absolut_beethoven
Well-known member
Yesterday and today I had to go to two large sporting goods stores - Bass Pro and Cabelas - in order to stock up on a few things that I needed. Yup, that's one of the advantages of living here in Texas, no shortage of these stores. While there I took the time to check out a few binos that have received quite a few enthusiastic endorsements on these forums lately. Namely the seldom reviewed 10x42 Leica Trinovid and its more expensive counterpart, the 10x32 Leica Ultravid HD.
Keeping in mind that all viewing was done indoors, but with the advantage that because I use optics over 8 hours a day every day, it's usually quick and easy for me to pick up most faults and differences quite easily, even under these less than ideal circumstances. More subtle faults and differences usually only show up after extensive comparisons under a wide range of lighting conditions over a much longer period of time, usually a month or two is enough in order to find anything that might bother me in the long term.
The short version is that I was really impressed with the 10x42 Trinovid. A very easy relaxing view and virtually zero CA in the sweet spot. No major distortions or weaknesses jumped out at me. Comparing it to the more expensive 10x32 Ultravid HD I thought that the latter was slightly brighter, but the view wasn't as relaxed and easy on the eyes as its cheaper sibling. Of course the former had the advantage of a larger objective lens. Surprisingly I saw a little more CA in the Ultravid HD than in the Trinovid. Sadly it's one of those distortions that always pops right out at me and I usually don't need to look too hard to see it if it's there. Having said that though the visible CA in the Ultravid HD didn't bother me at all for two main reasons. Firstly it's very slight in the sweet spot, and secondly it's very pale too, so it's quite easy to ignore it and just concentrate on the binos impressively bright and vivid view. It just surprised me that the cheaper Trinovid had less CA, so Leica really should update their Ultravid models soon in order to make sure that they're a lot better than their cheaper line.
That was yesterday at Bass Pro. Today at Cabelas I was able to spend about 5 minutes comparing the 10x42 Leica Trinovid versus Zeiss top dog, the 8x42 Zeiss Victory HT. Sadly, most of their display models, irrespective of brand, were all 10X magnification except for the aforementioned Zeiss HT. The view inside Cabelas is very similar to that of Bass Pro. At least 100,000 square feet of display space well lit by bright white HID lamps similar to those used to light up playing fields for baseball and football games at night.
I briefly checked out the Zeiss 10x42 at Cabelas a few months ago, but that display model was in terrible shape optically. The outside looked like it had been subjected to some rough handling and abuse and because I couldn't even get the left tube into perfect focus at all, either with the diopter adjustment or by focusing while closing my right eye, there's no doubt in my mind that abuse was the cause and not because it was a lemon.
Back to my comparisons at Cabelas earlier today. Once again the view through the 10x42 Trinovid was easy on the eyes and very relaxing. The type of view where you just want to sit back, relax and take in its outstanding view without worrying about minor and unimportant distortions or faults. None of which were readily apparent to me in that short time under those white HID lamps.
And then I picked up the 8x42 Zeiss Victory HT. Sure, no faults really jumped out at me when looking through the Trinovids, but WOW what a spectacular view through the HTs. Bright, sharp, vivid with clarity and contrast that I found truly amazing. Truly an immersive and IMHO very impressive view. In this price range, one always reads of the law of diminishing returns and having to spend a lot more money for only tiny incremental improvements. Clearly the Zeiss Victory HT shows you exactly what your extra funds buy.
The bottom line is that if had the money, I would have bought them right then and there on the spot!! Yes, they are truly that spectacular. I cannot think of a higher endorsement to give them. You guys out there that are fortunate enough to own them, all I can say is enjoy them in good health. Maybe one day I'll be fortunate enough to own them too :t:
Keeping in mind that all viewing was done indoors, but with the advantage that because I use optics over 8 hours a day every day, it's usually quick and easy for me to pick up most faults and differences quite easily, even under these less than ideal circumstances. More subtle faults and differences usually only show up after extensive comparisons under a wide range of lighting conditions over a much longer period of time, usually a month or two is enough in order to find anything that might bother me in the long term.
The short version is that I was really impressed with the 10x42 Trinovid. A very easy relaxing view and virtually zero CA in the sweet spot. No major distortions or weaknesses jumped out at me. Comparing it to the more expensive 10x32 Ultravid HD I thought that the latter was slightly brighter, but the view wasn't as relaxed and easy on the eyes as its cheaper sibling. Of course the former had the advantage of a larger objective lens. Surprisingly I saw a little more CA in the Ultravid HD than in the Trinovid. Sadly it's one of those distortions that always pops right out at me and I usually don't need to look too hard to see it if it's there. Having said that though the visible CA in the Ultravid HD didn't bother me at all for two main reasons. Firstly it's very slight in the sweet spot, and secondly it's very pale too, so it's quite easy to ignore it and just concentrate on the binos impressively bright and vivid view. It just surprised me that the cheaper Trinovid had less CA, so Leica really should update their Ultravid models soon in order to make sure that they're a lot better than their cheaper line.
That was yesterday at Bass Pro. Today at Cabelas I was able to spend about 5 minutes comparing the 10x42 Leica Trinovid versus Zeiss top dog, the 8x42 Zeiss Victory HT. Sadly, most of their display models, irrespective of brand, were all 10X magnification except for the aforementioned Zeiss HT. The view inside Cabelas is very similar to that of Bass Pro. At least 100,000 square feet of display space well lit by bright white HID lamps similar to those used to light up playing fields for baseball and football games at night.
I briefly checked out the Zeiss 10x42 at Cabelas a few months ago, but that display model was in terrible shape optically. The outside looked like it had been subjected to some rough handling and abuse and because I couldn't even get the left tube into perfect focus at all, either with the diopter adjustment or by focusing while closing my right eye, there's no doubt in my mind that abuse was the cause and not because it was a lemon.
Back to my comparisons at Cabelas earlier today. Once again the view through the 10x42 Trinovid was easy on the eyes and very relaxing. The type of view where you just want to sit back, relax and take in its outstanding view without worrying about minor and unimportant distortions or faults. None of which were readily apparent to me in that short time under those white HID lamps.
And then I picked up the 8x42 Zeiss Victory HT. Sure, no faults really jumped out at me when looking through the Trinovids, but WOW what a spectacular view through the HTs. Bright, sharp, vivid with clarity and contrast that I found truly amazing. Truly an immersive and IMHO very impressive view. In this price range, one always reads of the law of diminishing returns and having to spend a lot more money for only tiny incremental improvements. Clearly the Zeiss Victory HT shows you exactly what your extra funds buy.
The bottom line is that if had the money, I would have bought them right then and there on the spot!! Yes, they are truly that spectacular. I cannot think of a higher endorsement to give them. You guys out there that are fortunate enough to own them, all I can say is enjoy them in good health. Maybe one day I'll be fortunate enough to own them too :t:
