Noctivid 10x42 Olive Green Edition (1 Viewer)

[thisdudeisgood]

Also....

I've recently been made aware of this new Swarovski Alpha...seems to be very popular (and I recently got a pay rise.....and a new richer wife! hmmmmm. Maybe another blow by blow comparison with the Leica is on the Horizon in 2023 HA HA!

God Bless

 

[Paultricounty]

Also....

I've recently been made aware of this new Swarovski Alpha...seems to be very popular (and I recently got a pay rise.....and a new richer wife! hmmmmm. Maybe another blow by blow comparison with the Leica is on the Horizon in 2023 HA HA!

God Bless

What new Swarovski alphas ? 😲

 

[thisdudeisgood]

Aye...those wans

 

[Paultricounty]

Aye...those wans

I have no idea what you just said 😵‍💫

 

[jkgrooms]

Greetings

Thought I'd advise the forum that I've just taken delivery of a brand new pair of these today. Truly dighted with the quality design and performance (after a back garden once over). The date on the box of this unit is 04/07/2021.

However I was rather surprised and a little bit annoyed that they say made in Portugal on them an not made in Germany. I thought the flagship Noctivid was made in Germany and had no prior information to the contrary. Thus must be a very recent development. All the marketing I've seen still says the Noctivid is made in Germany.

I'm posting this just to inform other forum users to be prepared for a possible 'made in Portugal' label on your new premium 'German' optics.

As I say, I had no prior knowledge these (at least the 10x42 Olive edition) are now being made in Portugal. Everyone wants and expects the 'made in Germany' label right?

I'm thinking of returning them and next time specifying I want a made in Germany unit. They are marketed as being so and I assumed they would be and as they are not I feel short changed somehow and just paid £1800 for a premium 'German' optic.

Does anyone know that the Noctivid, at least some of them, are made in Portugal? Is there anything I should know about these units Vs German made? And am I being foolish by considering returning them. They seem perfect in all other regards but this issue is irritating me. Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers

Two important points 1) While I am sure the quality in Portugal is on par with Germany, you are paying German Made prices. In other words, Leica is saving money producing in Portugal (or why move) but not passing savings to customers. 2) All of Leica Noctivid marketing collateral (web site) still purport made in Germany - even in the pictures. Which brings up an an ethics concern as to why they are not advertising the truth about the origin of these binoculars. That alone is enough for me to stay away from the brand. I hope you returned these as I did. I went with the NL Pures and haven't looked back.

 

[tenex]

Two important points 1) While I am sure the quality in Portugal is on par with Germany, you are paying German Made prices. In other words, Leica is saving money producing in Portugal (or why move) but not passing savings to customers. 2) All of Leica Noctivid marketing collateral (web site) still purport made in Germany - even in the pictures. Which brings up an an ethics concern as to why they are not advertising the truth about the origin of these binoculars. That alone is enough for me to stay away from the brand. I hope you returned these as I did. I went with the NL Pures and haven't looked back.

I'm sure everyone in the Famalicão plant is required to speak German, and to affirm that they're thinking in German.

(oh please let's not get into this again)

Seriously though: my Leicaflex SL2 must have been the first to be largely manufactured in Portugal (1974), and they still lost money selling it, hoping to make their profit on lenses. And it still looks great and works perfectly today. What it really boils down to is, do you want Leicas to continue being made or not?

 

[Paultricounty]

Two important points 1) While I am sure the quality in Portugal is on par with Germany, you are paying German Made prices. In other words, Leica is saving money producing in Portugal (or why move) but not passing savings to customers. 2) All of Leica Noctivid marketing collateral (web site) still purport made in Germany - even in the pictures. Which brings up an an ethics concern as to why they are not advertising the truth about the origin of these binoculars. That alone is enough for me to stay away from the brand. I hope you returned these as I did. I went with the NL Pures and haven't looked back.

Leica actually started production in Portugal for all their binoculars a few years ago. The move was so Leica didn’t have to raise the price after tariffs imposed on Germany. There have been numerous tests (one by my group) with multiple random Leica binoculars made from each country , and there was absolutely no discernible optical, mechanical or material difference. Although one German specimen did have a slightly heavier focuser.

Although I do understand wanting to have, what some believe is the MIG bling appeal , it really has no effect on the quality. I had that same concern when I received my first pair of Ultravids, and that’s what prompted my research and testing afterward.

As far as the advertising I’m not really seeing in most reputable vendors that it says made in Germany, it mentions that it’s a German company. As far as the pictures on the dealers websites those are most likely generic pictures from years ago when they first came out.

Anyway you can never go wrong with the NL, amazing glass, but it’s not a Leica😜

Paul

 

[Scott98]

FWIW, I'm happy that they're still being made within an EU country, with all the pollution and fair labor laws and civil rights that go along with that.