Leica Ultravid 7х42 (HD/BR) vs Leica Trinovid 7x42 BA/BN (1 Viewer)

[MiddleRiver]

Excellent review. Does anyone know what happened to his website?

 

[Thotmosis]

Excellent review. Does anyone know what happened to his website?

Maybe lost in transmission 😜

 

[mwhogue]

Very interesting, and glad to hear you enjoy each. So in my case I did locate a used 7x42 UV BR, it should arrive in about a week. Looking forward to it and hopefully it's working well.


Thanks for mentioning that as an option. I actually did pick up a 7x35 and I really like the views with it. Very easy on the eyes, and a wonderful build quality.

I guess the Trinovid Classic may be an improvement vs. the 7x42 UV BR, still I am looking forward to comparing them.


Wow, they are really that impressive in comparison? Maybe I should pause to enjoy what I have in the Retrovids. Still, I'd like to one day compare to the 7x42 EDG and 7x42 Zeiss FL if a used pair at a reasonable price appears.

As I think you wrote in another thread, it really can be a bottomless rabbit hole!

More dangerous than a bottomless rabbit hole my Greek friend. You are about to plummet into "The Gorge of Eternal Peril".

Mike

 

[Ignatius]

At least he will be spared the infamous Blue Ring Of Death ... unless that is some sort of event horizon.

 

[b-lilja]

Love the thread, and love my 7x42 UVHD+s. They are great for birding on boat - the lower mag 7x is really better to deal with pitch and shake.

I haven't looked through 7x42 BNs, but gave my brother my 8x32 BNs when I started to wear glasses full time. I loved them - I think "cameratic" is a great word for them - always felt like they were like an old Leica rangefinder...

One thought, I can't help but wonder if the older bins could use a good interior cleaning - perhaps impacting color and transmission somewhat. Even though they are waterproof I wonder if things (grease?) volatilize inside over time and end up on prisms and lenses?

 

[tenex]

I can't help but wonder if the older bins could use a good interior cleaning - perhaps impacting color and transmission somewhat. Even though they are waterproof I wonder if things (grease?) volatilize inside over time and end up on prisms and lenses?

Possible, but I think you would notice this sort of problem. My BN 10x32 is 23 years old and still arguably competitive with anything else we have.

 

[jackjack]

Possible, but I think you would notice this sort of problem. My BN 10x32 is 23 years old and still arguably competitive with anything else we have.

Can I ask you a question?

I heard many BN influenced by prism hazing my 7x42 is the sample that get cleaned up a year ago. does your 10x32 have been through same symptoms? or it still maintains same internal quality though 23 year of uses?

 

[tenex]

I heard many BN influenced by prism hazing my 7x42 is the sample that get cleaned up a year ago. does your 10x32 have been through same symptoms? or it still maintains same internal quality though 23 year of uses?

Yes, that's what I said. I haven't heard that "many" got hazing/clouding. Glad you were able to get yours cleaned though.

 

[Hermann]

I heard many BN influenced by prism hazing my 7x42 is the sample that get cleaned up a year ago. does your 10x32 have been through same symptoms? or it still maintains same internal quality though 23 year of uses?

I've seen one or two BAs that showed some prism hazing. Most are still clean. My mother's been using an 8x32 BA as her only binocular since 1993. It's still clear. So is mine.

Hermann

 

[greekgeek]

My Leica 7x42 BR arrived. It showed up in more or less New Old Stock condition, although not quite because it is a 2007 CPO.

I enjoyed some really great views with it while on a small nature center center hike today. And since comparison is the thief of joy, I'll be enjoying it on its own for a spell before doing a side by side with the Retrovid.

 

[Thotmosis]

Hello! Please tell me, did someone compare the optics and the picture of Leica Ultravid 7x42 (HD/BR) vs Leica Trinovid 7x42 BA/BN?

Does it make sense to change the old Leica Trinovid 7x42 BA to Ultravid 7x42 (HD/BR)?

Thanks!

I (still) have both Leica UVHD and Trinovid BN 7x42 and you can find my experiences here:

WAITING FOR TRINOVID 7x42 BN

 

[John M Robinson]

FLs are a good choice as well. Denco is right, they do have a larger field of view and are a bit brighter than the Trinovids or Ultravids. That seems to be the Zeiss way of doing things - bright and wide. Very nice. I believe they are unique with their AK prisms in the world of 7x42s.
Those virtues lead Denco to a clear preference, but it isn't as definitive for me. The Leicas compete in my opinion. Leicas have very nice and saturated colors that make a uniquely beautiful view. You can't go wrong with Trinovids, Ultravids, or FLs. All great binoculars. If the price is right, I would not hesitate to act on any of them. Actually, the price has been right for me and I have acted on all of them.

That was very well said. Where Denco uses words like puny when referring to a perfectly acceptable 8 degree FOV and “dull” describing an 88% transmission, rather than just letting the numbers speak for themselves. You, show the trade offs are more a personal preference issue than absolute truth. I’ve tried both Leica and Zeiss and I personally prefer the Leica image but I can see how someone else could go the other way.

 

[John M Robinson]

If considering 7X, then consider the Trinovid Classic 7x35, it is another choice and has great optics.
Jerry

Since I bought my 7x35 Retrovid three years ago, my 8x42 Ultravids and 8x32 SEs have sat on a shelf. They’re all I need, love the image.

 

[Thotmosis]

That was very well said. Where Denco uses words like puny when referring to a perfectly acceptable 8 degree FOV and “dull” describing an 88% transmission, rather than just letting the numbers speak for themselves. You, show the trade offs are more a personal preference issue than absolute truth. I’ve tried both Leica and Zeiss and I personally prefer the Leica image but I can see how someone else could go the other way.

I also have the Zeiss 7x42 and i use all of them in happy rotation. Great binoculars with each of them unique specifications.