Leica Ultravid 8x20 BL
Published FoV 110m @ 1km; Published weight: 245g Closest focus: 2.2m
Content and images originally posted by zurtfox
Reviews
zurtfox's review
Leica Ultravid 8x20 BL � User Report
Feeling the need for something smaller than my Nikon 8x32 HGs as a walking/cycling companion, I spent an hour or so comparing compacts in my Local Binocular Shop. Compared to all the other top name compacts it soon became apparent that the Leica Ultravid compacts are almost* in a league of their own. I used my Nikon 8x32 for comparison purposes and, from the first quick glimpse, it was obvious the Leica compacts were exceptional.
In the back of my mind was Scampo�s extremely positive comments about the 10x25 Ultravid and how he found them to be brighter than the 8x20s. His superlatives are well deserved but I found the 8x to be equally as bright and, more importantly, much steadier in my hand. However, I left the shop wondering how I could justify spending so much on what would be, after all, binoculars that were likely to spend much of their time in the glove compartment/bike panniers/jacket pocket.
In the end I located an ex-demo pair and, having been assured that these were �as new�, bought them. Even at �285 they are still very expensive, but having now had them for 48 hours I have proof positive why I should have parted with so much money for a compact binocular.
Yesterday I spent much of a glorious sunny day putting them through their paces. In those conditions they excel. These are my findings:
Published FoV 110m @ 1km; I measured them at 112m (AFoV=51�).
Published weight: 245g � actual: 225g.
Closest focus: �2.2m� turned out to be a genuine 1.7m! Wonderful!
Focus wheel: 1.5 turns. Smooth.
Resolution... Hand held at 10m they achieved 1.8 line-pair/mm compared to 1.9 for my Nikons! (I suspect this difference may be due, in part, to the inertia of the heavy Nikons making them more stable).
Sharpness across the field: Central 60% exceptionally crisp, falling away a little towards the edges.
Contrast: extremely good.
Chromatic aberration: (bare branches against bright white clouds): slight yellow fringing which could be virtually eliminated with careful centering of the eye in the eyepiece.
Colour Rendition: neutral
Edge sharpness & distortion: not as good as the Nikon (but what other binocular is?) but better in both respects than my 7x42 Ultravids.
Eye relief: very good (the sliding eyecups were about half-way extended for me [I wear spectacles]); I calculate 16mm.
Flare: some at about 10� either side of a low sun, but not enough to cause concern. Nor were there any unwanted reflections in the eyepiece.
The hinges are stiff enough to hold the IPD at the user�s setting and the eyecups, despite not having intermediate click-stops, held my chosen mid-position (and that is with spectacles).
After sunset I took them into a local wood. Yes, they are far less bright than their full-sized cousins, but I found myself agreeing with Stephen Ingraham�s opinion that brightness does not significantly affect good binoculars� ability to show detail.
Late that night, stars were perfect pinpoints, planets were clearly defined orbs although Jupiter�s Galilean moons could not be seen.
There are a few of criticisms: firstly, the diopter adjustment button (on the underside) is exactly where my left thumb goes. It has a soft spring and so it is fairly easy to change the setting. However, I am now in the process of educating my thumb! The �leather� covering is lifting in one corner and my final criticism is that when I put them down and pick up the Nikon 8x32s it feels as though I have picked up a pair of 10x50 Trinovids! The leather case is exquisite but I think the Cordura version that comes with the BR is probably more practical.
And that�s it! Glove compartment? Cycle panniers? Jacket pocket? Yes, yes and yes. But I suspect they will be about my person much more than that.
- The Nikon 8x20 HGL is a serious competitor. Optically it is the Leica�s equal, slightly better for full-field sharpness/distortion, slightly less bright, but �70 cheaper. However, I was not comfortable using my little finger to focus and they never came to my eye as easily as the Leicas.
Footnote: Its now 3 months since I bought them and I don�t retract a single word from the above report. I would emphasise however, that they really are bright light binoculars, when the diameter of the user�s pupil is equal to or less than the bino�s exit pupil (2.5mm).
Sancho's review
I got the BR version (rubber-armoured), and I've nothing to add to Zurtfox's excellent review, except that they live in my pocket for hillwalking, cycling, walks with the kids, etc. They only lose light well into dusk, and if the FOV were a little greater, I wouldn't feel a need for any other bins. Exceptional.
Pros
- Compacts with the view of Top Full-Size bins.
Cons
- None.
