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Old Leitz Trinovid 7x42 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Torview
- Start date
How old are they?
The ones made in the late 80's and up to around 1990 have pretty much the same specs as the Leica 7 x 42 Trinovid which replaced it. I have both and the latter is quite a bit better overall; brighter and sharper without the yellow color cast of the Leitz. But the Leitz is still very usable. It has the same 420' FOV @ 1000 yards as the Leica Trinovid; the same long eye relief but with roll down eye cups, and a large sweet spot with good edges. I pull it out and use it every now and then on a nice day and I still find it pleasant and easy to use. Ergonomically the Leitz is better IMO.
The biggest change, optically, was switching to SP phase coated prisms in the Leica version from the non-phase coated Uppendahl roof prisms which were used in the Leitz versions.
My comments here are limited to the 7 x 42 versions with their 6mm exit pupils. There might be different opinions about the ones with smaller exit pupils.
Bob
The ones made in the late 80's and up to around 1990 have pretty much the same specs as the Leica 7 x 42 Trinovid which replaced it. I have both and the latter is quite a bit better overall; brighter and sharper without the yellow color cast of the Leitz. But the Leitz is still very usable. It has the same 420' FOV @ 1000 yards as the Leica Trinovid; the same long eye relief but with roll down eye cups, and a large sweet spot with good edges. I pull it out and use it every now and then on a nice day and I still find it pleasant and easy to use. Ergonomically the Leitz is better IMO.
The biggest change, optically, was switching to SP phase coated prisms in the Leica version from the non-phase coated Uppendahl roof prisms which were used in the Leitz versions.
My comments here are limited to the 7 x 42 versions with their 6mm exit pupils. There might be different opinions about the ones with smaller exit pupils.
Bob
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I have to question that close focus of about 30 feet. But I will have to check mine out later. It was, as I recall, nowhere near that long.
Bob
John Dracon
John Dracon
Torview - Of all the Leitz Trinovid models of the generation you are looking at, 6,7,8, and 10 power, the 7x42 is the best IMO. Had them all and gave my 7x42 to a former son-in-law (before the divorce). The 6 power is vastly overrated and overpriced on the used binocular market. Large field but dim. All the Trinovids are beautifully built. If Leica would stick their current optics in that old chassis (if possible), I would snap one up in a heartbeat. Good luck in your bidding.
John
John
BillN
Well-known member
I thought that the Leitz Trinovid bins had the complex Uppendahl prisms
garymh
Binocular Engineer
The second Trinovid series - produced between 1962 and 1988 were very different to the third series which followed them.
Second series :
Focussing by moving eye lens assembly
Uppendahl prism
Objective lens of 2 cemented optics
Third series
Focussing lens behind objective
Schmidt-Pechan prism
Objective lens of 2 air spaced optics
The close focus was, according to Leitz literature, 8.5m !
Second series :
Focussing by moving eye lens assembly
Uppendahl prism
Objective lens of 2 cemented optics
Third series
Focussing lens behind objective
Schmidt-Pechan prism
Objective lens of 2 air spaced optics
The close focus was, according to Leitz literature, 8.5m !
Attachments
Yes, they do. I mentioned that above. The name LEITZ was dropped with the switch to the SP prisms. FOV is the same as the later Leica 7 x 42. OP inquired about that. The minimum focus of my LEITZ 7 x 42 Trinovid BA (the green armored version) is longer. (Not to be confused with the later LEICA 7 x 42 Trinovid BA.) It is listed at about 28 feet in the Leitz literature. (See threads #3 & #7 above) In reality it's close focus is under 15 feet. My Leica 7 x 42 Trinovid BN's close focus is listed at about 11 feet. In reality it is also closer.
See here for comparisons between the LEICA BA and BN versions.
http://www.company7.com/leica/news.html#1September2000
I just checked mine. It is a green armored version of the Leitz 7 x 42 Trinovid BA. I believe that these green versions were only made in 1988 and 1989. I get a nice sharp close focus of newspaper print at under 15 feet-with no barrel overlap.
Bob
Anybody who wants, or even wants to want, one of these old beauties can read this review, by a noted photography expert, and get pumped.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/trinovid/10x40.htm
Most binocular enthusiasts will probably think he overdoes it a bit. Or maybe a lot. But shoot, it makes me want one.
Ron
http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/trinovid/10x40.htm
Most binocular enthusiasts will probably think he overdoes it a bit. Or maybe a lot. But shoot, it makes me want one.
Ron
OK. I finally found the list of dates I had on Leica. It says here (Near bottom of list) that the Leitz 7 x 42 Trinovid BA, green armored was made from 1981 to 1990. List made by Peter Abrahams. "Leitz Binoculars from 1907 to 1996."
http://home.europa.com/~telscope/leitzbin.txt
Bob
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garymh
Binocular Engineer
Sometimes the dates on these binoculars can get confusing.
During my 17 years working for Leitz / Leica and studying the history of the binoculars with access to the archives I was able to find out the dates of major releases etc.
(This led to the writing of my book on the history of the Leitz / Leica Trinovid series which was fully endorsed by the company).
The 7x42 BA (green) was released in 1979.
Production of the second Trinovid series ceased at the end of 1988.
According to the list you attached a link to there were various dates for the introduction of the "B" models.....
http://home.europa.com/~telscope/leitzbin.txt
The 10x40 and 8x32 were listed as being available as "B" models from 1974. The main description for this model gives a date for the "B" as 1975.
The attached Leitz Technical Information sheet, however, shows them as available from 1973.
I have the greatest repect for the research of others but sometimes other information becomes available.
The other attached sheet shows the official Leica serial number list with production ceasing in 1988.
The main text
During my 17 years working for Leitz / Leica and studying the history of the binoculars with access to the archives I was able to find out the dates of major releases etc.
(This led to the writing of my book on the history of the Leitz / Leica Trinovid series which was fully endorsed by the company).
The 7x42 BA (green) was released in 1979.
Production of the second Trinovid series ceased at the end of 1988.
According to the list you attached a link to there were various dates for the introduction of the "B" models.....
http://home.europa.com/~telscope/leitzbin.txt
The 10x40 and 8x32 were listed as being available as "B" models from 1974. The main description for this model gives a date for the "B" as 1975.
The attached Leitz Technical Information sheet, however, shows them as available from 1973.
I have the greatest repect for the research of others but sometimes other information becomes available.
The other attached sheet shows the official Leica serial number list with production ceasing in 1988.
The main text
Attachments
Thanks Gary,
Too bad that the SN's are blocked. Then we could tell the year ours were manufactured. I've lost the papers on mine but I'm sure I got it a year or so after 1990 because the new Leica was just being marketed and I got mine for $500.00 which I think was close to 50% off the original price. I got it from a dealer in Toronto.
Bob
Too bad that the SN's are blocked. Then we could tell the year ours were manufactured. I've lost the papers on mine but I'm sure I got it a year or so after 1990 because the new Leica was just being marketed and I got mine for $500.00 which I think was close to 50% off the original price. I got it from a dealer in Toronto.
Bob
Ron,
These Leitz 10 x 40 B Trinovids are quite compact as the picture comparing them with a new Leica 8 x 42 Trinovid BN shows. But if their compactness is what you find attractive then you'll have to stick with them because my Leitz 7 x 42 Trinovid BA is at least an inch longer than my Leica 7 x 42 Trinovid BN is and is hardly compact.
Bob
joejeweler
Well-known member
Gary, if you read this please list the full name of the book you wrote on the Trinovid series, as I have not been able to find it anywhere using various searches. (do you have any remaining copies?)
Also, I understand why you blurred out the serial numbers of the page you included from your book,.....BUT if your book is no longer in print and /or you have no intention to republish it down the road,....please consider offering that page showing Years of Production Ending Serial Numbers in it's entirety?
(for Posterity
