Leica UV 8x20 versus Zeiss Victory 8x25 (2 Viewers)

[F88]

Hello everyone, I just woke up, turned on the computer and: WOW I was overwhelmed by the abundance of posts. Here's what I've understood so far: In terms of optics, the differences in resolution and contrast are relatively small, with some preferring Leica colors. So it remains to be decided whether I want the smallest binoculars or the easiest to look through. I don't think I will be able to make the right decision if I don't have the chance to compare them side by side. I have nowhere in Romania to do this, so the only solution will be to buy both. And who knows? maybe I decide to keep both. Thank you all for your involvement

If you're fortunate to buy both then that's a nice thing.
I hope you enjoy your trial and report back.

 

[F88]

This is the last time I'll derail this thread but to anyone who feels the need to chastise me in a private message for dismissing Dennis because they believe I've done so simply as he's disagreed with me, please refrain or you'll likely get the same response as Jos. I'm perfectly fine with differing opinions and so on.
I really don't mind if you think I'm a so and so, that's also fine.
There'll be no further off topic commentary from me, carry on.

 

[Mac308]

As can be seen, there are many ways to view this subject. None of them are wrong, just different people seeing the "problem" differently for different needs.

For me, the Zeiss is not compact enough and weighs more than the Leica. I use the Leica 8x20 for backpacking/climbing where its lighter weight and smaller size matter. Its the perfect companion to my 8x32 UV, which is my all-around binocular. I don't own a 40/42mm bin. If I did it would be a 7x42 or perhaps an 8x42 Noctivid.

But as one poster above pointed out, as a "travel" binocular I think I'd rather have the Zeiss 8x25.

What are you trying to accomplish? What are your needs for this binocular?

 

[binomaniac]

Mac, I'm a security guard at a public library. My job is to keep order in the institution, and more recently since the pandemic, to make sure that no one enters the building without a mask. So not much, especially since the influx of people is not as infernal as at the airport. The whole front of the building is with windows from the bottom to the top, so I have 180 degrees perfect visibility. .My service is 24 hours so a lot of boredom. I would need a small pair of binoculars to keep it around my neck hidden under my work coat. But as I am spoiled with the best quality optics, I have a Swaro Fieldpro 8.5x42 in possession, I want this pocket to be with high optics.

 

[binomaniac]

I hope my boss doesn't read Birdforum. 8-P

 

[pm42]

I would need a small pair of binoculars to keep it around my neck hidden under my work coat.

I would think that the Ultravid are perfect because they are small, you can hide them in a pocket, even a small one and so easily under your coat.
On the other hand, if I knew I will be looking through binoculars a lot, I would prefer the Zeiss because of the comfort and the FOV. For me, the UV is perfect as "always on me, just in case" but when I'm sure I'm gonna need binoculars, I take something bigger.

Can you order them both online and return the one you do not want to keep?

 

[pppppvvvv]

I tried the Leicas, I've always had Leicas throughout my birding, but I couldn't work them out. I was getting an individual view from each eye. Gave up in the end, thinking the bird would have flown by now!
Which was a shame.
The Zeiss Pockets are fine for me, I never wear them in my pocket though. Why?! they are waterproof, i'd rather be on the bird in a second, than trying to get them out of my pocket, and pulling out my stash of Jaffa cakes at the same time!

 

[james holdsworth]

Out of order F88, there seems to be a fashion to attack this member of the forum, this has happened on quite a few occasions now ...his posts and opinions are every bit as valid as yours, and by the way you replied to the same post twice, both times with 'blah'. The posts from this member simply state his perspective, and he adds 'for me' to illustrate this - if you have another opinion, just express it.

F88 is completely right of course....you need to know posting history...it’s a clear agenda, without doubt.

 

[SeldomPerched]

I hope my boss doesn't read Birdforum. 8-P

Good evening, binomaniac. This is your boss speaking. I would be happier if you upgraded your 8.5x 42 EL FP to a 10x50 EL FP for greater surveillance credibility...

PS: I use a Trinovid 8x20BCA and assuming the UV is similar in size I want to tell you it is very fiddly but I put up with it because it is very pocketable. But nothing beats the 7x42 for a great easy and amazing view - in my opinion, but remember I am your boss ;-)

 

[NDhunter]

More nonsense.
You have a persistent and irritating agenda Dennis. Well noted by many users of this forum, fortunately for most it is ignored or dismissed at large.
I'm generally fine with your flavour of the month and closed minded elitism but sometimes once I've read your regurgitated speech ad nauseam it becomes boring.
Each to their own I guess?

You are correct, this member tries to bully his way through every thread.
That is no way to act, many have complained to the admin.
Just ignore the bad actor. Don't fall for the troll antics.

Put him on ignore, it is easy to do.

Sorry, I just fed the troll. These types have some mental issues.

Jerry

 

[eronald]

Afaik there has never been a complaint here about the optics of the 8x25 Pocket which some here now use as their main binocular.

On the other hand they are a bit large for a “miniature” and seriously pricey, a bit fiddly to get to the eyes and I would be surprised if any owner thought they compare to an x42 in low light, although they may well be equally sharp by day.

You might have a look at the lowly pocket Trinovids or even “toy” sports binoculars, which might get the job done for cheap. My feeling about the Leica 8x UV is that one might as well go either cheaper or up in size, they just don’t gather enough light for “indoor” use.

Edmund

PS btw, there are some very nice pocket monoculars, including one by Leica which some use for a glance without the bulk of two barrels and a grip.

 

[LucaPCP]

They are both great, in different ways

Hello everybody. I'm thinking of buying a pocket binoculars. I had all the pocket binoculars made by Leica, Zeiss, Swarovski and Nikon, in the variants of 8x20-8x25 and 10x 25 except for two: Leica Ultravid 8x20 and Zeiss Victory 8x25.
I have a question for those who had the chance to compare them:
I want to know which one has better resolution and contrast. I would buy Leica because it is smaller, lighter and I love Leica colors.
I would take Zeiss for greater field of view, better ergonomics ,bigger exit pupil so more light. But if it turns out that Leica has the same or better resolution, contrast, then I would opt for a smaller size. But again, if Zeiss controls the parasitic lights better, I think that in the end the choice will go to Zeiss because in vain you have better resolution and contrast if the parasitic lights ruin them. It seems that it will not be easy to decide.
Thank you all in advance for any useful information.

I have them both.

The Leica UV 8x20 are fantastically small. I prefer the BL (the ones with black leather) as they come also with a very nice small leather pouch that takes even less space than the cordura case of the rubber ones.
They are exceptionally sharp and very small.

The Victory pocket 8x25 are a bit larger, but not much heavier. They are also exceptional. They are more confortable than the Leica for prolonged viewing, and they have a bigger field of view.

I use the Leica as the binoculars I keep always at hand on my table when I work -- so nicely made, so small -- to look at birds in the garden. They are also the binoculars that are always with me when I travel.

The Victory Pocket are the ones that most commonly ride in the side pocket of my backpack when I bike or hike.

They are both exceptional, and I think an optical comparison misses the point. Do you want very small binoculars in a nice leather case? Or can you cope with very light but slightly larger ones, for more confortable view and larger field of view?

As objects, purely as objects, I prefer the Leica, in leather. The beauty of the metal and leather, the quality they exhude, is simply higher than the Victory Pocket.

 

[pm42]

You might have a look at the lowly pocket Trinovids

I used them for 20 years. They are still ok but the Ultravid is clearly better. But my main reason for changing is that the UV are much easier to use with glasses.

or even “toy” sports binoculars

He said that optical quality was very important to him and my guess is that if a security guard in Romania ends up with a Swaro 8.5x42, this is indeed the case (all due respect to his job and his country, just saying that he probably makes less money than an american dentist).

PS btw, there are some very nice pocket monoculars, including one by Leica

I have it too and it is a very different beast: less stable, focusing whilst looking through it is much more difficult. And not as good as the UV, more like a Trinovid.

 

[mwhogue]

Mac, I'm a security guard at a public library. My job is to keep order in the institution, and more recently since the pandemic, to make sure that no one enters the building without a mask. So not much, especially since the influx of people is not as infernal as at the airport. The whole front of the building is with windows from the bottom to the top, so I have 180 degrees perfect visibility. .My service is 24 hours so a lot of boredom. I would need a small pair of binoculars to keep it around my neck hidden under my work coat. But as I am spoiled with the best quality optics, I have a Swaro Fieldpro 8.5x42 in possession, I want this pocket to be with high optics.

Binomaniac,

You are getting lots of good advice here. If you haven't already, you may want to read the recent thread " A growing addiction..." in the Leica forum, particularly post # 11 by member eitanaltman which discusses how to compare two bins side by side assuming you have several days with both to compare. His advice is excellent IMO and particularly with respect to comparing "pocket" binoculars because they can be more difficult to use than full size models as you know from your experience with other pocket models. For example if you have both to compare for three days, spend one day comparing both side by side and the other two days using only one or the other.

Good luck with your testing and let us have your thoughts.

Mike

 

[binomaniac]

Thanks Mike for the tips, very interesting 3 day testing method proposed by you. But it will be difficult for me to be able to have both in possession soon. Rather, I will be able to buy one at a time, depending on my budget. Since I can't decide which one to buy first, I'll let fate decide. I will buy the first of them at which I will find a good price on Ebay. Probably used. Then the same with the other. I forgot a very important question about Zeiss Victory 8x25: Is the chromatic aberration level as low as in the other Zeiss Fl models? I had almost all of them, from 32, 42 and 56, except 10x32 and 8x56 and I appreciated the incredible cleanliness of the image due to the lack of chromatic aberrations.

 

[pm42]

I forgot a very important question about Zeiss Victory 8x25: Is the chromatic aberration level as low as in the other Zeiss Fl models?.

It seems very low to me, almost as low as the SF 8x32 and much lower than the Leica UVHD+ 7x42.

 

[mwhogue]

Thanks Mike for the tips, very interesting 3 day testing method proposed by you. But it will be difficult for me to be able to have both in possession soon. Rather, I will be able to buy one at a time, depending on my budget. Since I can't decide which one to buy first, I'll let fate decide. I will buy the first of them at which I will find a good price on Ebay. Probably used. Then the same with the other. I forgot a very important question about Zeiss Victory 8x25: Is the chromatic aberration level as low as in the other Zeiss Fl models? I had almost all of them, from 32, 42 and 56, except 10x32 and 8x56 and I appreciated the incredible cleanliness of the image due to the lack of chromatic aberrations.

Sorry Binomaniac, I assumed you would be able to compare them side by side.

To answer your question: I am not very sensitive to chromatic aberration but I see none in either the UV 8x20 or the Zeiss 8x25 testing both this morning looking at dark tree branches backlight by the rising sun. I will test them again this afternoon on power lines backlit by the setting sun. If there's any difference under those conditions I'll let you know.

Mike

 

[Alexis Powell]

I have a number of pocket bins, including the Zeiss 8x25 Victory and the Leica 8x20 Ultravid BL. Actually, I have two of the latter because I like it so much. The Leica (especially the BL version) is more compact than the Zeiss when it is naked, but in its Leica leather clamshell it is the same pack size as the Zeiss in a simple cordura case. Since I usually carry the Leica in its case, I don't find its smaller size to be of practical consequence. I find the color of the Leica _slightly_ more pleasing; it has more touches of red, versus more of a blue-green to the Zeiss view. The Leica also seems to be more contrasty between highlights and shadows, which looks nice, but I am not sure it actually so good for getting diagnostic views of birds in dappled light situations. Both perform against the light quite well, but I would say the Zeiss is superior overall. CA is not a problem in either. The focus knob of the Leica is superior to most pocket bins in its accessibility for rapid manipulation, but the Zeiss is even better, and it operates more smoothly. As far as FOV, ease of view (popping up to the eyes and seeing without fuss) and getting on the bird quickly, the Zeiss has no equal amongst 8x20 and 8x25 bins. For me, it is really something special and has made my 8x32 bins obsolete for birding. So, although I really love the Leica in many ways, the Zeiss just kills it for overall birding functionality. Consequently, I always use the Zeiss these days. I had them both out last weekend, and I do love those little Leica which served me faithfully many years, but I just can't deny that the Zeiss crush them when it comes to birding tool performance.

--AP

 

[pppppvvvv]

I have a number of pocket bins, including the Zeiss 8x25 Victory and the Leica 8x20 Ultravid BL. Actually, I have two of the latter because I like it so much. The Leica (especially the BL version) is more compact than the Zeiss when it is naked, but in its Leica leather clamshell it is the same pack size as the Zeiss in a simple cordura case. Since I usually carry the Leica in its case, I don't find its smaller size to be of practical consequence. I find the color of the Leica _slightly_ more pleasing; it has more touches of red, versus more of a blue-green to the Zeiss view. The Leica also seems to be more contrasty between highlights and shadows, which looks nice, but I am not sure it actually so good for getting diagnostic views of birds in dappled light situations. Both perform against the light quite well, but I would say the Zeiss is superior overall. CA is not a problem in either. The focus knob of the Leica is superior to most pocket bins in its accessibility for rapid manipulation, but the Zeiss is even better, and it operates more smoothly. As far as FOV, ease of view (popping up to the eyes and seeing without fuss) and getting on the bird quickly, the Zeiss has no equal amongst 8x20 and 8x25 bins. For me, it is really something special and has made my 8x32 bins obsolete for birding. So, although I really love the Leica in many ways, the Zeiss just kills it for overall birding functionality. Consequently, I always use the Zeiss these days. I had them both out last weekend, and I do love those little Leica which served me faithfully many years, but I just can't deny that the Zeiss crush them when it comes to birding tool performance.

--AP

I've been saying this last bit. I was always biased towards Leica, but I tested them in the shop, the Zeiss worked much better for me.

 

[pm42]

Since I usually carry the Leica in its case, I don't find its smaller size to be of practical consequence.

I carry them both in the smallest possible neoprene Op/Tech bag and I find the difference significant as shown in pictures.

I find the color of the Leica _slightly_ more pleasing; it has more touches of red, versus more of a blue-green to the Zeiss view. The Leica also seems to be more contrasty between highlights and shadows, which looks nice

I agree.

For me, it is really something special and has made my 8x32 bins obsolete

It made my old Trinovid obsolete but I compared them in the field with the SF 8x32 and the difference was obvious.
But if I had to keep only one binocular, it would be the Zeiss 8x25: very compact and good enough to replace a 8x32 90% of the time.