Trinovid 8x20/10x25 question

[mook]

Hi all,
I'm interested in purchasing a pair of compact Trinovids (haven't decided which mag yet) and would like to know if the diopter correction ring is click stopped? I've tried both sizes but can't for the life of me remember if the diopter settings clicked into place - literature doesn't mention it. As a side note, I thought the 10x balanced better in the hands (steadier view) but prefer the close focus of the 8x!! I know the new Ultravids address this but they're £100 more...Any views from Trinovid users would be most welcome (and will save me driving 20 miles to find out first hand - I'm supposed to be 'working' ;) )

Mook

[garymh]

The dioptre setting on the Ultravid clicks into place and locks but it does not on the Trinovid. The control is, however, fairly stiff and as it is around the objective barrel you are not likely to move it accidentally.

[mook]

Thanks Gary. I thought that might be the case - they usually point out features like click-stopped diopters in the brochures. I'm leaning toward the 10x25's which I felt handled better due to their slightly greater length but if anyone's keen to share their real world experiences of these compacts, I'd be grateful.

Mook

[Atomic Chicken]

mook,

Please be aware, whichever version you buy, that the Trinovid compact models are NOT waterproof. The Ultravids are. That factor, combined with the better optics and locking diopter would easily justify the extra 100 pounds - at least in my opinion.

Best wishes,
Bawko

[mook]

Thanks Bawko, that is something to consider - the Ultravids seem to tick all the right boxes....it's just those Trinovids are so well priced, I think I could live with them. I found the view through them wonderfully bright & sharp - so the Ultravids must be pretty exceptional!

Mook

[Alexis Powell]

I have the Leica 10x25 BC Trinovids. They are a good pocket bino for birding, but the close focus (~17 feet or more) really is a bit limiting in forest/brush and renders them useless for the butterfly watching that I do these days. I much prefer my Zeiss 8x20 Victory bino for its ~6 foot close-focus. Incidentally, I've noticed that while manufacturer's listed close focus specs are reasonably accurate for full and mid sized binos, and for 10x pockets, but the close focus of the 8x pockets from Leica, Swarovski, and Zeiss are often much better than the printed specs indicate. My favorite pockets are the Leica 8x20 Ultravids, but I like the Zeiss 8x20 Victory almost as much--and they are much less expensive.
--AP

[mook]

Thank you Alexis for your comments - it's nice to get a practical perspective from users of products as it's easy to become 'seduced' by the (perceived) desirability of something at the expense of it's actual suitability! Those brochures have a lot to answer for ;) Knowing about specific quirks or benefits is handy, though can make deciding a nightmare. I know the 10x25 Ultravids have all the features, esp. the close focus........guess I'll have to check them out and decide for myself if they're worth the extra cash (I'm sure they are!).

Thanks again to you all.

Mook

[grbrown]

I have a pair of 8x20 folding Trinovids, which I use for general purposes including bird watching, sight seeing, concerts, sports, etc. However I also have Trinovid 12x50s for dedicated bird watching trips. How can one get by with less?!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mook]

LOL.....indeed!! One step at a time though....I recently returned some Swift 8.5 x 44 roofs primarily because no matter how much I adjusted the eyecups (I don't wear glasses) I could not get a view that didn't resemble looking down a toilet roll tube - which was annoying as I could see what I should have been seeing when I held the bins a couple of cm's away from my face!! All that field of view disappeared when I put the oculars to my eyes - I think the eyecups were just too wide to sit comfortably in my eye sockets :-C Anyway, I mention this because these compacts have smaller oculars that will sit much better....

Mook

[xenophobe]

I haven't tried the 10x25 BCA Ultravids, nor either 8x25 version, but I absolutely love my 10x25 Trinovids. I bought them because my 10x40 Zeiss Classics are a bit too heavy to carry with me all the time. I consider the 10x25 Ultravids to be sharper and have higher resolution than the Zeiss on near-infinite ranges. The Diopter IS out of the way and you won't accidentally move them, they don't need to be locked down.

I can't put my finger on why, but my Zeiss does outperform the compact in some situations, but I'm happy with both bins.

I'm interested in the Zeiss Classic 10x25s and the 10x25 Ultravids, but I'm absolutely estatic about my Trinovid purchase. I'm going to be buying a pair of 12x's, and will get either the Trinovid or Ultravid, just to see how they stack up to the Swarovskis and Zeiss.

Anyways, long story short, the 10x25 Trinovids are wonderful, fit right, and I'd buy them again if I had to.

[mook]

Thanks xenophobe for that glowing recommendation. Guess I have no qualms about the diopter shifting during normal usage now! I tried a friend's Zeiss 10x40 Classic (B/GA T* P) for a day's birding a while ago and loved them...'classic' styling, lovely feel, still a very desirable bin as far as I'm concerned - just having them hanging round your neck was great. Trying to persuade myself to pick up a good pair secondhand....at the expense of the 10x25 Trinovids...it's enough to drive you mad :'D

Oh, and I had no bother with the rubber fold-down eyecups - those bins fit my eyes like a glove (if that's at all possible....?).

Mook

[Omid]

I have had 8x20 Trinovid (in leather) , 10x25 Trinovid (Blue rubber armor) and 12x50 Trinovid. I own none of these now :( but here are my observations:

1-8x20 is fantastic since you can carry it everywhere. diopter was not locked but it was never a problem.

2-10x25 was a little bit shaky to hold. Otherwise had fantastic optics.

3-12x50: Can't explain in words the feeling of looking through them.

cheers

[mook]

Thanks for your all feedback! All the research I've done certainly seems to show that the Leica compacts are a worthy choice. On a side note 2old2care, I spent 3 wonderful months in Toronto a couple of years back - great city!! :t:

Mook

[xenophobe]

Trying to persuade myself to pick up a good pair secondhand....at the expense of the 10x25 Trinovids...it's enough to drive you mad :'D

Funny you should say that. If I had to choose only one pair to keep, I think I'd go mad. I absolutely love my 10x40b Classics. They just feel so right for me. But, I'm pretty hooked on carrying my 10x25s around too, and comparing both of them with 7 or 8's, I think I made great first choices. The extra magnification is absolutely worth it. The 10x25's also perfectly compliment my 10x40s.

BTW, I picked the 10x40's with very little information, and after trying many other models, would still buy them. (I stole them from Cabellas for $699 when they were on sale.) I did do my research with the 10x25 Trinovids, which also has a larger fov than the 10x25 Ultravids. A sacrifice... waterproofing for better fov, and worth it, IMO.

I just purchased a set of 12x50 BN Trinovids and will probably set it up with a monopod. I can't wait to see what they're like.

[grbrown]

As previously mentioned I have both 8x20 and 12x50 Trinovids, each having their advantages. A silly problem with the smaller ones is the possibility, depending how large your hands are, of little finger tips straying over the objectives! Hardly difficult to overcome.

My baby-bins get used for general trips, theatre and concerts, where their small size is their real advantage. The big-uns get used around the house, watching birds in the garden, and for dedicated bird trips, or when size and weight are not an issue. So there is room for both!

The 10x25 version are not very much larger than the smallest, but I reckon they compromise the pocket-and-forget benefits of the 8x20. On the other hand if a small binocular is wanted as an only pair, an 8x30 would be my choice - still quite compact and pocketable, albeit in a larger pocket, but with big-bins technology and advantages.

I could almost see a pair in my collection....

Graham. |8.|

[postcardcv]

Hi Mook

you may well have already got your compacts by now, but if not here's my opinion. The trinovid compact are good little bins, but don't buy them! Either save the bit extra and go for the Ultravid - they are much more comfortable to use and have the added features that others have menioned.

If you are choosing between a new pair of compacts or a secondhand pair of full size bins, I'd recommend getting the full size ones. If you uses them for extended periods of time, you may well find (as many people do) that your eyes feel strained using compacts. A good choice if you want something easy/comfortable to use, but not big to carry round would be a pair of 8x32's. The 8x32 ultravids are a lot more than the compacts, but the image is stunning and they are great to use. If they're beyond the budget look around for a pair of secondhand 8x32 bn's (or ba's), they are excellent bins and you can sometimes find them for a really good price.

[xenophobe]

I've used my 10x25 Trinovids for extended times and haven't yet had any eye strain develop from them. Optical quality is excellent, and I don't see any need to upgrade them to the Ultravids. I would be losing FOV for marginal increase in optical quality.

If you're going to purchase a pair of high-end compacts, I'd definitely suggest that you don't discount the Trinovids.

[Swissboy]

I don't see any need to upgrade them to the Ultravids. I would be losing FOV for marginal increase in optical quality.

Why would you lose FOV? Checking the specs on the Leica website gives the same numbers for the compact (10x25) Ultravids and Trinovids (90m).

On the other hand, you not only gain optically, but also in close focus (3.2m vs 5m).

[xenophobe]

Hmm... I got this incorrect info from the SWFA website, and checking against Leica's site, you are indeed correct.