Bill Atwood]

Ultavids V FL's = I think the vast majority of the hundreds of posters on BF come out in favour of Ultravids.

Uhhhhhhhh... I wouldn't be too sure about that.

Here's at least one vote for the FLs.

Let the war begin!

[Ben O]

Uhhhhhhhh... I wouldn't be too sure about that.

Here's at least one vote for the FLs.

Let the war begin!

I can only presume John is getting birdforum mixed up with leica.net ;) Iwas always a 100% Leica birder, but things change and I found the FL's slightly outperformed the Ultravids in several areas.

Ben

[salty]

i would seriously recommend the ultravid 10x42br. i upgraded my trinovid 10x42bn with these bins, and im IMPRESSED!. the colours and detail they pick out is stunning. my girlfriend uses my trinovids, and we sometimes argue over the ultravids!.

the ultravids are a lighter, more advanced version of the still exellent trinovids, and would be the sensible upgrade if your still want top-end bins. take my word for it, they really are brilliant.

[chartwell99]

i would seriously recommend the ultravid 10x42br. i upgraded my trinovid 10x42bn with these bins, and im IMPRESSED!. the colours and detail they pick out is stunning. my girlfriend uses my trinovids, and we sometimes argue over the ultravids!.

the ultravids are a lighter, more advanced version of the still exellent trinovids, and would be the sensible upgrade if your still want top-end bins. take my word for it, they really are brilliant.

My own personal view if you decide to go the Leica used route is to find a 10 x 42 BA rather than a BN. The BN focuses closer but it is not optically as impressive IMHO. Build quality and/or quality control may also be better with the BA series as I also find it interesting that all of the grousing over Leica focus control issues in other threads involve either BNs or Ultravids, and not the earleir BA series glasses. Just a thought.

[Tero]

Insurance does not cover this stuff well, but if it does, it is better to lose expensive ones as they go over the deductible amount.

We had a camera stolen from the trunk of a locked car. It was barely worth the trouble to report it.

[Bean Counter]

Thanks for the input - I better get on and check out the Ultravids before I make any decision

[pduxon]

Ultavids V FL's = I think the vast majority of the hundreds of posters on BF come out in favour of Ultravids.


pardon John?

like anything else bean counter I'd line up the relevant suspects, zeiss fl, Leica Ultravid, Swaro EL & Nikon HGL and have a look through them....

also consider the Nikon HG 10x32 from w/express @ £349 top bins and you could have one hell of a birding holiday as well.

[Bean Counter]

Well - I've had a look through the Swarovskis and The Zeiss courtesy of my local camera shop. I still feel more comfortable with the Leicas so I've trawled the internet for prices. If anyone is interest Sherwoods are the cheapest at £859 for the BR 10 X 42 & the BL at £899 - unfortunately they were out of stock so Wilkinson Cameras at only £1 more got my order, next day delivery @ £10. Christmas Day for me tomorrow

[salty]

Well - I've had a look through the Swarovskis and The Zeiss courtesy of my local camera shop. I still feel more comfortable with the Leicas so I've trawled the internet for prices. If anyone is interest Sherwoods are the cheapest at £859 for the BR 10 X 42 & the BL at £899 - unfortunately they were out of stock so Wilkinson Cameras at only £1 more got my order, next day delivery @ £10. Christmas Day for me tomorrow


very nice! - i think i paid £947.95 for my 10x42br ultravids from my local jessops camera shop. and that was in january!

[Bubbs]

pardon John?

like anything else bean counter I'd line up the relevant suspects, zeiss fl, Leica Ultravid, Swaro EL & Nikon HGL and have a look through them....

also consider the Nikon HG 10x32 from w/express @ £349 top bins and you could have one hell of a birding holiday as well.

I meant if the insurance wad covered a new pair.

If it does their is little sense in buying the cheaper Nikon's. And before you start on me, my new bins are the 8x32 Nikons, and although fabulous, I don't think you can compare them with the Ultravids. I have tried the Uv's and the FL's and I (personally) simply prefered the Uv's...and I'm a Zeiss man!

I must say that now I've owned the Nikon's for a few weeks, that focus is hard to come to terms with (pers ob).

John.

[pduxon]

I meant if the insurance wad covered a new pair.

If it does their is little sense in buying the cheaper Nikon's. And before you start on me, my new bins are the 8x32 Nikons, and although fabulous, I don't think you can compare them with the Ultravids. I have tried the Uv's and the FL's and I (personally) simply prefered the Uv's...and I'm a Zeiss man!

I must say that now I've owned the Nikon's for a few weeks, that focus is hard to get used to (pers ob).

John.

would I start at you John ;)

got to say I compared the HGx32 to the Ult and Zeiss 32 at Birdfair and wasn't convinced of any real difference. The Ults were better than the older Trinovids though.

As you say personal observation.

[Bubbs]

[QUOTE=pduxon]would I start at you John ;)


YES! ;)

[Tim Allwood]

for the current price I'd certainly go for the HGs (£499 only!)

I'm with Pete: bins of that quality are more than good enough for me. I'd spend the other £400 i saved to go somewhere pretty cool and see some good birds

Tim

[Swissboy]

...as I also find it interesting that all of the grousing over Leica focus control issues in other threads involve either BNs or Ultravids, and not the earleir BA series glasses. Just a thought.

I think that's just because we mostly discuss new equipment. My 8x32BAs had developed some annoying loose play over the years, and those of one of my friends had the same happening. I've had mine fixed some years back, and they are still more or less OK now. But these things have nothing to do with quality control, they seem to be innate due to the way the focus system is constructed.

[Bean Counter]

Well - the new Ultravids arrived on Friday and I must say they are lovely and have an "understated" look about them which I like. To my surprise, even at that bargain price, they came with the hard case.

I was able to well and truly christen them yesterday morning with a Great Grey Shrike - a first for me. They are much lighter to use than the BN's and, so far, I can't fault them.

[salty]

Well - the new Ultravids arrived on Friday and I must say they are lovely and have an "understated" look about them which I like. To my surprise, even at that bargain price, they came with the hard case.

I was able to well and truly christen them yesterday morning with a Great Grey Shrike - a first for me. They are much lighter to use than the BN's and, so far, I can't fault them.

wait untill you are river watching or in mixed light (woodland etc) enviroments - they really start to peform then ;) .