Thanks everyone.
Time for an update. I spoke to my wife about binoculars and have established the following:
They need to be 8x42.
If I spend a lot of money, she will kill me (I think the cat is out of the bag).
It transpires that my wife knows exactly what she wants, and that is a pair of Trinovid 8x42BN. I know this because she borrowed a pair belonging to a friend and was so impressed she wrote down the details. Apparently, they are perfect - the right weight, the right size, feel just right in the hand and are generally 'just amazing'. Not much to argue with there.
Here's what I've done: Found a pair of used 8x42BN at a dealer (who has a branch not far from me). They are in mint condition, boxed with all the original accessories and documentation, have just come back from a full Leica service and are returnable until after Christmas (just in case). I can't really go wrong.
Oh, and the fact they came in at half my budget means I can afford to take my better half away somewhere exotic to try out her new present.
It's all gone rather well. I'll keep you posted.
Cheers
Martin
Martin,
You lucked out. :t:
I think your wife is talking about Leica's new 2nd line Trinovid binoculars. The model they recently replaced cost a few hundred bucks more than these do. These cost just under $1000.00 US funds which I think is less than 800 British Pounds.
Just make sure that the ones you found are not from the Original 8x42 Trinovid BN line which was discontinued in 2004 and replaced by the Leica 8x42 Ultravid line of Binoculars. People will be using some of those beasts for the next 20 years!
Here is a picture of the current 8x42 Trinovid:
https://www.eagleoptics.com/collections/binoculars/products/leica-8x42-trinovid-hd-binocular
Bob
Last edited: