let's talk 8x32

[Otto McDiesel]

I want to try "the best 8x32" for a while, regardless of price. If convinced, i wil give up my Leica Ultravid 10x42.
Let's hear it from you folks, your experiences with 8x32 and how they compare. I've seen the Leica Trinovid 8x32 a long time ago, and they were "WOW", the Ultravid have ridges that are fine on the 10x42, but may be bad on a small 8x32, the Swaro SLC is great but the focuser is in the wrong place, the Nikon SE offers the best image of any binocular but it's not 100% bulletproof and waterproof and i have ergonomics issues with it, the Swaro EL is the best handling binocular ever, but it did not seem all that sharp 2 years ago when i looked through it for a second (it deserves a second look), the Zeiss does not come with a "stupid proof" warranty, everyone seems to like the Nikon LX, and my vanity prevents me from even thinking about the second line (the $600 ones).

Whaddya think?

[matt green]

i owned a pair of leica trinovid 8+32 ba's for a short while,i only sold them on because they had short eyerelief,which in turn caused them to fog up in both humid and very cold weather.
one major advantage i found while using these is that because of their relatively shallow depth of focus they really worked well when looking through tree's/bushes etc.
i seem to find 8+42/7+42 don't quite handle focusing on an object that is partially obscured by foliage/tree's etc and give a slightly out of focus image.
those little leicas thrived in such conditions and are [i feel] particuly well suited to woodland birding.

matt

[Blincodave]

Looked at length through some Zeiss 8 x 32 FLs a few days ago. Excellent optics but I noticed a good deal of flare in certain light conditions. I am a glass wearer, however, and I had the eyecups pushed right down for maximum eye relief.
BTW, I have tried out all of the major 8 x 32s and my eyes always feel 'cramped' by them. I much prefer the 'walk in' feel of Swaro 8.5s or Zeiss 8 x 42 FLs.

Dave

[elkcub]

<klip>

Whaddya think?

First tell me what a Banater is.

[Otto McDiesel]

First tell me what a Banater is.

the historic province between Danube, Mureş, Tisa and the Carpathian mountains

follow this
http://www.banat.ro/

The Pannonian plain is a large plain in central/south-eastern Europe that remained when the Pliocene Pannonian Sea dried out. The river Danube divides the plain roughly in half.

A Pannonian Sailor:

My sea is gone and i don't know what to do,
Dad says Danube is not bad either,
My sea is gone, but i live in hope
That we will meet someday, somewhere.

How come it happens quite to me,
This story worth both tears and smiles,
Some sailors lose their ships,
But i've lost an entire sea.

- somewhat loose translation from Serbian, by myself, after the original poem/song by George Balasevic.

[black lark]

i believe that it is not a good thing to do, changing from 10x42 to 8x32 , are you using it for birds , why not the 8x42 .

[AlanFrench]

i believe that it is not a good thing to do, changing from 10x42 to 8x32 , are you using it for birds , why not the 8x42 .

The 10x42 and 8x32 have essentially the same exit pupil. Either would deliver all the light and resolution your eye can use at their respective magnifications under daylight conditions. During twilight, the 8x42s should show some improvement over the 8x32s.

Clear skies, Alan

[ceasar]

First tell me what a Banater is.

Otto,
Is it far from Ruthenia and the Trans-Carpatho Alps. I knew a guy (now deceased, regretably) who rode his bike around town handing out "Free Ruthenia" bumper stickers. He was one of a kind!

Bob

[justin2992]

I sold my Nikon 8x32 LXL in favor of the Zeiss 8x32 FL. The focus on the Zeiss is almost as good and they feel significantly lighter, have a better field of view, and are brighter. I haven't tried the Leica Ultravid 8x32, which is even lighter. I probably would if I didn't hate the feel of the BR focus wheel.
The Zeiss FL is probably the best 8x32 available right now.

[Rob Hutchinson]

I want to try "the best 8x32" for a while, regardless of price. If convinced, i wil give up my Leica Ultravid 10x42.
Let's hear it from you folks, your experiences with 8x32 and how they compare. I've seen the Leica Trinovid 8x32 a long time ago, and they were "WOW", the Ultravid have ridges that are fine on the 10x42, but may be bad on a small 8x32, the Swaro SLC is great but the focuser is in the wrong place, the Nikon SE offers the best image of any binocular but it's not 100% bulletproof and waterproof and i have ergonomics issues with it, the Swaro EL is the best handling binocular ever, but it did not seem all that sharp 2 years ago when i looked through it for a second (it deserves a second look), the Zeiss does not come with a "stupid proof" warranty, everyone seems to like the Nikon LX, and my vanity prevents me from even thinking about the second line (the $600 ones).

Whaddya think?

I have used Leica Trinovid 8x32 for more than 10 years now and they are brilliant, have to confess that I haven't seriously compared them to any of the more recent competitors except the Ultravids - these are certainly brighter but I prefer the 'handling' of the Trinovids, the chunkier design fits better in the hand - I would probably stick with the Trinovids.

If you are looking at 10x32 then again the Ultravids have the edge in image quality but again the Trinvid feels much better to use.

[Atomic Chicken]

Greetings!

For light weight, I'd say that Swarovski EL 8x32's or Leica Ultravid 8x32's are the best, with the Swarovski being slightly brighter in my opinion.

If you don't mind carrying something a bit heavier, Nikon HG 8x32's still give almost everything out there something to live up to...

My most used 8x32's recently have been Minox BD 8x32's, they are 1/2 lb. lighter than the Nikon HG 8x32, with similar image quality and FOV. Not quite as good as the HG's (especially at the edges), but still very close.

Best wishes,
Bawko

[Alexis Powell]

I own the Leica Ultra/Trinovid 8x32 BA/BN and the Zeiss 8x32 FL.

FL strengths: brighter, better color neutrality, better eye relief, very close focus (5 ft) making it good for butterflies, 52 mm minimum interpupillary lets me share views with my wife and 5-year-old son, very smooth focus, very clean view owing to minimal CA. Weaknesses: critical eye placement to minimize distortions outside center of image--this bino has considerable astigmatism outside the center of the field.

Ultra/Trinovid strengths: I prefer the ergonomics--my hands fit better, fingers line up with (rest on) focus wheel more naturally--and I can hold this one more steadily. Image not quite as bright or color neutral as Zeiss, but otherwise is of "no compromises" quality. Because the field is sharper towards the edges (there is field curvature, but it can be focused fairly well at the edges, unlike the Zeiss which has more abberation), I find the view more comfortable/pleasing/restful than in the Zeiss. Solid, beautiful build; has proven to be incredibly rugged in heavy field use. Love the ocular cover (an extraordinary pronouncement for me because I dislike, no, make that hate, every other ocular cover that I've ever used). Got these years ago when they regularly sold for $700.

I've tried several units of each of the above and have found these differences to be consistent. I've also tried the

Nikon HG/LX: focus too fast, too heavy, don't like the eyecup engineering

Leica Ultravid: brighter, more color neutral than the Ultra/Trinovid, and retains everything I like about the optics of the latter. Ergonomics are different from the Ultra/Trinovid, but I find the handling to be wonderful (I don't find it to be too small as some others have, yet I have large/wide hands). I like these a lot! If not for interpupillary and close focus specs of the Zeiss, I would have gotten these over the FL. I'd still get a pair if I didn't already have the Ultra/Trinovid, but given the high price and marginal real-world benefit of the slightly brighter, more color neutral optics, I can't justify doing so.

Swarovski SLC: doesn't focus closely enough, don't like focus knob location

Swarovski EL: Wonderful ergonomics. Haven't had opportunity to test the optics thoroughly. My biggest gripe is that their size (especially their length) prevents packing them in tiny places in a day pack or camera bag the way I can with the Leica (in its tight-fitting leather case) or Zeiss (in a Leica leather case--the Zeiss case is ridiculously bulky). I use 8x32 over full size binos primarily when I'm travelling and/or carrying photography equipment, so this packing issue is a big one for me.

Hope these opinions are helpful,
AP

[Otto McDiesel]

Otto,
Is it far from Ruthenia and the Trans-Carpatho Alps. I knew a guy (now deceased, regretably) who rode his bike around town handing out "Free Ruthenia" bumper stickers. He was one of a kind!

Bob

Bob, Banat is about 300-400 miles south of Ruthenia. I've met an old chap from Ruthenia once, born in 1901, who has lived in 4 countries without ever leaving his village.

[ceasar]

Bob, Banat is about 300-400 miles south of Ruthenia. I've met an old chap from Ruthenia once, born in 1901, who has lived in 4 countries without ever leaving his village.

Reminds me of that old Russian joke. Old man asks old lady; "Where were you born?" "St. Petersburg," she answers. "Where did you go to school?" "Petrograd," she answers. "Where do you live now?" "Leningrad," she answers. "Where do you want to be buried?" "St. Petersburg!" She answers.
:'D
Bob

[Otto McDiesel]

Hope these opinions are helpful,


They certainly are, thank you all.

[johnmichael]

Hi,i have just looked thru' my friends zeiss 7x42 bgat's,shortly followed by the zeiss 8x32fl.To my eyes the fl's are just as bright with the same "wow,i could look thru' these all day,sod the bigger magnification",feeling.
Right now i am hovering btw leica and zeiss 8x32.If anything i like to reel in distant raptors on the horizon,but my leica 10x25 require constant refocusing and image shake is starting to become an issue due to illness.Which ones folks?...john

[Swedpat]

i owned a pair of leica trinovid 8+32 ba's for a short while,i only sold them on because they had short eyerelief,which in turn caused them to fog up in both humid and very cold weather.
matt

That surprises me. It was some year ago I tried Leica Trinovid 8x32 and my experience was that they had very good ER (possibly the best) for the size, superior to Swarovski 8x30 in this respect, which I have not been satisfied with.

Patric

[AlanFrench]

That surprises me. It was some year ago I tried Leica Trinovid 8x32 and my experience was that they had very good ER (possibly the best) for the size, superior to Swarovski 8x30 in this respect, which I have not been satisfied with.

Patric

Variations in faces and in glasses mean there are differences in how much eye relief folks need. My old, larger glasses required more eye relief than my new, smaller pair. With my old glasses, the Leicas would not allow me to see the entire field. I suspect my new glasses would make the Leicas a good choice.

Clear skies, Alan

[bradshrike]

the Nikon SE offers the best image of any binocular but it's not 100% bulletproof and waterproof and i have ergonomics issues with it

Man Otto, I aree with all your observations (you a long-lost relative?) and particularly the above.

I use an 8x32 BN. My two complaints are it isn't a 7x32 and that it came with no objective covers. Otherwise it's a wonderful bin.

My favorite 8x32 is the Ultravid, hands down... now if it were just a 7x32!

[Bill A]

I have a pair of Swaro 8.5x42 EL's and a pair of Trinovid BN 8x32's. Both are just great. The Leicas are at least the equal of the EL's in terms of resolution, and seem more color neutral. The big diff is the eye relief: At 13 or 14 mm, compared to the Swaro's 18mm, the Trinovids are just too short for me to use them with my eyeglasses for long periods of time. If there's serious birding afoot, I always take the Swaros.

Bill

[Chris C]

I want to try "the best 8x32" for a while.

Whaddya think?

As always, depends on "best" of course...

I went with the Trinovid 8x32 bn because I got a good deal on a pair. For me, the ergos are perfect and the view is completely natural-total 'wow' factor without the artifical feeling of the FL's (fuzzy edges) or Nikons (serious barrelling in the few pairs I looked through). And the bombproof feeling doesnt' hurt. Agree with Brad about the objective covers though (and btw, the case is useless if you like to have a strap on them...). Exactly enough e.r. for my glasses, though my prescription is not strong nor are my eyes set too deep. Also very happy with the 8x32 size--any 42 is huge in comparison and less likely to come along on a trip. Perfectly happy with mine. If price were not an object, I would look seriously at the ultravids.

Terrible delimma. Good luck,

C

[Jonathan B.]

I want to try "the best 8x32" for a while, regardless of price.

Otto, you must try the Ultravid 8x32. I have owned SE 8x32 for 5.5 years and 7x42 Ultravid for 2 years. I have handled everything else out there. I said this elsewhere on the forum months ago: the Ultravid 8x32 has the most amazing image I have ever seen relative to the size of the binocular. It may be too small for some hands, but I thought the handling was incredible. The image quality rivals the SE, and that's saying a lot.

[bradshrike]

Chris, yeah, forgot about the crummy case... also the crummy neck strap. All that aside the 8x32 BN is a great bin. The Ultravid is, perhaps, five percent better in view but requires another forty percent cash outlay! Regardless, if they ever do a 7x32 Ultravid I'll be first in line.

[Alexis Powell]

Chris and Brad,
What case, that you think so poorly of, did your Leica 8x32 BN come with? Mine came with a beautiful, gloss black (with red dot), very close-fitting, zipper closered, cloth-lined, leather case (very finely made, it costs $90 if purchased seperately--I know because I bought a spare, which I now use with my Zeiss FL). I love it because it does what a case should do--protect the bino from scrapes and gunk when packed with other stuff in my backpack--but adds minimal bulk to the binocular. The case is very soft/flexible overall, but it has a smooth, stiff bottom, eliminating the need for seperate plastic covers to protect the objectives from rubbing against the inside of the case when packed. I especially don't understand your comment about the case being incompatible with a strap. Mine has a very smartly engineered flap at the top, that is fastened by a few metal snaps. The flap allows one to use the bino strap as a strap for the cased bino (you open it, put the strap through, then snap it closed again--it seals admirably well). I never use it that way, preferring to zip my neckstrap in the case with the bino. As with all my binos (other than pocket models), I use an Op/Tech neoprene strap (similar to, but slightly wider and thicker than the more easily obtained and also excellent Eagle Optics strap), which is fairly bulky, but which fits perfectly in the case when folded against itself and then wrapped down the inside of the central hinge of the fully-opened bino, down between the objectives, and back up against the central hinge on the other side. Packed like this, the strap adds nearly zero bulk to the overall package, which is itself as tidy and compact overall as you please.
--AP

[clschmalz]

I've always felt the 8x32 Roof design was the best all around compromise between optics and ergonomics. In all but marginal light situations their view is as good as 42-50mm objectives and they weigh a heck of a lot less.

Although, if weight is a consideration go with Porros - not as glamorous or trendy but a lot of optics in a lightweight package.

Charlie

[Chris C]

Chris and Brad,
What case, that you think so poorly of, did your Leica 8x32 BN come with? Mine came with a beautiful, gloss black (with red dot), very close-fitting, zipper closered, cloth-lined, leather case (very finely made, it costs $90 if purchased seperately--I know because I bought a spare, which I now use with my Zeiss FL).
--AP

Hello Alex,

Yes, I agree that the case is aesthically pleasing and I actually hesitated when selling it because it was well crafted. It was just not well designed for my tastes. My previous bins were swift audubons, which had the more typical flap lid which allowed the bins to be rapidly removed and allow the strap to stay in its natural position (similar in design to that of the FLs and most other bins). The Leica flap with snaps does allow the strap to be used with the case, but I found it to be too much trouble to mess with threading the strap through and zipping/unzipping the case. This was espeically true when trying to whip out the bins while trying to stop the car, set down my coffee, and keep my breakfast on the dash before the falcon flew over the ridge :)

While the Leica strap is not as nice as a neoprene strap, I actually like it because its compact and adequate for the 8x32s. However, I usually use a harness.

I've ordered a mountainsmith case as a replacement through a local shop and will post my impressions if it ever arrives.

[Chris C]

I've ordered a mountainsmith case as a replacement through a local shop and will post my impressions if it ever arrives.

Came in today, perfect fit. posting a short description under the leica header.

Cheers,
C