Leupold Yosemite 6x30
Last week I have had one week holiday and have been 4 days at a place north of the polar circle near the border to Finland. There I found a store which carries some models of Leupold binoculars. One of these was the Yosemite 6x30, which I long time, based of the good reviews, have been interested in.
I try them and becomes very impressed. Tack sharp and clear image. Very comfortable to hold. The small body and prism house makes me reminded of Adlerblick's 7x21/8x24/10x30 models with typichal (non reversed) porro design, at the -90:s.
I wait to next day, go back to the store and bring with me my Pentax 8x43 DCF SP for a comparison. I am thinking if this really can be true; the image quality seems to be rivalling to the 4 times more expensive roof 8x43, yes even sharper. The eye-relief is excellent, similar to the eye relief of the 8x43. This model is in three alternative colours: black, red and beige. The model they carries is the black, and the colour I prefer. I perform a careful control of the quality to avoid getting a ”lemon” and find them ok. I leave the store with the binocular in my own.
After some viewing and birdwatching by the river ”Torneälven” I realise that I have got a new favorite binocular. The stable and tacksharp image combined with the relatively wide TFOV of 8 deg and the great depth of field makes this model very nice to use. The holding is very comfortable with a rubber surface. Later at night I tried them at the sky. Sharp, and what I could see pinpoint stars.
One thing I have noticed is that low and moderate powered binoculars often use to be perceived to have a sharper image than high powered. I understand this is because the less noticable handshakings with lower power. When I was back home again I therefore mounted the 8x43 and placed the 6x30 above it to compare them at a tripod. I could after a careful comparison get a confirmation of the feeling when I compared them at the store: the Yosemite 6x30 is a tad sharper (on-axis) than the about 4 times more expensive Pentax 8x43 DCF SP.
They are claimed to be ”fully multi coated”. This can be true. When I shine with a lamp into the objective I cannot find any white reflexion, only green and some light purple. The prisms seems to be coated. The result is also according to my experience a clear and contrasty image.
The exit pupil seems to be visually round without any shadowings. When checking with a finger in front of the objective lens I can see it in the exit pupil instantly when passing in front of the lens edge. This means that the 30mm aperture is fully used without an aperture stop.
The ocular lens is 21mm. The twistup eyecups have no stops but the friction makes them possible to adjust to a desirable level without accidentaly moving.
I find the image to be very flat and visually free from as well pincushion and barrel distortion!
This binocular has some disadvantages like significant reflexes and light rays when looking at strong light sources, especially at a dark background. The image softening starts at approximately 70-80% of FOV. I don't experience these drawbacks as serious problems, however. Under the most circumstances I don't notice it. This is what one could expect of a binocular in this price range. And the Pentax 8x43 isn't either fully sharp to the edges. The close focus I find to be about 4 meters for me, which could be better. There is a quite big play in the focusing mechanism which disturbs me a bit, though I don't consider that as a serious obstacle for the usability.
Conclusion:
The Yosemite 6x30 have received good opinions in reviews, but they are actually better than I expected, and also better than I would demand for justifying a purchase of them!
After the first try in the store before I compared to the 8x43, I asked my self if I really could justify a purchase of these binoculars. Would I really make use of them when I already have the Pentax 8x43? My present question is: will I continue to use the 8x43 when I have these nice 6x30:s?
Strongly recommended!
Last week I have had one week holiday and have been 4 days at a place north of the polar circle near the border to Finland. There I found a store which carries some models of Leupold binoculars. One of these was the Yosemite 6x30, which I long time, based of the good reviews, have been interested in.
I try them and becomes very impressed. Tack sharp and clear image. Very comfortable to hold. The small body and prism house makes me reminded of Adlerblick's 7x21/8x24/10x30 models with typichal (non reversed) porro design, at the -90:s.
I wait to next day, go back to the store and bring with me my Pentax 8x43 DCF SP for a comparison. I am thinking if this really can be true; the image quality seems to be rivalling to the 4 times more expensive roof 8x43, yes even sharper. The eye-relief is excellent, similar to the eye relief of the 8x43. This model is in three alternative colours: black, red and beige. The model they carries is the black, and the colour I prefer. I perform a careful control of the quality to avoid getting a ”lemon” and find them ok. I leave the store with the binocular in my own.
After some viewing and birdwatching by the river ”Torneälven” I realise that I have got a new favorite binocular. The stable and tacksharp image combined with the relatively wide TFOV of 8 deg and the great depth of field makes this model very nice to use. The holding is very comfortable with a rubber surface. Later at night I tried them at the sky. Sharp, and what I could see pinpoint stars.
One thing I have noticed is that low and moderate powered binoculars often use to be perceived to have a sharper image than high powered. I understand this is because the less noticable handshakings with lower power. When I was back home again I therefore mounted the 8x43 and placed the 6x30 above it to compare them at a tripod. I could after a careful comparison get a confirmation of the feeling when I compared them at the store: the Yosemite 6x30 is a tad sharper (on-axis) than the about 4 times more expensive Pentax 8x43 DCF SP.
They are claimed to be ”fully multi coated”. This can be true. When I shine with a lamp into the objective I cannot find any white reflexion, only green and some light purple. The prisms seems to be coated. The result is also according to my experience a clear and contrasty image.
The exit pupil seems to be visually round without any shadowings. When checking with a finger in front of the objective lens I can see it in the exit pupil instantly when passing in front of the lens edge. This means that the 30mm aperture is fully used without an aperture stop.
The ocular lens is 21mm. The twistup eyecups have no stops but the friction makes them possible to adjust to a desirable level without accidentaly moving.
I find the image to be very flat and visually free from as well pincushion and barrel distortion!
This binocular has some disadvantages like significant reflexes and light rays when looking at strong light sources, especially at a dark background. The image softening starts at approximately 70-80% of FOV. I don't experience these drawbacks as serious problems, however. Under the most circumstances I don't notice it. This is what one could expect of a binocular in this price range. And the Pentax 8x43 isn't either fully sharp to the edges. The close focus I find to be about 4 meters for me, which could be better. There is a quite big play in the focusing mechanism which disturbs me a bit, though I don't consider that as a serious obstacle for the usability.
Conclusion:
The Yosemite 6x30 have received good opinions in reviews, but they are actually better than I expected, and also better than I would demand for justifying a purchase of them!
After the first try in the store before I compared to the 8x43, I asked my self if I really could justify a purchase of these binoculars. Would I really make use of them when I already have the Pentax 8x43? My present question is: will I continue to use the 8x43 when I have these nice 6x30:s?
Strongly recommended!
