Looking for some top quality binoculars - grateful for some advice. (1 Viewer)

h0race · Dec 3, 2016

Hello

Having been married to a birder for twenty years, I am at long last in a position to make good on my promise to buy my better half a really fine pair of binoculars.

My wife currently uses a pair of 8x Opticrons (which cost about £250 15 years ago). They have given good service.

My budget is about £1000 (perhaps a little more if worthwhile). I'm no birder myself (though I have picked up a fair bit of knowledge via osmosis over the years), so have done some googling (reviews, forums etc). I have a head start: My wife likes the 8x magnification of her current binoculars and is apparently rather fond of Leicas (having tried various kit belonging to friends over the years). I want this to be a surprise, so have had to be careful to skirt around the subject a little, but the preference for Leicas seems strong enough to warrant putting them at the top of the list (to start with, at least).

So, Leicas with 8x magnification formed the beginning of my search. I'm not averse to buying used (my aim is to get the very best I can afford). In the UK, a pair of used Ultravid HD 8x42 (in top condition from a reputable dealer) seem to go for about £850. These would be the older HDs (as opposed to the newer ones with the red HD logo).

How am I doing so far? would the Ultravid HDs be a safe secondhand buy? Is it worth spending more on the more recent version (which might blow the budget, but what the heck)? Is there anything else I should consider?

I'd be very grateful for any advice.

Many thanks

Martin

Troubador · Dec 3, 2016

Hi Martin

My wife loves her Ultravid HDs to bits and I can see why.

HD or HD+ ?

Now that is a difficult call and only the user can decide if the extra is worth it. Put it like this, get the HD and she will not be disappointed, but get the HD+ and she will know she has the latest model Ultravid and that might make the gift even more delightful for her.

Good luck, and since its December, Merry Christmas.

Lee

h0race · Dec 3, 2016

Troubador said:
Hi Martin

My wife loves her Ultravid HDs to bits and I can see why.

HD or HD+ ?

Now that is a difficult call and only the user can decide if the extra is worth it. Put it like this, get the HD and she will not be disappointed, but get the HD+ and she will know she has the latest model Ultravid and that might make the gift even more delightful for her.

Good luck, and since its December, Merry Christmas.

Lee

Hi Lee

Thanks - My gut feeling is that I won't go far wrong here. I'll have a look and see if I can find a pair of HD+ at a price within reach.

Is there much difference between the HD and HD+?

I am assuming that a good used example of either type should be a safe bet in terms of reliability?

Merry Christmas (is it me, or does Christmas seem to start earlier with each passing year?)

Cheers

Martin

Andrew Whitehouse · Dec 3, 2016

The HD+ 8x32 is available for just over £1000 here, brand new:
http://www.vikingopticalcentres.co.uk/product/leica-ultravid-8x32-hd-plus-binoculars/

Torview · Dec 3, 2016

Hi Martin,

SWoptics has this lovely mint Leica 8x42 BL, they are superb, I`v tried them out at the store, Steve`s a top bloke and when he lists as mint, he means as new. A little more care is needed because of the lack of rubber armour, but they really do feel lighter without, and look seriously cool, Steve dropped the price to under £800 on black Friday, so if you`re interested maybe he`d drop it again.

http://www.swoptics.co.uk/?4598

Cheers.

John.

h0race · Dec 3, 2016

Andrew Whitehouse said:
The HD+ 8x32 is available for just over £1000 here, brand new:
http://www.vikingopticalcentres.co.uk/product/leica-ultravid-8x32-hd-plus-binoculars/

Thanks Andrew. Brand new with full warranty is quite a draw. Bang on budget, too (well, close enough).

Are there any significant disadvantages of 8x32 compared to 8x42? My understanding is that the former will be lighter and more compact, while the latter will be better in low light (is that right?). My wife does her birding during the day and is five feet tall, so the 8x32 might be just the ticket...

Cheers

Martin

h0race · Dec 3, 2016

Torview said:
Hi Martin,

SWoptics has this lovely mint Leica 8x42 BL, they are superb, I`v tried them out at the store, Steve`s a top bloke and when he lists as mint, he means as new. A little more care is needed because of the lack of rubber armour, but they really do feel lighter without, and look seriously cool, Steve dropped the price to under £800 on black Friday, so if you`re interested maybe he`d drop it again.

http://www.swoptics.co.uk/?4598

Cheers.

John.

Thanks John. That leaves me with a dilemma: these ones, or the ones Andrew linked to at £200 more...

I think we're making good progress here.

Cheers

Martin

bitterntwisted · Dec 3, 2016

h0race said:
Thanks Andrew. Brand new with full warranty is quite a draw. Bang on budget, too (well, close enough).

Are there any significant disadvantages of 8x32 compared to 8x42? My understanding is that the former will be lighter and more compact, while the latter will be better in low light (is that right?). My wife does her birding during the day and is five feet tall, so the 8x32 might be just the ticket...

Cheers

Martin

Yes, your summary of the pros and cons of the 32mm vs 42mm objective is succinct and correct. If low light is not a big factor, the 32s have the edge. As people age, and especially if they are smaller to start with, lighter, smaller bins become more important.

james holdsworth · Dec 3, 2016

I wouldn't worry about the low light aspect, unless you need them for specialist applications. Otherwise, in most lighting the difference would be [to most] undetectable.

A2GG · Dec 3, 2016

h0race said:
Thanks Andrew. Brand new with full warranty is quite a draw. Bang on budget, too (well, close enough).

Are there any significant disadvantages of 8x32 compared to 8x42? My understanding is that the former will be lighter and more compact, while the latter will be better in low light (is that right?). My wife does her birding during the day and is five feet tall, so the 8x32 might be just the ticket...

Cheers

Martin

If your wife wears eyeglasses then she may not be able to use the Ultravid 8x32, as it has very short eye relief and not enough for most people who wear specs/glasses. If she doesn't wear specs then it's fine.

I always wanted the 8x32 Uvid, but I wear glasses, so I bought the 7x42 UV+ which has sufficient ER.

Troubador · Dec 3, 2016

Gilmore Girl said:
If your wife wears eyeglasses then she may not be able to use the Ultravid 8x32, as it has very short eye relief and not enough for most people who wear specs/glasses. If she doesn't wear specs then it's fine.

I always wanted the 8x32 Uvid, but I wear glasses, so I bought the 7x42 UV+ which has sufficient ER.

GiGi
My wife wears specs and has no problem with her Ultravid 8x32s and I was using them today with my new spectacles and was fine with them too.

Lee

h0race · Dec 3, 2016

Thanks everyone.

Those 8x32s seem to be ticking all the boxes. My wife doesn't wear specs (though I suspect reading glasses will be on the horizon soon - probably not an issue in this context?)

I've just had a sneaky peek at the Opticrons we have now - they are 8x42. That said, I remember we chose them for the magnification alone.

The Leicas appear to be pretty much ideal - small, light enough to carry on long walks (we do plenty of those), will focus close enough for viewing birds in the garden. A good choice for general purpose use?

The keen price and full warranty have just about made my mind up. I am, however, conscious that they represent quite an investment. Do I have any reason to pause for further thought, or should I buy them, wrap them with some fancy ribbon and wait for my 'Best Christmas present ever' award? |:d|

Decisions, decisions...

Cheers

Martin

A2GG · Dec 3, 2016

Troubador said:
GiGi
My wife wears specs and has no problem with her Ultravid 8x32s and I was using them today with my new spectacles and was fine with them too.

Lee

Some people do ok with less than 15mm ER, but 13.5mm is not quite enough for most people who wear eyeglasses. I thought it was important enough to mention it to a new shopper.

h0race · Dec 3, 2016

Gilmore Girl said:
Some people do ok with less than 15mm ER, but 13.5mm is not quite enough for most people who wear eyeglasses. I thought it was important enough to mention it to a new shopper.

Well, on the basis that I wasn't aware of this, I'm grateful to you for pointing it out.

Thanks

Martin

Canip · Dec 3, 2016

h0race said:
Hi Lee

.....

Is there much difference between the HD and HD+?

I am assuming that a good used example of either type should be a safe bet in terms of reliability?

.....

Martin

Answer to your first question: No ***

Answer to your second question: Yes, definitely.

Canip

*** I have compared several sizes of HDs and HD+s, including 8x42, and found the difference very small. Some months ago, I even did a blind test with a dozen random participants, using an 8x32 HD and an 8x32 HD+, covering the sign "HD" (which is white on the HD and red on the HD+), so the two models could not be identified and looked identical. The participants were asked a number of specific questions but - in a nutshell - the test ended inconclusive (I reported this on a German optics forum), so the difference is probably really very small.

kabsetz · Dec 3, 2016

Canip,

I did a similar thing way back when the Ultravid HD came out, testing it against the first generation Ultravid. Did most of the comparisons alone, and some with one other birder. Results were likewise that the differences were very slight, and I concluded that sample differences between a subpar or above par samples would likely be more meaningful than differences between the sibling models.

Perhaps this says more about the quality of the original design than about the upgrades?

But back to the original question. If the recipient of the binoculars does not wear glasses while viewing and if they do not do a large percentage of their viewing in very poor light, the 8x32 is perhaps the best pre-Noctivid Leica model for general birding. The 8x32 Trinovid from way back when is still used by a number of top birders here in Finland because it performs so well in so many ways that even though better binoculars are around now, they are not that much better and usually are also less good in some areas where the 8x32 Leica excels.

The other Leica design I personally like is the 10x50, (Trinovid, Ultravid, Ultravid HD, HD+, but for the use intended here it is likely too big and heavy.

- Kimmo

ceasar · Dec 3, 2016

If you are going to select a binocular for your wife without any input from her I suggest that you get her a binocular with the same eye relief as the Opticron binocular she has been happily using for 15 years.

Otherwise let her try out different binoculars of the same quality and price range and let her decide which one she likes best. Leica binoculars often have shorter eye relief on equivalent binoculars than the same binoculars from Swarovski, Zeiss or Nikon do. A review of Opticron's 8 power binoculars will show that they typically have long to very long eye relief.

Bob

h0race · Dec 3, 2016

ceasar said:
If you are going to select a binocular for your wife without any input from her I suggest that you get her a binocular with the same eye relief as the Opticron binocular she has been happily using for 15 years.

Otherwise let her try out different binoculars of the same quality and price range and let her decide which one she likes best. Leica binoculars often have shorter eye relief on equivalent binoculars than the same binoculars from Swarovski, Zeiss or Nikon do. A review of Opticron's 8 power binoculars will show that they typically have long to very long eye relief.

Bob

Thanks Bob - very sensible advice.

I am reluctant to pass up the surprise present, but trying a few alternatives is probably a wise move. We might even end up with something other than Leica (the likes of Swarovski and Zeiss have their fans too).

If anyone has any ideas as to how I can take my wife shopping for expensive binoculars without giving the game away, I'm all ears |=)|

Cheers

Martin

A2GG · Dec 4, 2016

h0race said:
Thanks Bob - very sensible advice.

I am reluctant to pass up the surprise present, but trying a few alternatives is probably a wise move. We might even end up with something other than Leica (the likes of Swarovski and Zeiss have their fans too).

If anyone has any ideas as to how I can take my wife shopping for expensive binoculars without giving the game away, I'm all ears |=)|

Cheers

Martin

If she has already expressed that she admires Leica bins then I'm sure she will be very happy with the 8x32 or even 8x42 Ultravid. The 8x32 is very small and I think she'll love it. It's an amazing gift ! I always wanted the little 8x32 above any of the others. But I'm very happy with my 42mm now.

On the other hand, I'm sure she would also enjoy picking out her own pair as Bob suggested...that could be fun too

ceasar · Dec 4, 2016

Torview said:
Hi Martin,

SWoptics has this lovely mint Leica 8x42 BL, they are superb, I`v tried them out at the store, Steve`s a top bloke and when he lists as mint, he means as new. A little more care is needed because of the lack of rubber armour, but they really do feel lighter without, and look seriously cool, Steve dropped the price to under £800 on black Friday, so if you`re interested maybe he`d drop it again.

http://www.swoptics.co.uk/?4598

Cheers.

John.

Martin,

800 British Pounds comes to $1,018.72 US dollars and that is an excellent price for a mint 8x42 BL. You might want to check it out and see if the price is still in that range.

I have one I purchased new as a Demo from CameraLand NY 3 years ago for $1299.99. I like it very much. Its eye relief is 15.5mm.

You should know that the Leica BL (Blackline) series still has the original Ultravid coatings and is not HD or HD+ but it may not make any difference to your wife. It is one great looking classic binocular and when one isn't using it one can wear it!:t:

Bob

Looking for some top quality binoculars - grateful for some advice. (1 Viewer)

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