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New Retrovid 7x35 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter galazie1
- Start date
eitanaltman
Well-known member
The best 8x32 is definitely a 7x35. Unfortunately when I got to try the Retro recently it confirmed my worry that the eyecups would be a dealbreaker. I’m one who actually prefers chunkier small binos, so the slim profile isn’t an ergonomic plus for me either.
If Leica would just make a slimmed down 7x35 version of my beloved 7x42 UVHD, about 1/2 way in size between the 7x42 and 8x32 UV, I would be in heaven.
If Leica would just make a slimmed down 7x35 version of my beloved 7x42 UVHD, about 1/2 way in size between the 7x42 and 8x32 UV, I would be in heaven.
Today I went boating on the Mekong with the Retrovid 7x35. Walking to and from the river, i put it in the pocket of my shorts. The Retrovid fits my pocket well and easily. Can say that I hid it well. I don't think any modern 8x32 can do that.
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Looks like you're quite happy to see us!
Anyway... don't you think that the Ultravid HD+ 8x32 can easily fit your pocket as well as, or better than, the 7x35 Retro?
Mac308
Well-known member
If I wanted a "pocket" binocular, it wouldn't be either a 7x35 or 8x32, but something more like an 8x20...Looks like you're quite happy to see us!
Anyway... don't you think that the Ultravid HD+ 8x32 can easily fit your pocket as well as, or better than, the 7x35 Retro?
I also found that my sample is not as sharp as those i consider alpha roofs. For example, it is not as sharp as an EDG 7x42, EDG 8x32, old HG 8x32, Ultravid 8x32, and Noctivid 8x42
Oh yes I forgot the Ultravid 8x32, which should fit my pocket. I was thjnking of the chunky old HG 8x32 that I use mostLooks like you're quite happy to see us!
Anyway... don't you think that the Ultravid HD+ 8x32 can easily fit your pocket as well as, or better than, the 7x35 Retro?
I reported first issue with my Retrovid's focuser back in Feb this year. The situation deteriorated quickly in the last few days. As of this morning the focuser was in total free rotation, completely non-functioning. What a surprise with Leica quality (mechanics)
My friend recently bought a new Noctivid 8x42. He reported the focuser smoothness was uneven. And the Noctivid name badge on the side of a barrel started to peel off right out of the box.
So Leica finishing quality may have some consistent issue
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Thotmosis
Well-known member
I always wear shorts/trousers with cargo pockets when traveling. More space and less chance to lose items. They fit my Leica UV 8x32 perfectly. Nice picture of the Mekong river together with the Retrovid!
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Optical quality is still good in the Retrovid and great in the Noctivid though
MiddleRiver
Well-known member
I own new 8x42UVHD and 7x35Retro. I have compared them side-by-side many times and use them birding almost 50/50. I can tell NO difference in sharpness. I do think they might fall off a little sooner than the UV's (like most Leicas they certainly aren't anywhere near flat-field or sharp edge-to-edge) but it is not so much that it has EVER bothered me. Build quality is superb and externally at least, matched that of my old 7x35B's from mid 70's. For a while I owned the 8x40 version and I would say the same about that (sold only because i was funding some camera equip ;-).
The form factor, lack of waterproofing, slender eyecups, etc. may not suit others, but on optical terms, I can't see reason to fault them at least in comparison to other bins in their price-slot (and even higher).
Obviously others have different eyes...
Paultricounty
Well-known member
No doubt about it the retros punch above their weight class (price category). I agree 100% with middleriver , I have the 832UVHD+ and 735 retros and in the center it’s very difficult to see any optical difference in sharpness. The fall off in the retros is more and definitely not as good as the UVHD, but all the Leica’s (except Nocs) have that curved design inherent, that I think gives them a more immersive field, less artificial than binoculars with filed flatteners.
We don’t hear to many people talk about lack of build quality with Leica, in that department there second to none.
Id like to ad I also have the 742UVHD+ and half the people that look through both UVHD’s and the retros prefer the latter.
Paul
We don’t hear to many people talk about lack of build quality with Leica, in that department there second to none.
Id like to ad I also have the 742UVHD+ and half the people that look through both UVHD’s and the retros prefer the latter.
Paul
It was me who first said that Retrovid 7x35 is not as sharp as I expected. I think I have changed my mid since then. Atm I would say that it's the focus that lacks precision and it is more difficult to focus perfectly due to DoF. I have compared them with Nikon EDG 7x42 and while they are different, one was not really sharper or brighter than the other. I actually thought that Leica was brighter than the Nikon, probably because of colour balance.
My new question is for people who have compared the Retrovid 7x35 to Nikon EII 8x30. Have you noticed any differences in sharpness?
Last time I had the 8x30 EII in my hand I liked them but I wasn't that impressed. I think it's because I only checked them from the balcony looking at close distance objects and never took them outside. Recently I started to enjoy wider field binos for landscape observations and sometimes feel that the Retrovid is a bit too narrow for my liking. So I'm considering trying EII 8x30 for the third time All opinions welcome.
My new question is for people who have compared the Retrovid 7x35 to Nikon EII 8x30. Have you noticed any differences in sharpness?
Last time I had the 8x30 EII in my hand I liked them but I wasn't that impressed. I think it's because I only checked them from the balcony looking at close distance objects and never took them outside. Recently I started to enjoy wider field binos for landscape observations and sometimes feel that the Retrovid is a bit too narrow for my liking. So I'm considering trying EII 8x30 for the third time
All opinions welcome.
tenex
reality-based
takitam: I've had an EII for a few months now (don't use 8x much, wanted to try a wide-field one at ~1/6 the cost of NL) and it's very likeable indeed, a classic instrument with a beautiful view. But I have two problems: a rather slow focus ratio with considerable DoF leads to exactly the problem you're having with the Retrovid -- focus doesn't snap, I hunt for it when there's time. And while very sharp around the center, it starts to get visibly soft sooner than I'd like, around 2/3 of the field radius. I wouldn't choose the EII as my primary bin, but it will serve very well for occasional use (and is a vast improvement over the old Dialyt I hope to persuade my wife to part with).
Paultricounty
Well-known member
I have both the EII and the Leica 735 classic. I would start by saying that the Nikon, with its huge FOV does make an excellent landscape optic. With that being said I prefer the Leica in almost all instances where I don’t have a desire to specifically use an 8x. I find the optics a good step up in sharpness, color rendition, and resolution/detail, and rightly so for a binocular that is over twice the price of the Nikon. It has that Leica image quality that is hard to describe, but most people I hand them to are always impressed and really like the warm image. Like you the E2 optically just don’t overly impress me as much as the retros or even the NIkon SE’s.It was me who first said that Retrovid 7x35 is not as sharp as I expected. I think I have changed my mid since then. Atm I would say that it's the focus that lacks precision and it is more difficult to focus perfectly due to DoF. I have compared them with Nikon EDG 7x42 and while they are different, one was not really sharper or brighter than the other. I actually thought that Leica was brighter than the Nikon, probably because of colour balance.
My new question is for people who have compared the Retrovid 7x35 to Nikon EII 8x30. Have you noticed any differences in sharpness?
Last time I had the 8x30 EII in my hand I liked them but I wasn't that impressed. I think it's because I only checked them from the balcony looking at close distance objects and never took them outside. Recently I started to enjoy wider field binos for landscape observations and sometimes feel that the Retrovid is a bit too narrow for my liking. So I'm considering trying EII 8x30 for the third time
The focuser is unique on the classics, in that it’s very slow and takes a bit to get used to it. This could also be exactly what Leica wanted, to be more like the original design of the old Leitz these classics are fashioned on. Between the slow focus and DOF of the 7x do make for a different focus experience , there not called retros for no reason. You kind of dial them into focus and the whole seen close and far is in focus, it’s absolutely delightful.
Either one could be used as all around everyday binoculars, but in my opinion for me these are secondary optics that I love to use often (more for the retros optic quality) but not the ones I’m always grabbing for a day out observing. But the retros most of the time are in my bag.
Hope that helps.
@Mac308 Quite obviously, if pocket ability is the primary objective, neither of these two would be optimal. BUT, you missed my point, above.
You said: "The Retrovid (7x35) fits my pocket well and easily. Can say that I hid it well. I don't think any modern 8x32 can do that."
So just to clarify, you don't think that the Ultravid 8x32 can fit your pocket as easily as the Retrovid 7x35? In other words, the Retrovid 7x35 is, in your opinion, smaller and more easily pocketable than the Ultravid 8x32?
Without handling them both side by side, I would have thought that the UVHD 8x32 would "pocket", as your photos above demonstrate, at least as easily as the 7x35 Retrovid, if not more so.
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Paultricounty
Well-known member
Don,
Over all the Ultravids are a little more in girth but are shorter, if you could fit a retro in your pocket , you should be able to pocket the Leica’s. I can put them both in a spring jacket pocket.
Here’s a few photos I found in previous BF posts. I could take some better dimensional photos later on tonight when I have mine side-by-side.
Over all the Ultravids are a little more in girth but are shorter, if you could fit a retro in your pocket , you should be able to pocket the Leica’s. I can put them both in a spring jacket pocket.
Here’s a few photos I found in previous BF posts. I could take some better dimensional photos later on tonight when I have mine side-by-side.
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Thanks Paul... it sure looks like the UVHD 8x32 would fit as well in whatever pocket the 7x35 Retros happen to fit into.
I can pop the UVHD+ 8x32s into a pants "cargo" pocket, no problem, but I wouldn't bother with trying to do so with a regular pants pocket.
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