Leica Ultravids (long)
Just thought I'd add my two-pennyworth...
Over the years I have moved ever upwards through binoculars, reaching my zenith with the purchase of a pair of Bausch & Lomb Elite 8x42s some five years ago. They served me well, proving to be supremely versatile in meeting my varying demands: birding, walking companion and sweeping the skies at night. They were sharp almost to the edge of the field, very comfortable to hold, very close focusing. Sadly, they met their demise a month or so ago and I had to look for a replacement.
For me weight was an important criteria and I had decided to stay with the 8x42 configuration, but I was prepared to be flexible. The choice, for me, was quickly reduced to five alternatives: another pair of Elites, Nikon LX, Zeiss Victory II, Swarovski EL and Leica BN. Much research was done on the internet and use made of such sites as BetterViewDesired (more of that later) and
www.kikkertspesialisten.no.
However, early in the search I was shown the Nikon 8x32 LX (HG in the UK) and was stunned by the abilities of such a small package. Optically they were amazing and, combine this with light weight and near perfection in the hand, I was sold on them and bought a pair there and then. But honeymoon period was relative short as, in twilight conditions, I discovered they were no match for my old Elites, and at night they couldn’t even show the moons of Jupiter. So they went back and the search continued.
Elites are rapidly becoming ‘yesterday’s choice’ (“special order only”) and so I was looking again at those listed above. The Leica BN was soon ruled out by virtue of its bulk – I got cramp between my thumb and index finger in 10 minutes flat! The Zeiss, whilst being a nice light package and optically good (but not brilliant), have angled eyecups which stopped my spectacles from resting comfortably against them. So that was them out of the competition.
The 8x42 Nikons were of the same optical and build quality as their smaller 8x32 sibling but, and for me it was a Big But, they are Heavy. Never mind words like ergonomics, balance or weight distribution, at 980 gms they were just too much to have hanging around my neck for a full day’s walking.
That left the Swarovskis. Overall they were probably the best, aided by that little extra magnification. Optically bright, contrasty and with good full width sharpness (although with some colour fringing at the edges) they seemed to represent the end of my search. But the one thing I could not get used to was the 2.5 turns it took to get from close focus to infinity – I was used to the speed and accuracy of the Elites. So, now what?
Well, it was at this point that I remembered the Leica Ultravids which I had earlier dismissed as being too expensive. The long-suffering salesman had them in stock and all the other contenders were brought out again and comparative testing recommenced. Picking the Leica up immediately revealed their ergonomic qualities – the thumb ridge guided my hands into place and my index finger fell naturally onto the focus wheel. Open the hands and let them rest on the thumbs and they are exactly at their point of balance. Open the focus wheel to focus either the left or right eye to make the dioptre adjustment, click it closed, note the setting on the scale and they are ready for use.
The eyecups screw up/down with a click-stop in the down position and two stops in the up. With my spectacles they are somewhere in between, but they stay exactly where I want them. With a fov of 7.4 degrees they provide a view that is the equal to all the top grade alternatives (and wider than the Nikons). In the end the choice, for me, was the Leica and the Swarovskis and there was very little to choose between them, except that the Leicas are discernably brighter. That, together with their quicker focus and smaller size, was enough to decide me to pay the extra (slightly more than the Swarovskis) and I bought them.
Weighing 770gms (27.5oz) they are not the lightest of the bunch but with the Nikon-provide contoured 42mm neck strap I have already walked with them for hours, hardly noticing their presence.
Now, after 4 weeks of everyday use in all conditions I have nothing but praise for them. In bright light they are brilliant and contrasty, in low twilight they are better than my old Elites and at night stars are sharp points of light. I have my own version of BVD’s NEED test using the back of a 10 ukp note and the Leica was a full 10 inches better than the Nikon 8x32s. As for chromatic aberration, a full moon, even when viewed at the edge of the field, displays no colour fringing at all. None! The only time I miss my Elites is close focusing. At 2.3m the Leicas are one of the poorest performing of all those compared.
And one other comment, which may reflect their build quality. My eyes, with spectacles, are just about perfectly balanced and with all the other binoculars the dioptre adjustment was always a small way +/- from zero. But on the Ultravids it is dead centre. If I have one criticism, it is with the smoothness of the focus wheel; it is not as silky smooth as the Nikon. However, this may reflect the lubricant used as, when the temperature dropped to –5C the Nikon becomes stiff. The Leica, on the other hand, claim their binos are good down to –25C. So, into a freezer bag and into the freezer overnight at about –20C and in the morning the focus is still easy. Even the lens caps are a snug fit that stops condensation forming on sub-zero lenses.
I await BetterViewDesired’s review of these with some interest, but will not hold my breath as I note that the website has not been updated since October 2002 and Leicas have not been reviewed since the BA in December 2000. It is curious to note that Simpson Optics (BVD’s sponsor) do not sell Leica although they do sell every Nikon/Swarovski/Zeiss going. Is there any correlation between that fact and the awards of Reference Standard/BVD/BB status? I’m sure there isn’t.
Overall, it is my opinion you cannot buy a better 8x42. With a 5/30 year guarantee they should outlast me (and my son has already requested they be left to him in my will). Nuff said!
