John M Robinson
Well-known member
Hello old friends, I've been gone for a few years just using and enjoying my Ultravid BR's and 8x32 SE's. I became addicted to this site and obsessed with ever decreasing, minute differences between new binos. I finally realized that the binos I had in hand were great, and actually using them in the field was much more fun than arguing about them. Not saying that's wrong, I just felt better personally.
All that said, last year I went hunting with my professional dog trainer who I have known for over 20 years. He was using total junk, old dirty 10x42s, so I lent him my 8x42 ultravids. He was blown away and has been pining away for some good optics since. This weekend I talked my wife into us buying him some good binos as a gift. I was originally thinking the Zen Ray Primes as I remember them being good value, but I saw the new Leica's at $945.00, so went to check them out.
What I found was last year's model Trinovid for $860.00. My first thought was to wait for the new HD's, but the more I read about the older ones, the more it seemed they were better. Comparing the 8x42 Trinnie's to my Ultravids, I really couldn't see a difference.
Here's what I've read; Nobody knows what they mean by HD. The reviewers speak about a cheaper glass in the new HD's. The older model was about $1,500 compared to $945.00 for the new HD's. I think both are built in Portugal. The diopter is traditional on the old one, moved to the eyecup on the new. I ended up buying those $860.00 Trinnie's, but I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has tried both side by side.
thanks, John
All that said, last year I went hunting with my professional dog trainer who I have known for over 20 years. He was using total junk, old dirty 10x42s, so I lent him my 8x42 ultravids. He was blown away and has been pining away for some good optics since. This weekend I talked my wife into us buying him some good binos as a gift. I was originally thinking the Zen Ray Primes as I remember them being good value, but I saw the new Leica's at $945.00, so went to check them out.
What I found was last year's model Trinovid for $860.00. My first thought was to wait for the new HD's, but the more I read about the older ones, the more it seemed they were better. Comparing the 8x42 Trinnie's to my Ultravids, I really couldn't see a difference.
Here's what I've read; Nobody knows what they mean by HD. The reviewers speak about a cheaper glass in the new HD's. The older model was about $1,500 compared to $945.00 for the new HD's. I think both are built in Portugal. The diopter is traditional on the old one, moved to the eyecup on the new. I ended up buying those $860.00 Trinnie's, but I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has tried both side by side.
thanks, John