Nearly one year later... I reply to myself (as OP).
Brothers in arms...
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As I explained on the original post, I consider my 8x32 Traveller ED a true "sleeper", it has seen many amazing 8x32 models come and go from the binocular cabinet, always holding on due to its amazing mix of talents: probably the best ergonomics I've experienced, really very nice optical performance for the price, and then some (only shaded by the behaviour against difficult light conditions: veil and glare are not uncommon), really compact and lightweight, understated appearance and robust construction (this also goes for the rubber armour, that after quite a lot of abuse keeps on kicking like new). After my 12x36 IS III became my most used binocular depending on the time of year, my notion of "the perfect" 8x32 started shifting away from my 8x32 EL SV to the point that I ended up selling it, trying to concentrate on a compact form factor that could match the Traveller but offer more optical punch (yes, I tried MHG, SFL, etc., but, as explained on the first post, none convince me to sell the Traveller). So after reading quite a lot of praise for the Verano, and given my general good experience with Opticron, I finally got myself a Verano VHD BGA WP 8x32 (which after Brexit is not the easiest).
What can I say, it was a very tough assignment for the Verano. So, in (very) short:
- The Verano is an overall better binocular.
- Sharpness is equal or above the Traveller
- Contrast is noticeably superior (the Traveller, like the ELSV or the 8x32 FL offer a very bright image, and this somewhat diminishes the perception of contrast, I'm not sure is simply due to a choice from the designers, and not any flaw).
- Quite importantly, behaviour against the light is also better, although it is still a 8x32, there is way less veil and glare is not that common. Quite nice, to be honest.
But (and this is a deal breaker kind of but).
- While it is compact and feels compact, the tubes are thicker, the position of the focus wheel is slightly less comfortable... so the overall ergonomics are not as nice, which in a compact carry-everywhere-do-anything 8x32 is of utmost importance for me.
- FOV is smaller, as expected, but I wasn't worried by it, frankly, it's wide enough.
- But then there's the focus. I hadn't realised that one of the reasons I like the Traveller so much is because it has a pretty fast focus, hardly one full turn, and the focus wheel is very responsive. The Verano needs basically two full turns... so coming from the Traveller I find myself endlessly turning that wheel, which leads to a slow performance when it matters. Then, I don't like the focus action as much as I like the Traveller. I know this is extremely personal, some don't like fast focusers, I had never thought I find slow focusers a dealbreaker in such a format.
So, in the end, the Verano is not the binocular for me.
Had the barrels been as slim as the Traveller and the focus as fast, I think I would have nearly got what I wanted (well, what I want is 430 - 450 g). I prefer the softer rubber armour of the Traveller to the more rough rubber of the Verano, others may find the opposite (I've heard the new Traveller follows in the line of the Verano with a rougher kind of rubber).
So, all in all, the Verano is a great proposition for the price, but the ergonomics and focus action are simply not what I'm looking for. Others might disagree, of course. I can see how this (and if its Leupold cosin is anything similar) can be anyone's only binocular, it has the feel and performance of a great bino.