jafritten
Well-known member
I’ve been wondering about the different Ultravids for quite a while. Not only about the differences between the HD and the HD+ versions but also about the differences of the optical design of models with different dimensions. My most recent buy (10x42 HD+) shed some light upon this. At the same time, though, it sowed some mild confusion.
The first Leicas I bought were the 8x20 BR. They’re fantastic albeit not without some limitations that are due to the very dimensions of it. That is why I went for the 10x32 HDs a couple of years ago expecting similar optics in terms of colour cast and distortion. Well, my expectations were confounded. Both colour cast and distortion differ greatly. That is not a problem for me as I think the 10x32 HDs are fantastic, too – just in a different way. In fact, they’re different (only talking about colour cast and distortion) to the point I can’t see why they’re both in the same range (Ultravid).
Anyway, I love the 10x32’s depth of colour and panning is a sheer pleasure due to its very pronounced distortion. Many binos make me literally sick when panning or tracking fast moving objects. That is the reason why Swarovision, for example, is not for me and when I felt I needed a pair with better low light abilities I bought a pair of 10x42 HD+. Again, my expectations were confounded. The 10x42s have a totally different optical design: the colour cast is much closer to the 8x20 BR (!) than to the 10x32 HD, which I put down to the “+”-innovation at first. Now I am not too sure about that...The 10x42 HD+ seems very similar to the 8x20 BR in terms of distortion, too. When it comes to panning, however, I find it rather unpleasant – quite unlike the 8x20s.
I am wondering now what the other dimensions, i.e. the 7x42s or 8x42s, are like. Are they all of a totally different optical design? I would love to compare all of them but I’ve never had the opportunity to do so. I’d really like to know what a pair of 10x32 HD+ would be like?
Can anybody comment on my findings? I suspect I am rather subjective as for the panning behaviour but I think a lot of people have noticed the different colour casts.
Cheers
The first Leicas I bought were the 8x20 BR. They’re fantastic albeit not without some limitations that are due to the very dimensions of it. That is why I went for the 10x32 HDs a couple of years ago expecting similar optics in terms of colour cast and distortion. Well, my expectations were confounded. Both colour cast and distortion differ greatly. That is not a problem for me as I think the 10x32 HDs are fantastic, too – just in a different way. In fact, they’re different (only talking about colour cast and distortion) to the point I can’t see why they’re both in the same range (Ultravid).
Anyway, I love the 10x32’s depth of colour and panning is a sheer pleasure due to its very pronounced distortion. Many binos make me literally sick when panning or tracking fast moving objects. That is the reason why Swarovision, for example, is not for me and when I felt I needed a pair with better low light abilities I bought a pair of 10x42 HD+. Again, my expectations were confounded. The 10x42s have a totally different optical design: the colour cast is much closer to the 8x20 BR (!) than to the 10x32 HD, which I put down to the “+”-innovation at first. Now I am not too sure about that...The 10x42 HD+ seems very similar to the 8x20 BR in terms of distortion, too. When it comes to panning, however, I find it rather unpleasant – quite unlike the 8x20s.
I am wondering now what the other dimensions, i.e. the 7x42s or 8x42s, are like. Are they all of a totally different optical design? I would love to compare all of them but I’ve never had the opportunity to do so. I’d really like to know what a pair of 10x32 HD+ would be like?
Can anybody comment on my findings? I suspect I am rather subjective as for the panning behaviour but I think a lot of people have noticed the different colour casts.
Cheers