8x32 Ultravids vs. Swaro ELs vs. Nikon HGs

[Marley]

Hello to all,

I was just curious to know what the BF members had to say regarding the latest 8x32 offerings from Leica and Nikon. I have had the opportunity to look through the Swaro ELs and the Nikon HGs, but with my local store not stocking the Ultravids right now, I was not able to complete my comparison.

I should mention before I go further that I am looking for a smaller companion to a pair of Swaro 8.5x42 ELs and 10x42 SLCs.

I will say that of the two I tried, the Nikon HGs were really quite nice, especially for the price (less than $900). They also have a very smooth focus and are very easy on the eyes. The ergonomics of the ELs were, well, you know the drill. They really feel wonderful in the hands. I just don't think I want to spend $1500 for a backup pair of bins.

I have always enjoyed Leica bins and have thought about owning a new pair. I was just wondering if you folks felt there was a need to spend the $1200-$1300 for such bins or if there were BF members that had compared the Leica Ultravids against the HGs and come away with the impression that the HGs were the way to go.

As always, thanks for your inputs. I really appreciate the help.

Rgds,

Steffan

[Bill A]

This isn't quite what you're asking for, but I recently bought a pair if 8x32 Trinovids (quite a bit cheaper than the Ultravids) as a backup to my 8.5x42 Swaro EL's. They are really superb. I posted some comparisons a week or so ago, but now I've had more time to use them. The resolution and contrast seem perhaps a bit sharper with the Leicas; the colors on the other hand seem a little warmer with the Swaros, despite the fact that the newer Swaros are supposedly color-neutral. This is just my impression. At any rate, you might consider the Trinovids--around here about 350 bucks cheaper, and optically superb.

Bill

[Richard Scott]

I've recently checked out the 8x32 Leica Ultravid, Swaro EL, Nikon HG (and HGL) and Zeiss FL.

To be honest, they all have their plus and minus points, so its really down to personal preference.

My findings were:

Leica: as sharp as the Nikon, soft eyecps are very comfortable against the eyes, very natural/neutral image. Focussing not as smooth as the others. A quality piece of kit.

Nikon: vibrant colours, as sharp as the Leica, not as comfortable to hold as the others due to the bulges, I couldn't hold them quite as steady. Soft, comfortable eyecups. Very rapid focussing might take some getting used to.

Swarovski: image was the least sharp and contrasty of the batch, eyecups not quite as comfortable as Ultravid and HG. Overall handling was perfection.

Zeiss: sharpest image of the lot. Very large hard eyecups resulted in my wife finding them very uncomfortable, because she ended up squeezing her nose with them ! But they were fine against my glasses.

So for me the Zeiss was the best, followed by the Leica/Nikon, then the Swarovski.

Rich.

[Bill Atwood]

There are still some 32mm 1st edition (HG/LX) Nikons on Ebay for under $500.

While not perfect, they're an optical bargain that you rarely see.

I would love to get my hands on a pair of the Zeiss 32mms, but my wallet woud rather I not.

[Marley]

Hi Bill,

I know how both you and your wallet feel. In looking at the Zeiss, Swaro and Leica 8x32s, one of the thoughts that just kept popping back into my head was "Do you really need to spend that much for a 32 mm bin?".

After reading some reviews and trying the 8x32 LX L this weekend, I ended up settling on a pair. Still not inexpensive at $849, but not too bad. They are very nice to look through, no blackouts regardless of what I do (can't say that about my other bins) and I'm sure I will enjoy them for years to come.

Thank you for your thoughts.

Rgds,

Steffan

[BMR]

Marley, I would take the Leica 8X32 Trinovids over the Swaro, that's how much better I think they are. The Swaros are not as sharp optically as even the older Leica Trinovids, and they don't hold a candle in terms of waterproofing and build quality.

[photo1]

Marley:
I too went through the same exercise around 6 months ago that you're going through now. As it was previously mentioned, it really comes down to personal preference. How do they look through your eyes and how do they feel in your hands. For me, it was the Leica Ultravid. I own a pair of 7x42 Leicas and 8x43 Pentax DCF SPs. While I love both pair of these, I use the 8x32 Ultravids almost every time I go out birding. I love the weight and how comfortable they are to use. I don't feel like I miss anything by using the 32s and if I need extra light, I have the 7x42s. As someone pointed out, they're not as smooth focusing as some of the others but it doesn't bother me (much). I highly recommend the Leicas.
Jerry