[14Goudvink]

Originally Posted by salty

Atleast I'm getting a newer and slightly improved binocular with 8yrs warranty (2yrs old) so I can't grumble and they will be used daily

The BR is definitively a step up from the BA. A difference you will enjoy every day

[salty]

Well they are here, thank god for 24hr postage ;-)

First thoughts, they are handle like a 10x42, very nice fit and perfect hand grip as you'd expect.

I can only try them against my trusty Nikon 10x50 action ex, but it's a sunny day here, so proper testing will have to wait....ultravids are crystal clear and very gentle on the eyes as we're my old ones, you soon forget about the cost when you start to use them.

I will update after a good test session.

[brocknroller]

Originally Posted by salty

Well they are here, thank god for 24hr postage ;-)

First thoughts, they are handle like a 10x42, very nice fit and perfect hand grip as you'd expect.

I can only try them against my trusty Nikon 10x50 action ex, but it's a sunny day here, so proper testing will have to wait....ultravids are crystal clear and very gentle on the eyes as we're my old ones, you soon forget about the cost when you start to use them.

I will update after a good test session.

Salty,

I look forward to reading your review. I'm particularly interested in hearing about the edge performance on these WA bins (68.4* AFOV is exceptional for a 12x50 bin) and also how well the HD glass controls the CA.

Allbinos has the 10x50s sharp to about 80%! But Ronh sees it very differently. IOW, which would be better for stargazing, the 12x50 Trinnie or the 12x50 Ultravid HD?

And finally how smoothly (or not) the focuser turns. I keep reading how the HD focusers turn more smoothly than the non-HDs, but I never read the explanation for this.

Lightly Salted Brock

[salty]

Mine are the non HD ultravid.....after reading on about folk not being able to see the difference on the HD models......usually something I'd try myself first before deciding.....I opted to save the £400 and be sensible for a change!

Focusing is smooth and exact, same as my ultravid 10x42......edge sharpness is better than I have read.

[brocknroller]

Originally Posted by salty

.....

Focusing is smooth and exact, same as my ultravid 10x42......edge sharpness is better than I have read.

Salty,

Good to hear about the focusing, and according to allbinos, the HD glass doesn't make that much difference at 10x, but I thought at 12x, it might, because I notice a jump in CA from the 10x42 SE to the 12x50 SE. I can tolerate it in the 10x, which isn't that bad, but at 12x, not so much except for stargazing where CA is not visible except on the moon, Venus or Jupiter and perhaps Sirius, but the atmosphere does such a job on Sirius that it's hard to tell the atmospheric "kaleidoscope effect" from the bin's CA.

As to edge sharpness, I'm not sure what you've read. I've read very different opinions on the edge sharpness of Ultravids. Puzzles me. I wonder if it's sample variation or different people's focus accommodation varying due to the field curvature?

When you have one reviewer say sharpness falls off at 80% and another at 60% on the same bin, it makes me start singing Marvin Gay's "What's Going On?"

Salt Restricted Brock

[ronh]

I have the same perception of the color jump from 10x50 to 12x50 with Leica that Brock sees with the SE. From minimal to significant. Such is magnification. Yet despite this, if my 12x50 Trinovid was only brighter and contrastier, it would be a much more tempting daytime proposition.

I am happy to hear that Salty was forced into an Ultravid, and have hopes that he can overlook the color effect by avoiding doing anything as patently stupid as looking at a black bird against a cloudy bright sky where you know good and well you can't tell anything about the bird through anything made. Don't do it Salty!

I wouldn't make much of one person saying a binocular is sharp to x% and another to y% of the way to the edge. What looks sharp is so subjective. But however I am calibrated, all the Leicas (save the narrow fielded Duovid 8x-12x42) have looked about the same in this regard to me. Pretty good, in fact excellent in normal use, but not bragging territory.

I had my first decent view of the summer Milky Way tonight. Of my little collection, the 12x50 Trinovid is still the best bang for the effort.
Ron

[salty]

I'd of settled for the 12x50 trinovid, just the fact 10+ yr old ones still go for £700 ($1000) or similar here says how sought after and how good they are

I only bought the ultravid as its newer, was in stock, just 2yrs old and you would think I had just unboxed it for the first time yesterday.....it's one good feeling saving hundreds of hard earned

[salty]

Must say I'm very impressed with these ultravid 12x50s so far!

It's dull today and they are really coming into there own, your pinching yourself to remind that your handling a 12x50 and not a 42 or 32!

Handling is sweet, and they are easy to view objects regardless if there close or far.....even been trying hem indoors, close focus is 3 metres or so, I can imagine insect watching wil be unreal with these.

I always use x10 power, don't know why, just prefer the power and can handle larger bins, but these are better than I expected, just like longer 10x42s to use, and they have a wide angle that I was at first worried about.....but it's not far off some 8x50s, so scanning targets in flight is simple, that's a relief.

I tend to use my bins rather than carry a scope, hence the larger power was handy to have, but having a x12 I don't think I need to buy a scope anytime soon.

People mention the picture going off at 60-80%....only thing I have noticed, is if your looking at a tree or similar, the bottom of the circle of sight at the base of the trunk, it's all clear centre, but holding still, you can notice the focus is slightly out after about 85%, centre onwards to that point it's crystal sharp.

You tilt the binocular down, and bang, it's sharp as a pin.

I can't see any fault in that, unless your using a binocular tripod or similar and have to tilt now and again, hand held its not even noticeable.

I'm craving a night session with these, or going to a open area, sea or land watching, to see how they really handle, but work and cloud has hampered my fun so far, so I'm stuck at home for the time being.

[ronh]

Salty,
Sounds good. I hope you'll give us a report after you put some proper use on it.
Ron

[salty]

popped up to kielder forest, uk, today and enjoyed some hide time today and also some raptor watching out on the hills, all with great views.

focusing from buzzards in the distance, quickly down to butterflys just feet away is a joy and so simple. very smooth and precise.

scanning the sky is a pleasure, one thing i loved doing with x10 binoculars.....mainly if its quiet, doesnt mean theres birds out there miles away....and i usually always find a hidden bird of prey soaring while scanning in quiet times.

i was also able to lock onto swallows while they twist and turned searching for food....so easy, but better than i was expecting, that was a relief.

a passing raven against a dull sky was in great detail, despite being a good few hundred metres away.

im really loving these ultravids.

im looking forward to sea watching, night skies and also more hide time to come. though i expect good things.

[Riverbank]

Hi Salty,
Glad you made the Ultravid decision. I bought a set of 12x HDs three years ago and figured out that I was only paying 30 cents a day and since I bird daily, it's worth it. We also have a pair of Swarovski El 12x's. They are lovely and clear but the colour is not as 'real' as the Leica's. I don't know how far north you live, but I know that we spend lots of time birding in non-optimal conditions - rain, dusk, clouds, fog - and both the Swarovski El's and the Leica Ultravid HD's have what it takes to brighten the view. The Leica's are so good at this that they give you an extra 20 - 30 minutes of birding every day when it is too dark to distinguish colours with the naked eye but the binoculars just keep on giving.

[salty]

im really glad i bought them....still used daily and at all times of day and night

they do brighten up a dull day when viewing even the most mundane things.....when birds are scarce i often pick out planes, other animals etc.