I have both the Leica UV 8x20 BL, and the Zeiss Terra 8x25 ED.
My impression is that optically, the Zeiss Terra are better. They have better contrast, and better resistance to flare, and the image just snaps into focus.
The Leica UV 8x20 are still quite good, but the contrast is not up to the Zeiss level. Also, the images snap less into focus, and for some reason, I have the hardest time finding the correct diopter setting; I oscillate between -1 and 0 every time I try. I also noticed something peculiar. If I look at something small and bright with darker background, such as a leaf stem, and I defocus, with the left eye I see uniform blurriness increasing, but with the right eye, I can see a double image forming. Interesting, I would have thought the two tubes behaved in the same way.
Build quality wise, the Leica are quite a bit better. I don't particularly like the way in which the diopter knobs are attached on my Zeiss; it once came off and I had to send it in for repair; the rubber is not strongly attached to the mechanism underneath.
In the end, I like having both. The Leica UV 8x20 is invaluable as it fits in a tiny neoprene case in the side pocket of my backpack, so it's always ready when I am hiking or biking, and it's so light that I am never tempted to leave it behind. The Zeiss are wonderful for when I consciously choose to take binoculars with me. I just wish they came with a reasonable case and eyepiece covers... the supplied hard case is ridicously large.
Thanks to the many posters in this forum; it's here that I learned about the Zeiss Terra.
My impression is that optically, the Zeiss Terra are better. They have better contrast, and better resistance to flare, and the image just snaps into focus.
The Leica UV 8x20 are still quite good, but the contrast is not up to the Zeiss level. Also, the images snap less into focus, and for some reason, I have the hardest time finding the correct diopter setting; I oscillate between -1 and 0 every time I try. I also noticed something peculiar. If I look at something small and bright with darker background, such as a leaf stem, and I defocus, with the left eye I see uniform blurriness increasing, but with the right eye, I can see a double image forming. Interesting, I would have thought the two tubes behaved in the same way.
Build quality wise, the Leica are quite a bit better. I don't particularly like the way in which the diopter knobs are attached on my Zeiss; it once came off and I had to send it in for repair; the rubber is not strongly attached to the mechanism underneath.
In the end, I like having both. The Leica UV 8x20 is invaluable as it fits in a tiny neoprene case in the side pocket of my backpack, so it's always ready when I am hiking or biking, and it's so light that I am never tempted to leave it behind. The Zeiss are wonderful for when I consciously choose to take binoculars with me. I just wish they came with a reasonable case and eyepiece covers... the supplied hard case is ridicously large.
Thanks to the many posters in this forum; it's here that I learned about the Zeiss Terra.