[matt green]

Originally Posted by ColonelBlimp

And it seems to have increased the price of their bins as well-from SWOptics their 10x42 is now £1599!!!

I think I ought to ring Leica up and ask them exactly why that is worth £600 more than a Zeiss FL!

Leica had better smell the coffee or they're going to price themselves out of business, they'll still be those with more money than sense who won't mind the extra outlay but I'd imagine a good deal of their custom comes from everyday birders on the street who have to save for months to aquire such a product...I think those people will soon start to turn to the competition with these ridiculous price increases!!

Matt

[Birdbrain]

This Leica price increase is a joke ! i payed £850 for my duovids three years ago and now they are £1499.00 from WHExpress, you are so right they will price themselves out of business.
If they ever get to £1700.00 il sell them and get my money back two fold LOL

[ThoLa]

Originally Posted by ColonelBlimp

And it seems to have increased the price of their bins as well-from SWOptics their 10x42 is now £1599!!!

Leica prices are at an all time low ... but only in England:

http://www.acecameras.co.uk/asp/web/...6/prodtype.asp


On the continent we can only dream of free 8x20s along with a full size bino

T

[ColonelBlimp]

Sadly Thola I don't think those prices will stay like that...

What I reckon Leica are doing is pricing themselves up to the rumoured price of the new Swaro EL. However, that (or at least its marketing spiel) is supposed to be really revolutionary, in terms of flat field, wide view, ED glass etc. whereas the Leica is just a slightly improved version of the old Ultravid.
I, and I bet loads of other people, couldn't justify the increase.

I really hope that by the time I have saved up enough for an FL Zeiss won't have done the obvious, stupid, mindless thing and increased their prices to match. Because that would be a real gap in the market-a top-notch, alpha 8x42 static at less than a grand, and cos I've had such good service off them I almost want them to beat the rest...

[ColonelBlimp]

Interestingly enough, talking about leica prices check this out:

£20 for one rainguard!!!

[andrew_s]

To bring the thread back on topic, SW Optics are now showing the Televid HD 82 in stock, at £2,679.00
(just in case anyone won the lottery last week)

[Dialyt]

Originally Posted by ColonelBlimp

Interestingly enough, talking about leica prices check this out:

£20 for one rainguard!!!

Fits directly over the objective lens (large end lens) by means of a rubber ring sliding over the outside of the binocular. Size approx 54mm diameter. Price quoted is for a SINGLE COVER....an exceptional price. Please complain to Leica directly if unhappy!

^From swoptics site. Not sure if that is sarcasm or not!

[Jaff]

April's Birdwatch (that's Birdwatch and not Birdwatching) magazine has the first official in-depth review of the 82mm. It's very complimentary.

[ColonelBlimp]

Originally Posted by Jaff

April's Birdwatch (that's Birdwatch and not Birdwatching) magazine has the first official in-depth review of the 82mm. It's very complimentary.

Yeah, I don't think that I've ever seen an uncomplimentary review in Birdwatch.

Probably don't want to offend potential advertisers!!!

[Jaff]

Originally Posted by ColonelBlimp

Yeah, I don't think that I've ever seen an uncomplimentary review in Birdwatch.

Probably don't want to offend potential advertisers!!!

True enough.

Also if it's a top of the line scope then of course it's going to be jaw-droppingly good. They wouldn't sell it otherwise. Is it worth the money though, well that's the real question isn't it?

[KorHaan]

Originally Posted by Jaff

True enough.

Also if it's a top of the line scope then of course it's going to be jaw-droppingly good. They wouldn't sell it otherwise. Is it worth the money though, well that's the real question isn't it?

I think I can answer your question: if you don't have the money, you'd better not look through one. I did, and now my Zeiss seems second rate.

If you like jawdropping experiences, on the other hand, DO try one.
I am never going to able to afford one, not even if I set straight priorities.

Ronald

[ColonelBlimp]

Originally Posted by Korhaan

you'd better not look through one. I did, and now my Zeiss seems second rate.

I've got a Zeiss and I wouldn't be too scared about looking through a Leica. Reason being, I've got 40:20 eyes and at 60x my Zeiss is still sharp as a tack, so I very much doubt Leica would be able to improve on that by a measure of £1200!!!

[hjvandijk]

See here for some testing results of the new Leica: www.twvg.nl

I'll guess some translation programme will make it understandable.

Little bit dissapointing mayby?

[Dialyt]

Originally Posted by hjvandijk

See here for some testing results of the new Leica: www.twvg.nl

I'll guess some translation programme will make it understandable.

Little bit dissapointing mayby?

I don't really care anymore. I used to want a Leica scope but now I don't.

I have a dinky kowa 60mm scope which does all I ask it to. I don't see why I should spend over £2000 (which I don't have, I might add) on a scope. Which is why I think the manufacturers have lost the plot in raising their prices to such astronomical heights.

[Dale Forbes]

Originally Posted by hjvandijk

See here for some testing results of the new Leica: www.twvg.nl

I'll guess some translation programme will make it understandable.

Little bit dissapointing mayby?

google does a decent job of translating the twvg report.

[hjvandijk]

Originally Posted by Dialyt

I don't really care anymore. I used to want a Leica scope but now I don't.

I have a dinky kowa 60mm scope which does all I ask it to. I don't see why I should spend over £2000 (which I don't have, I might add) on a scope. Which is why I think the manufacturers have lost the plot in raising their prices to such astronomical heights.

Me too. I'm satisfied with the Kowa 773. Actually, I'm glad to see that I didn't wait to see the results of a scope 200% of the price I now have.

[Swissboy]

Do the new scopes really have extendable shades that can't be twisted? If so, the fine aiming feature would at best be usable in straight versions only. But even in those, it would often be helpful to move it to the side. I always use mine on my straight Apo77 turned to the left side. If the new scopes no longer allow a twist, it would clearly be a flaw in the basic design. The only possible reason for such a restriction would be the wrong priority given to the red Leica roundel. Its place on the extendable shade is optimal only as long as the shade is not twisted.

[kristoffer]

has anyone actually bought it? It seem to attract little attention for being, by some, regarded as the best.

[The BulbMogul]

I am also currious if anyone actually has bought the new Leica Scopes..? I see Cabellas in USA has them in stock already too. I have purchased a Swar HD80 and now thinking of one of these units myself..


Cheers, Jerry

[kristoffer]

You don't enjoy your Swaro? As far as I understand the only real big benefit of the new Leica is a large fov with the zoom. (I have only read a few tests though, it might have lots of virtues).

But then you have to pay a fortune for it and it is heavy and bulky. Last but not least it has a, blue I think, color bias. This is something both the Zeiss diascope and from what ive heard the Leica suffers from. It is a quite nasty feature, imo, since it can really make it harder to id birds when the colour is of the essence.
The Swarovski on the other hand got a clear and lovely neutral tone

Originally Posted by The BulbMogul

I am also currious if anyone actually has bought the new Leica Scopes..? I see Cabellas in USA has them in stock already too. I have purchased a Swar HD80 and now thinking of one of these units myself..


Cheers, Jerry

[The BulbMogul]

Originally Posted by kristoffer

You don't enjoy your Swaro? As far as I understand the only real big benefit of the new Leica is a large fov with the zoom. (I have only read a few tests though, it might have lots of virtues).

But then you have to pay a fortune for it and it is heavy and bulky. Last but not least it has a, blue I think, color bias. This is something both the Zeiss diascope and from what ive heard the Leica suffers from. It is a quite nasty feature, imo, since it can really make it harder to id birds when the colour is of the essence.
The Swarovski on the other hand got a clear and lovely neutral tone

I love my Swar HD80.. Just was thinking of mabe getting a leica 82MM possibly. Thanks, jerry

[kristoffer]

You need to know that I have not tried it, I have just read what other people think. It could be amazing. I don't think anyone at bf has yet evaluated it. Try to found one at a local store and try it out, maybe it will suit you. :)

Originally Posted by The BulbMogul

I love my Swar HD80.. Just was thinking of mabe getting a leica 82MM possibly. Thanks, jerry

[Swissboy]

Originally Posted by kristoffer

.....it has a, blue I think, color bias. This is something both the Zeiss diascope and from what ive heard the Leica suffers from. It is a quite nasty feature, imo, since it can really make it harder to id birds when the colour is of the essence.
The Swarovski on the other hand got a clear and lovely neutral tone

I don't know about the latest editions of these brands. But it used to be the other way around. My brother's Swaro has a blue cast, whereas my Leica APO 77 and Nikon EDIII 60 scopes are fairly neutral. The Zeiss scope used to have a yellow cast. Maybe still has, though my FL binoculars are quite neutral.

[kristoffer]

The times has changed maybe Yeah the Zeiss is yellow, I meant colour bias when I wrote "both", not "blue colour bias". The Diascope must have some coating that cause the yellow that their FL series does not have.

Originally Posted by Swissboy

I don't know about the latest editions of these brands. But it used to be the other way around. My brother's Swaro has a blue cast, whereas my Leica APO 77 and Nikon EDIII 60 scopes are fairly neutral. The Zeiss scope used to have a yellow cast. Maybe still has, though my FL binoculars are quite neutral.

[blizdas]

I've got one of the 82mm Leica scopes and love it. I used to own a 77mm Televid and found that to be very color neutral. The 82mm Televid is superb and I would say it's as good if not better than the other contenders on the market. Having said that, for $4K one should be able to have higher expectations for this scope.
Jerry, I see you live in Ohio. I'll be at the Midwest Birding Symposium in September. If you are in the area, stop by our booth and I'd be happy to let you take it for a test spin to draw your own conclusions.
Ben

Ben Lizdas
Sales Manager
Eagle Optics
www.eagleoptics.com