So what would people like to see in the next Leica dream Binocular?
My own preferences:
NO intrusive thumbs horns/rests such as are found on the current Ultravid HD+ 42 and 50 series - this IS a deal breaker. I want to choose where to put my thumbs if I've spent over £1500 on a pair of binoculars. Passive thumb indents are OK-ish but I'd rather no thumb features at all.
Top optical performance obviously.
No novelty strap fitting gadgets such as can be found on the current Swarovski EL. Strap design novelties, if they are good, should be found built into the strap itself, not forced on the binocular body itself. I want to choose my own strap and want options not proprietary systems. This is a deal breaker and puts me right off the current Swarovski models.
Build quality is more important to me than striving to be lightweight. The Trinovid BA/BN were fine by me in terms of weight.
Proper rain guard made of intelligently selected rubber compound, not like the Ultravid rain guard, which, although it looks good, is impractical in terms of material selection. The Trinovid BA/BN rainguard was perfect.
Pop-up eyecups which have a range of positions and are removable for cleaning.
Tethered objective caps are good. I like the Ultravid caps.
No novelty cases, just a nice quality nappa leather or cordura case is fine.
Maybe offer a choice of rubber armour colour - black and a true military green, not the garish Ultravid BR green which I didn't like.
Continue the combi focus/diopter knob.
Open bridge is all the rage now, with Zeiss joining Swarovski, but I'd rather see a bit of originality by perhaps staying with the more traditional design, even taking some design cues from the original rubber armoured Leitz Trinovids.
What would you like to see in the next Leica dream binoculars?