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Where premium quality meets exceptional value. ZEISS Conquest HDX.

10x50- Leica Ultravid vs. Swaro SLC vs. Maven B6 (1 Viewer)

Winchester,

Great choice. My intro to Leica was a friend's original 10x50 UV BR. It was love at first sight. At the time the BR, HD and HD+ were all still commonly available new and in stock at a number of places. I eventually settled on the HD+. In comparing the BR with the HD+, the HD+ was slightly but noticeably brighter than the BR in direct back and forth comparison. While I have never looked through an HD, many members report that the differences between the image quality of the HD and HD+ are not noticeable in real world use. So I think you have chosen the best balance in terms of price to performance ratio.

Mike
Thank you! I'm excited about it. $1,349 USD
 
I have the Outdoorsman tripod adapter stud mounted on my UVHD+ 12x50s. It seems very well made and sturdy, and doesn’t get in the way of my hand placement.
Regarding focuser issues, my 12x50s had a very distinct and annoying rough spot in the focus wheel. I talked to Leica service and they said they weren’t confident they could make it better. I was very pleasantly surprised when the roughness spontaneously went away with continued use.
 
I have the Outdoorsman tripod adapter stud mounted on my UVHD+ 12x50s. It seems very well made and sturdy, and doesn’t get in the way of my hand placement.
Regarding focuser issues, my 12x50s had a very distinct and annoying rough spot in the focus wheel. I talked to Leica service and they said they weren’t confident they could make it better. I was very pleasantly surprised when the roughness spontaneously went away with continued use.
Awesome! Thank you! Can I ask if you went with tall or short adapter as well or are you using it with some other adapter?
 
Awesome! Thank you! Can I ask if you went with tall or short adapter as well or are you using it with some other adapter?
I went with the taller adapter. I primarily use a monopod when I need extra support, and the monopod is slightly shorter than ideal. The extra height from the tall adapter is a bit helpful. The adapter is very well made.
 
I went with the taller adapter. I primarily use a monopod when I need extra support, and the monopod is slightly shorter than ideal. The extra height from the tall adapter is a bit helpful. The adapter is very well made.
Oh yes, have been there. My ultralight tripod is about 2" just too below eye level at full extension. (perfect for the wife). I tried pushing the legs in, but lose stability. Those outdoorsmans tripods are spendy...
 
Ultravid HD’s are here!

It was 45 minutes post sundown, but could not resist a quick glance. Gosh they are great at light gathering. I was counting antlers on some whitetail deer a 100yards away that I could not even see with my naked eye. Then pointed them up at jupiter and was counting moons. I have not even adjusted diopter yet.

Other impressions

-overall fit and finish is incredible. Can’t say I’ve held anything from swaro that feels better in the hand.

- ergos are to me far superior to SLC in the hand. Very well balanced and easy to hold for its weight. Hard to explain. SLC is like holding two avacados by comparison.

-minor rough patch in the focus. Barely perceptible , but it’s there.

-eye cups. Not sure. See photos below. Are they supposed to be not flat like that? Maybe slightly deformed?

-have not adjusted diopter

- lens caps great!

- strap great!

- case yuck!
 

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Ultravid HD’s are here!

It was 45 minutes post sundown, but could not resist a quick glance. Gosh they are great at light gathering. I was counting antlers on some whitetail deer a 100yards away that I could not even see with my naked eye. Then pointed them up at jupiter and was counting moons. I have not even adjusted diopter yet.

Other impressions

-overall fit and finish is incredible. Can’t say I’ve held anything from swaro that feels better in the hand.

- ergos are to me far superior to SLC in the hand. Very well balanced and easy to hold for its weight. Hard to explain. SLC is like holding two avacados by comparison.

-minor rough patch in the focus. Barely perceptible , but it’s there.

-eye cups. Not sure. See photos below. Are they supposed to be not flat like that? Maybe slightly deformed?

-have not adjusted diopter

- lens caps great!

- strap great!

- case yuck!
Those eye cups look deformed to me. Almost like they were exposed to too much heat somewhere. I have never seen any Leica eyecups like that. They should be symmetrical. I would return the binocular or make them give you new eye cups. Ultravid eye cups are at least $50 each.
 
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-eye cups. Not sure. See photos below. Are they supposed to be not flat like that? Maybe slightly deformed?
-have not adjusted diopter
The eyecups are supposed to be symmetrical but you'll probably get used to it just by looking through instead of at them! Probably was caused by however they'd been carried previously and I wonder if they might not go back to their original shape eventually, especially if left where it's good and warm, without being in direct sunlight.

You may never need to use the diopter adjustment, but if you do, it's the best design of them all. Sometimes I need to adjust the diopter, but most of the time they're all centered and my eyes adjust instead.
 
- ergos are to me far superior to SLC in the hand. Very well balanced and easy to hold for its weight. Hard to explain. SLC is like holding two avacados by comparison.
Hmm... assuming you mean SLC 56, I think there's a little trick to it: rotate the hands inward so more of the palm/heel is in contact with the bin, and the thumbs are just lying along the indents, not trying to hold it up. Works well for me.
-minor rough patch in the focus. Barely perceptible , but it’s there.
Someone said this can work out over time, so you could hope for that, as opposed to trying to get Leica to fix it which often doesn't work.
-eye cups. Not sure. See photos below. Are they supposed to be not flat like that? Maybe slightly deformed?
If they actually are deformed, Leica can easily supply replacement rubber. But it may just not be fully seated all around, so check for that. The rubber stretches on (tightly) over a lip on the plastic sleeve.
- case yuck!
No accounting for taste. I happen to particularly like the Leica case, simple and effective. The strap even more so.
 
Hmm... assuming you mean SLC 56, I think there's a little trick to it: rotate the hands inward so more of the palm/heel is in contact with the bin, and the thumbs are just lying along the indents, not trying to hold it up. Works well for me.

Someone said this can work out over time, so you could hope for that, as opposed to trying to get Leica to fix it which often doesn't work.

If they actually are deformed, Leica can easily supply replacement rubber. But it may just not be fully seated all around, so check for that. The rubber stretches on (tightly) over a lip on the plastic sleeve.

No accounting for taste. I happen to particularly like the Leica case, simple and effective. The strap even more.
Haha agreed with all the above! Thank you for the excellent info. I do love the strap. These are gonna go in a harness. I think the strap is gonna go on my BN’s to replace the para cord that has been filling in for the long worn out leather strap.
 
I just finished my first day in the field with the Ultravids. I really appreciate what everyone has been talking about about the contrast and colors. I had them side-by-side with my Zeiss conquest and sig Zulu and while both of those were sharper to the edge, the last 15% or so, in every other way, Leica was superior optically. In terms of field of view sharpness, depth, the field , color and contrast it was just great. My only other minor quibble and I think I prefer the focus on the zeiss conquest It’s a bit smoother and has more travel, allowing for finer adjustment at least for me. Thank you everyone for all the great advice.
 

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