Leica Ultravid BR or BL

[rivieren]

Hello ,

I have decided to buy a Leica Ultravid 8x42. I am wearing glasses and now thiink
if I should take the BR or BL version and have no possibility to test the BL-Version.
My question is:
I know that the weight of the BL's is lower but for me its more important if there is a difference in blackouts between BR and BL.
Are there any other reasons why you would recommend the BR or BL-Version.

Thanks for your help

Rivieren

[StuartReeves]

Try this thread : http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=12815

[rivieren]

Hi Stuart,

Thank you for that link.
Concerning my question here it is said that
' the eyecups in the BR and BL are the same'.
But as you can see for example from this image
http://www.leica-camera.com/sportoptik/einsatzbereiche/vogelbeobachtung/ultravid42/index.html
the eye-cups are oviously not the same.
Anybody any idea ?

Rivieren

[RobConnel]

Looks to me like the shape is different but the length and operation are the same, so the specs would also be the same.

[salty]

i have the ultravid BR, and use them with glasses. i have found these binoculars to be the best i have ever used with glasses, hence i now own a pair!

the BR (rubber armoured) are a little more robust than leather armoured (BL) bin's.

[Pileatus]

Hello ,

I have desided to buy a Leica Ultravid 8x42. I am wearing glasses and now thiink
if I should take the BR or BL version and have no possibility to test the BL-Version.
My question is:
I know that the weight of the BL's is lower but for me its more important if there is a difference in blackouts between BR and BL.
Are there any other reasons why you would recommend the BR or BL-Version.

Thanks for your help

Rivieren

Rivieren,

Get the rubber-coated version...they are fantastic in inclement weather, during cleanings, etc.

Wearing eyeglasses you should not see any blackouts in the Ultravid. If you don't wear eyeglasses and you drive the eyecups deep into the eye socket you may experience blackout, but I think that is pretty extreme usage.

Best wishes,

John

[Curtis Croulet]

The BL is the leather covered version -- right? Won't the leather eventually start to peel up? I have the impression that the BL is more intended for a collector than for field use.

[John Finnan]

I tried them both in a store and found that the BR version was more much more comfortable (for me anyway) to hand hold. Aesthetics aside, the BLs made a negative impression on me and the BRs a positive one.

John Finnan

[rivieren]

Thanks to all for your helpful comments.
I just ordered the rubber coated version.
Just one more question.


Rivieren,

Get the rubber-coated version...they are fantastic in inclement weather, during cleanings, etc.

Wearing eyeglasses you should not see any blackouts in the Ultravid. If you don't wear eyeglasses and you drive the eyecups deep into the eye socket you may experience blackout, but I think that is pretty extreme usage.

Best wishes,

John

Do you really think there should be no blackouts with the ultravid using glasses ? I tried a lot of binoculars last week including the competitive Zeiss and Swarowski-candidates and I always had quite a lot of blackouts, also with the ultravid (but a little bit less) so I thought this is inevitable. Perhaps it is a problem of my glasses (they are quite small), or am I doing something wrong (of course I used the binoculars in the 'glasses-position') ?l

Rivieren

[Pileatus]

Thanks to all for your helpful comments.
I just ordered the rubber coated version.
Just one more question.




Do you really think there should be no blackouts with the ultravid using glasses ? I tried a lot of binoculars last week including the competitive Zeiss and Swarowski-candidates and I always had quite a lot of blackouts, also with the ultravid (but a little bit less) so I thought this is inevitable. Perhaps it is a problem of my glasses (they are quite small), or am I doing something wrong (of course I used the binoculars in the 'glasses-position') ?l

Rivieren

Rivieren,

I'll assume 'glasses-position' means the eyecups were fully retracted. If so, that's the problem. Simply extend the eyecups a bit and you will most likely find a position that is suitable for your eyeglass/eye combination.

John

[xenophobe]

I spent a few hours with the Leica BL and tested them against various bins, a few 10x40 Classics, a couple SLCs and a few other mid-priced bins and couldn't stop thinking about them. I ended up taking a pair of 10x42 BLs home with me the other day.

Absolutely fantastic build quality, and I love the throwback leather design. I inherited a nice pair of leather porros that my dad used for years, and although not as durable as rubber armor, all of the well maintained and heavily used leather bins I've ever seen have held up. The bins my father passed on to me no exception. Also, seeing how Leica has been using leather continuosly in past years on their cameras, I felt that their application and durability shouldn't be a question.

The leather carry case that comes with it is great and compact, and even though I've been biased against high-end bins like the Ultravid as being bragging rights material, it's also the nicest view I've ever experienced by leaps and bounds. It's got some serious "snap" factor.

Anyways, I would highly recommend the BL. People concerned about durability might have legitimate concern, but I think it's mostly due to the fact that good leather binoculars have been in steady decrease since rubber armor was introduced. I think a great deal of the opinions forming against leather have to do with the "out of sight, out of mind" psychology than realistic wear and tear. Good leather bins can be used often and frequently as my father's old pair shows me, you just have to take care of your equipment.

[chartwell99]

I spent a few hours with the Leica BL and tested them against various bins, a few 10x40 Classics, a couple SLCs and a few other mid-priced bins and couldn't stop thinking about them. I ended up taking a pair of 10x42 BLs home with me the other day.

Absolutely fantastic build quality, and I love the throwback leather design. I inherited a nice pair of leather porros that my dad used for years, and although not as durable as rubber armor, all of the well maintained and heavily used leather bins I've ever seen have held up. The bins my father passed on to me no exception. Also, seeing how Leica has been using leather continuosly in past years on their cameras, I felt that their application and durability shouldn't be a question.

The leather carry case that comes with it is great and compact, and even though I've been biased against high-end bins like the Ultravid as being bragging rights material, it's also the nicest view I've ever experienced by leaps and bounds. It's got some serious "snap" factor.

Anyways, I would highly recommend the BL. People concerned about durability might have legitimate concern, but I think it's mostly due to the fact that good leather binoculars have been in steady decrease since rubber armor was introduced. I think a great deal of the opinions forming against leather have to do with the "out of sight, out of mind" psychology than realistic wear and tear. Good leather bins can be used often and frequently as my father's old pair shows me, you just have to take care of your equipment.

I'm not sure the "leather" on the Ultravid BL actually came from an animal and not the laboratory, but, based on my very favorable experience with my Leica 10 x 25 BL, the covering is very durable and very elegant. The biggest downside is the lack of protection against bumps and dings, which is not a concern with pocket bins.

[garymh]

The BR and BL both give exactly the same field of view, eye relief etc. The only difference is cosmetic. The eyecups are a different shape because the body shapes are different.......it is a streamlining thing only. Put BL eyecups on a BR and it does not look as 'pretty'....and vic versa. We recently had a customer who prefered the look of the eyecups on the BL and wanted them fitted to his BR. The next day he reversed his decision because it ruined the shape of the binocular.