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

[Paultricounty]

Comparison between BN 7x42 and UVHD+ 8x32
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color fidelity and overall optic is much better in UVHD+ 8x32 but I prefer film cameratic satuation of BN 7x42

Even in those pictures the UV is undeniably sharper. Ive liked all the BN’s I’ve tried. I just found that they not up to the level in brightness , especially in low light overcast days and fall a little short in sharpness to the UV’s.

If I already had a nice BN I probably wouldn’t upgrade to the UV, but if I was starting from the beginning I’d highly recommend the UV, if you didn’t mind the extra cost.

 

[jackjack]

Even in those pictures the UV is undeniably sharper. Ive liked all the BN’s I’ve tried. I just found that they not up to the level in brightness , especially in low light overcast days and fall a little short in sharpness to try he UV’s.

If I already had a nice BN I probably wouldn’t upgrade to the UV, but if I was starting from the beginning I’d highly recommend the UV, if you didn’t mind the extra cost.

this is just a photo for seeing the brief color (I take more care such as stability, diststance... Plus they are at different magnification 😀)
but UV is unagruably sharper then BN both in 7x42 and 10x42 comparison.

not only UV is optically and mechanically better then BN but also, it have better durability. many BN suffers from internal hazing...
but big advantage is that it have 30 years warranty that still covers it behind.

 

[tenex]

And yet, OP asks about BA/BN vs UV and gets a barrage of posts about how neither as good as a completely different bino (which that certain member happens to be selling two models of at the moment).

Actually it was I who first mentioned FL here. You raise an interesting question: should we just stick to the OP's question even when there's little difference, or try to guess what else he might like? I asked what improvement he might be looking for, but we still have no idea at post #63. This happens frequently, a sort of ghost conversation.

The FLs seem lighter, but that must be because they are larger and are therefore less dense.

This is even more true of SFs.

 

[greekgeek]

I think creamy tint partly benefits from lower transmission.

there are some bino I think it's creamy
Leica 42mm Duovid, Trinovid BA, BN, 20mm, Nikon HGL 20mm, Kowa Genesis 10x33
which is bit dark bino compared to recent ones.
darkning with a certain bias of warm color hue may be related to 'creamy' feel of view.

Thanks for your great comparison!

Would you be able to comment on the 7x42 BN views compared to the short lived 7x42 Ultravid BR? From reading on this forum I understand the BR to have a similar optical train to the BN and lower transmission relative to the later HD or HD+ versions.

Wondering if the 7x42 UV BR could be the best of both worlds, so to speak- views of the BN with improved ergonomics and packaging.

 

[jackjack]

Thanks for your great comparison!

Would you be able to comment on the 7x42 BN views compared to the short lived 7x42 Ultravid BR? From reading on this forum I understand the BR to have a similar optical train to the BN and lower transmission relative to the later HD or HD+ versions.

Wondering if the 7x42 UV BR could be the best of both worlds, so to speak- views of the BN with improved ergonomics and packaging.

I haven't seen 7x42 BR. only seen 10x42 BR. it has less colorfidelity and brightness compared to HD but it's color was more on the color of yellow then emberish color of BN 10x42

I think BN is little bit diffrent type of bino compared to UV not just an inferior lineup.

 

[greekgeek]

I haven't seen 7x42 BR. only seen 10x42 BR. it has less colorfidelity and brightness compared to HD but it's color was more on the color of yellow then emberish color of BN 10x42

I think BN is little bit diffrent type of bino compared to UV not just an inferior lineup.

Interesting, thank you. I have the 7x35 Retrovid and will compare it to the 7x42 BR.

I guess the 7x42 BN would have silver prism coatings, and the 7x42 UV BR changing to dielectric. Is that correct? That might account for the change from creamy view. The B&L Elites in 7x36 also have a nice creamy view, along with silvered prisms.

 

[greekgeek]

Well, maybe that's off a bit. I see in the Allbinos reference they say the first UV simply repackaged the BN optics. Probably both Dielectric coatings by then. I didn't realize they were produced contemporaneously to one another, the UV BR and BN.

 

[Trinovid]

Wondering if the 7x42 UV BR could be the best of both worlds, so to speak- views of the BN with improved ergonomics and packaging.

I had a 7x42 BR far too briefly to give much of a substantive opinion on it, but do very much like the HD+ that replaced it half a year later.
Biggest difference between the BN and BR could possibly be found in the lighter magnesium body, titanium hinge pin and ergonomics. Neither is better for hold/feel, but they are immensely different, with many preferring one over the other, and others of us liking both.
I ended up keeping my 8x32 BN for the feel in hand and very comparable view to my HD+ version, which however does offer higher contrast and stronger color saturation.

 

[greekgeek]

I had a 7x42 BR far too briefly to give much of a substantive opinion on it, but do very much like the HD+ that replaced it half a year later.
Biggest difference between the BN and BR could possibly be found in the lighter magnesium body, titanium hinge pin and ergonomics. Neither is better for hold/feel, but they are immensely different, with many preferring one over the other, and others of us liking both.
I ended up keeping my 8x32 BN for the feel in hand and very comparable view to my HD+ version, which however does offer higher contrast and stronger color saturation.

Thanks for sharing your experience, I have not yet tried either BN or UV. I was looking for 7x options and considered the BA/BN, ultimately going for the more svelte form factor of the UV. Somehow I thought the UV was the successor of the BN, which at the time of launch was not the case.

Of the used 7x42 UV options, a BR costs a lot less deep in the purse than either the HD or HD+.

Bonus: UV BR has the green armor option.

 

[tenex]

I guess the 7x42 BN would have silver prism coatings, and the 7x42 UV BR changing to dielectric. Is that correct?

Yes. Lens coatings also evolve.

 

[jackjack]

Yes. Lens coatings also evolve.

Diffrent lens coating between BN

left is bn 7x42 with serial number starts at 11
right is 10x42 with 16

 

[Trinovid]

I was looking for 7x options and considered the BA/BN, ultimately going for the more svelte form factor of the UV.
Of the used 7x42 UV options, a BR costs a lot less deep in the purse than either the HD or HD+.
Bonus: UV BR has the green armor option.

That 7x42 BR that I had was green, but I just didn't bond with it at the time. Fast forward a few months and I found myself at a Leica store totally wanting the 7x42 back, and after a few months of wondering if it would ever happen, found an excellent deal right here on the forum.

Like you, I also like the slimmer feel of the Ultravids, yet at the same time totally enjoy the hand-filling grip of the BN, and though the 7x42 HD+ is arguably my best binocular, the older, heavier 8x32 BN is among my absolute favorites.

If price is the main thing holding you back from the Ultravid, patience can often be your friend.

 

[NDhunter]

Thanks for sharing your experience, I have not yet tried either BN or UV. I was looking for 7x options and considered the BA/BN, ultimately going for the more svelte form factor of the UV. Somehow I thought the UV was the successor of the BN, which at the time of launch was not the case.

Of the used 7x42 UV options, a BR costs a lot less deep in the purse than either the HD or HD+.

Bonus: UV BR has the green armor option.

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

 

[MiddleRiver]

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

I recently setup a resolution target and compared 8x32SF, 8x42NV, 8xSFL's... and the 7x35Retros. The sharpness, FOV, and overall brightness blew me away. For hardcore birding (e.g. fast moving mixed flocks of flitty warblers), the focusing is just to slow for me - otherwise they'd be my EDC bins!

 

[Dennis Mau]

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Diffrent lens coating between BN

left is bn 7x42 with serial number starts at 11
right is 10x42 with 16

jackjack. What do you think of A Noctivid 8x42 compared to a Swarovski SLC 8x42?

 

[jackjack]

jackjack. What do you think of A Noctivid 8x42 compared to a Swarovski SLC 8x42?

I haven't seen slc 42mm
it's one of the rarest big 3 bino in South Korea.

only seen 10x56 and 15x56.
10x56 SLC is step over NV 10x42 in terms of central sharpness and CA.

not regarding the exrta resolution and brightness caused by additional objective lenses.

EL 8x32 8.5x42 and NL 8x32 8x42 is step over NV 8x42 in terms of size of sweet spot, central sharpness, CA, Distortion.

but NV excels them in stray light and ghosting.

 

[greekgeek]

That 7x42 BR that I had was green, but I just didn't bond with it at the time. Fast forward a few months and I found myself at a Leica store totally wanting the 7x42 back, and after a few months of wondering if it would ever happen, found an excellent deal right here on the forum.

Like you, I also like the slimmer feel of the Ultravids, yet at the same time totally enjoy the hand-filling grip of the BN, and though the 7x42 HD+ is arguably my best binocular, the older, heavier 8x32 BN is among my absolute favorites.

If price is the main thing holding you back from the Ultravid, patience can often be your friend.

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.

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

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.

I recently setup a resolution target and compared 8x32SF, 8x42NV, 8xSFL's... and the 7x35Retros. The sharpness, FOV, and overall brightness blew me away. For hardcore birding (e.g. fast moving mixed flocks of flitty warblers), the focusing is just to slow for me - otherwise they'd be my EDC bins!

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!

 

[CharleyBird]

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!

shootout premier 7x42s Leica Zeiss Nikon - greatestbinoculars.com

 

[Trinovid]

I did locate a used 7x42 UV BR, it should arrive in about a week...actually did pick up a 7x35 and I really like the views with it.
I guess the Trinovid Classic may be an improvement vs. the 7x42 UV BR, still I am looking forward to comparing them.

I've got the Leitz 7x35 alongside my 7x42 HD+ and thoroughly enjoy both, with the 7x35 having one of the most perfect in-hand characteristics.

 

[greekgeek]

shootout premier 7x42s Leica Zeiss Nikon - greatestbinoculars.com

Thanks! That is a very interesting comparative review, and I never heard of that particular website before (obsolete). Especially in the remarks of reduced color saturation due to high brightness in daylight. If accurate that explains what I see in my 8x32 Zeiss CHD on especially bright full days.

I've got the Leitz 7x35 alongside my 7x42 HD+ and thoroughly enjoy both, with the 7x35 having one of the most perfect in-hand characteristics.

Excellent, and here I was half anticipating that I might find them redundant. Looking forward to the UV s more than ever.