Leica 8x32 versus 10x32

[iebirdie]

Greetings again:
The taxman has refunded me a good sum, and I want to blow it on optics. I recently sold my old bins....

I am thinking of going for a Swaro 8.5x42 as primary bins. Thought I had a blackout problem but I think I have that sorted now.

I travel/hike a lot and am interested in a 32mm objective bins also as a back up instead of lugging the ELs around "all the time".

Leica 8x32 or 10x32 seem like a good choice. I have tried both in limited circumstances, and both seem good. Difficult to know about in the field though...

Anyone a Leica 10x32 user with good things to say about it ? Not sure if the 10x gives you much more in mag though, does it ? Safer to go for the 8x ?

thanks for opinions..
Niall

[mak]

Niall.
Looking at an object 100m away 10x gives the impression that it is only 10m away, 8x = 12.5m away. Bear in mind that the exit pupil of the 8x32 is 4mm and on the 10x32 it is 3.2mm. More light will leave the binocular and connect with your pupil with the 8x compared with the 10x. Smaller objectives also means less light gathering in low light. Field of view will be wider with the 8x than 10x. Interesting comments in your other thread about the blackening when panning (should not happen if the binoculars are set up correctly)

[iebirdie]

Thanks Mak. I am tending towards 8x I think... the 10x difference in mag is probably not good enough to get over the fact that 8x gives more light...

About the blackening on my other thread, when you say "set up" propertly, do you mean dialing the right level of eye relief on the eyecup, or something to do with its manufacture ?

cheers
Niall

[TimF]

Having spent ages deliberating over new Leica and Swaro bins recently I went for the Swaro 8x32 EL.

Why not give these a try - miles lighter than the Leica 8x32 and 99% of the Swaro 8.5x42 sharpness and brightness (+ quicker focussing and a larger field of view)

Whatever you decide one thing I would suggest is the Leica "red bins" loan scheme - basically you can try a pair of Leica 8x32 BN over a weekend say and just bring em back if you don't like em.

Nothing like a proper field test to make your mind up when spending £600+

Leica's web site has the details - I just wish they did the same thing with scopes!!

All the best

Tim

[redshift]

Whatever you decide one thing I would suggest is the Leica "red bins" loan scheme - basically you can try a pair of Leica 8x32 BN over a weekend say and just bring em back if you don't like em.

So if I were to like them I don't need to bring them back? Great! 3:-)

[Blincodave]

I notice Warehouse Express have the Nikon HG 10x32s at £499 resently. Quite a bit cheaper than the HG 8X32s.

Dave Griffiths

[Gert Corfield]

I part exchanged my trusted Leica 10x42 BAs for a pair of 8x32 BNs a couple of months back.

I would recommend the 8x. Width of field is suberb, depth of field better and the detail is better. Add to that suberb close focus and for me they are the best all round bino.

Also importamt for me as I also like to hike and bird was the light weight - especially with a wide strap you can't feel them hanging from your neck!

[CDK]

Originally posted by TimF
Having spent ages deliberating over new Leica and Swaro bins recently I went for the Swaro 8x32 EL.

Why not give these a try - miles lighter than the Leica 8x32 and 99% of the Swaro 8.5x42 sharpness and brightness (+ quicker focussing and a larger field of view)Tim

Yes and considerably more expensive.

[TimF]

By way of info - Swaro 8x32 same price as 8.5x42 (£789) if you shop around or £180 more than best price Leica 8x32bn
- but in my opinion worth the extra for extreme lightweight, slightly better optical quality and ease of use for spectacle wearers i.e. me!

The way the leica loan scheme works is that they put the price of the bins on your credit card.... and then refund it when you take them back....so... if you decide not to take them back then you have paid for them!

Seriously good way of finding out if they are the ones for you - you just can't beat field-testing to be sure your getting something that suits you best.

Cheers

[iebirdie]

Had a go of the Swaro 8x32 EL today. Although not field conditions, they handled better than the Leica 8x32 and the optics seemed overall clearer and brighter.... hmmm tempting.

The other day I was getting flashes of blackout in my left eye when I tried the Swaro 8.5x42 (during a panning motion). Thought the eye relief was in fact a little long for me (I do not wear glasses...). The eye relief on the Swaro 8x32 is 15mm, 3mm less than the 8.5x42. Did not experience same blackout effect in my quick look at the 8x32 so maybe the 3mm makes all the difference to me and that sort of eye relief suits my (non glasses wearing) eyes a bit better....?

The Swaro 8x32 is a tasty piece of kit. I am tempted....

N

[iebirdie]

Tim

when checking out the competition for the Swaro 8x32 no doubt the main one was the Leica 8x32.... Did you find much of a difference optically ? £200 worth ???? :-)
Still tending towards the Swaro 8x32, but it is so much more expensive than the Leica.
cheers
Niall

[Blincodave]

Niall,

As a matter of interest, why are you not considering the Nikon 8x32 HGs?

Dave

[iebirdie]

These are probably the one bins I have not been able to get my hands on. They have quite long eye relief and I do not wear glasses, so I am not sure they will suit me...
Must try to have a go of them !

N

[Chris Moore]

I have traded my Leica 8x32's for the new 8x32 ELs. I think they are overall superior particularly field of view and brightness.
One major plus is that they can be used with one hand, handy if you have your scope / tripod fully extended on one shoulder and something catches your attention.

[TimF]

Swaro 8x32 are a bit brighter and slightly wider fov than Leica's.

However - that was not my reason for buying them - in the end I found them more pleasant to use (and carry) and thats why I bought them.

Are they worth £200 more than the Leicas? - this depends entirely on your own judgement of value/cost etc - I thought yes but many would say no.

Incidently - my wife (contact lens user) preferred the Leica's in use and may be getting a pair for Christmas!

I tried the new Leica Ultravids the other day (8x42) - Thought that these were closer to the Swaro's - Certainly in price they are!

The 8x32 version may be as little as 8 months away - so if not in a rush you could wait and see if these are a better bet.

Cheers

[Pops_uk]

Re Timf "my wife contact lens user"
Good point, contacts make objects look larger, were glasses will do the opposite
Glyn

[Tim Allwood]

to my eyes the Nikon hg are by quite a way the sharpest. Having used 7 x 42 Zeiss for yonks these have been the only bins that have tempted me to change. Used the Nikon for 5 weeks in mexico and they seemed fine but the name plate came unglued after being sprayed with deet! I wear specs too and they work as well as my old Zeiss which were the spec wearers bins of choice I think. Nice n small and light and they don't look as expensive as the Swaros which may deter the odd thief......

[Mike D]

Recently compared Leica 8x32 with 10x32 only in the shop doorway, but plenty of dark areas and high-contrast areas to check. Decided on the 10s. Wish I'd done it long ago! Superb glass!
Hiking around you do pay a small price for the weight, but close-focussing on dragonflies etc, with 10 power is wonderfull.
Stick to Leitz and enjoy! (No, I don't have shares in the company!)

[Ian Hart]

Recently compared Leica 8x32 with 10x32 only in the shop doorway, but plenty of dark areas and high-contrast areas to check. Decided on the 10s. Wish I'd done it long ago! Superb glass!
Hiking around you do pay a small price for the weight, but close-focussing on dragonflies etc, with 10 power is wonderfull.
Stick to Leitz and enjoy! (No, I don't have shares in the company!)

I'd choose Swarvoski everytime compared to Leica optics IMHO.

IH

[Ian Hart]

Yes and considerably more expensive.

Considering that the Swar's are of a better optical quality than the Leicas IMO having field tested both with my own bins as well. I'd prefer to pay a "bit" extra for the better quality bins.

IH

[chartwell99]

I own both the 8 x 32 and 10 x 32 Leica BA bins, and both are superb. If I had to choose between the two, I would go with the 10's (but beware of extremely shallow depth of field & need for constant refocussing).

[Leif]

Greetings again:
The taxman has refunded me a good sum, and I want to blow it on optics. I recently sold my old bins....

I am thinking of going for a Swaro 8.5x42 as primary bins. Thought I had a blackout problem but I think I have that sorted now.

I travel/hike a lot and am interested in a 32mm objective bins also as a back up instead of lugging the ELs around "all the time".

Leica 8x32 or 10x32 seem like a good choice. I have tried both in limited circumstances, and both seem good. Difficult to know about in the field though...

Anyone a Leica 10x32 user with good things to say about it ? Not sure if the 10x gives you much more in mag though, does it ? Safer to go for the 8x ?

thanks for opinions..
Niall

Have you considered the Nikon 8x32 SE? These would serve both as full time and travel bins. The money saved could buy a small scope.

Although I have both Swaro 8.5x42 EL and Nikon 8x32 SE, I tend to take the Nikon's when I go birding. They are as bright as the Swaro (at dusk and on the night sky), almost as sharp, and much better optical quality. They are also smaller and lighter, though that is not my reason for preferring them. The downside is that the Nikon are not waterproof and the focus is stiff in cold weather. Course, you might hate the shape and general feel, which counts for a lot.

I would also, as suggested by others, take a long look at the Nikon 8x32 HG. IMO they are noticeably brighter than the Leica 8x32 BN, and just as sharp. FWIW Bird Watching magazine rate the optics better (though they did not tell us why). I seem to recall that Warehouse Express are selling them at a really low price.

I am not sure why eye relief matters to you since you do not wear glasses. Surely you just keep the eye tubes extended, and all bins should suit you. The manufacturers should make the eye tubes longer on bins that have more eye relief.

Bear in mind that when the new Leica 8x32 bin appears, a Leica 8x32 BN will no longer be quite the style statement it once was! 3:-)

As to the original question, although I do not generally like 10x binoculars (less DOF, less FOV, more eye strain IMO), the Leica is an exception. It has a wonderful apparent FOV of ~70 degress IIRC. I seem to recall that it does not suffer as much false colour as the 8x version, though I cannot swear to that.

[Chris Zorro]

to my eyes the Nikon hg are by quite a way the sharpest. Having used 7 x 42 Zeiss for yonks these have been the only bins that have tempted me to change. Used the Nikon for 5 weeks in mexico and ......

I'll second that! I have just given up my Leica 8x42 Ultravids in favour of the Nikon 8x32 HG. And they are currently £519 from W'hse Express. They really are an absolute pleasure to use, and the focussing is sooo smoooth, the image just 'snaps' into focus.

[bunny]

I'll throw in my penny's worth: I compared the Leica 8x42BL with the Swarovski 8.5x42EL and I have to say I believe the Swaro is the better binocular... but I bought the Leica 8x42BR in the end - WHY? The badge.

Yes I'm afraid I am a brand snob. The Swarovski just doesn't have the prestige of the Leica brand, despite the fact that the optics are in fact superior. I am a Leica fan but I can honestly say that this is what I believe.

Also, for me, the wrap around grip of the Swarovski EL is more comfy than the chunky Leica... but I still bought the Leica!