Working stiff's review of three 8X42's.... (2 Viewers)

[chill6x6]

Hello....

There is a myriad of choices where binoculars are concerned. More choices daily it seems. Some of the "choices" may even be repeat offenders. My desire is to hopefully assist SOMEONE looking at and researching binocular choices in the 8X42 arena.

It's been years since I've owned an 8X42 binocular. Years.. So to "see" what I was missing I decided to purchase one...or three. The initial goal of this purchase was to have some quality binoculars to leave in my vehicle. The ones I've been using just weren't up to snuff. I did some researching myself. $400 to $600 seemed to be a good price range to balance budget vs. quality. I've had good luck lately in this price range, especially with the Vortex Viper 8X32 HD. So with that in mind the first 8X42 I purchased was a Vortex Viper 8X42 HD. My next intention was to compare the $500 binocular(mid-priced?) to one from the upper tier. Naturally, I wanted a model I didn't all ready own in another magnification(10X42). I own one Leica, a Geovid 10X42. SPLENDID device. Probably the best optic purchase I've ever made. So I ended up getting the Leica Ultravid HD Plus 8X42. Lastly... I figured I might as well purchase another from the mid-priced group and later part with the one I liked the least. After much consideration I ended up with the Vanguard Endeavor ED II 8X42s.

The first to arrive were the Viper HD 8X42s. First impression...and this kinda hurt a little bit....cheap. I didn't get the same warm, fuzzy feeling I got with the 8X32s. Mainly it was the eye-cups. Their construction and adjustability reminded me of driving an old truck with "slack" in the steering. The left side detents...well they are not there so much. Neither side is precise in their adjustability or in their ability to stay put. In fact the whole binocular "looks" very Diamondbackish. Thankfully the internals are NOT from the Diamondback.

Next to arrive were Leica Ultravid HD Plus 8X42. Initial impression? Well, what am I SUPPOSED to say but WOW! But they were exactly what one would expect for the money. Comparing eyecups? Well these just simply set the bar for every other binocular.

Finally....the Endeavor ED II 8X42s arrive. Admittedly...these suffer by comparison. But since we got on the subject of eyecups.... Better than the Viper HD...but not much. Really....both the Viper HD and Endeavor HD II eyecups belong on $200 binoculars.

First impressions....The Leica Ultravid HD Plus wins by a landside....

 

[chill6x6]

The cast....

These binoculars have been with me every time I've been out over the past several weeks. Usually all three at once. One thing became immediately apparent....all three are at LEAST very good binoculars.

Let's first talk about a few items that AREN'T concerned with optics. First is the actual binocular CASE. IMO Leica and Vortex got it right. PLENTY of room in the case for binocular AND strap. Both have a plastic snap/closure. Simple and completely adequate. The Vanguard case is too small. Similar in design to the Swarovski EL but without as much room AND missing the second zipper.

All three binoculars have adequate objective/ocular covers. The Vanguard objective covers FEEL like a cheaper material is used but so far no complaints.

Size/weight. Let's face it...for 8X42s both the Vortex Viper HD and Leica Ultravid HD Plus are small binoculars:

Neither is much larger than the 8X32s I have. And even the Endeavor ED II is smaller than both the Swarovski EL SV 10X42 and Zeiss HT 10X42. These aren't large binoculars and both the Vortex and Leica could be classified as compact. If size/weight is an issue it would be hard to beat the Viper HD. At 23.5 oz with it's small stature, it feels light as a feather. The Leica is just as small but weighing in at 27 oz it feels like a chunk. The Vanguard is only slightly heavier at 27.5 oz. For comparison sake consider my SV 10X42 weighs 28.5 oz.

 

[perterra]

The Leica is a classy looking glass.

Thanks

 

[chill6x6]

Before doing any critical viewing, I took all three to Swan Creek management area on MANY occasions to get a feel for each binocular and get some initial optical impressions. Swan Creek is a wildlife management area not far from my house. It is also part of the Alabama Birding Trail. One of my favorite places.

Most trips involved watching the PLETHORA of indigo buntings and more than an occasional goldfinch. Of course many other species came along as well but nothing really like viewing the vividness of color of the IB and GF. Also there was a white flower that was in clusters....wish I know what it is called. Nevertheless it was excellent for resolution testing. Observation #1... We've all heard about Leica's color rendition.... Well, it's true. Whites looked white with all three binoculars...about equal. Yellow and blue looked equal too until the Leica was picked up. I don't think I've even seen an indigo bunting look so brilliant. Observation #2... The Vanguard Endeavor ED II is second only to my EL SV when it comes to a flat field. It's not edge to edge but it's pretty close. It's really unbelievably flat. It's a great view with excellent color. Observation #3... There is no doubt the Leica is the best in the center of the FOV. No doubt. There is also no doubt in good light that the Viper HD was crisper than the Vanguard in the center. Flowers, birds, tree bark, etc it didn't matter.

So.....
Color- Leica>>Vanguard slightly>Vortex
Flat FOV- Vanguard>>Leica slightly>Vortex
Center FOV- Leica>Vortex(good light)>Vanguard

 

[Rathaus]

Nice. Can you tell us a bit more about the construction and build quality of them...particularly the Leica? How dose it stack up, in your opinion, against the Swarovski SV (as a yard stick) in perceived physical quality of the bino...both in feel and upon close inspection?

Cheers

Edit: also, what are your feelings about using the 8x42s after quite a while with the 10x?

 

[chill6x6]

Diopter Adjustment:

This is one of the benefits of higher tier optics....better, easier, more precise diopter adjustment.

Both the Vortex and the Vanguard use the adjustment that is coaxial with the right barrel of the binocular. They both have varying degrees of success.

This seems to be the standard for diopter adjustment these days. MUCH better than the fine-threaded poro-prism adjustment of yore, I still feel there is some needed improvement. With this manner of adjustment the "adjustment" still needs to be coarser. The Vortex above still offers a pretty good adjustment AND a pretty definite "click" from "locked" to "adjustable."

This one needs work. Can you tell the lock ring is crooked? So when locking/unlocking one side of the lock ring moves more than the other side. ALSO...the movement from locked to un-locked is slight. Not as definitive as the lock ring on the Vortex. ALSO...I can't really tell were "zero" really is. Can you?

Not the best picture BUT....this is gold standard diopter adjustment. It is just so simple, easy, straight-forward, and well ADJUSTABLE it's just off the chain. Simply a JOY to use and get the perfect setting. If one is unable to get the correct adjustment, it's no fault of Leica's! Isn't that the way it's SUPPOSED to be?

Rear view of all three:

 

[Bwana1]

Great review, I just wish Leica would add some eye relief for the spectacle wearers of the world.

 

[chill6x6]

Miscellaneous....

FOV...
I didn't measure it. BUT....using fixed objects is was easy to tell that the Ultravid HD Plus had the largest FOV followed closely by the Endeavor ED II. During this exercise it was also easy to tell that the Viper HD had the least FOV of the three. This was later verified by looking at listed values.... I'd also like to note that at no point while in the field would I have ever noticed ANY difference in the FOV of these binoculars. So, IMO 42 ft difference at 1000 yds is inconsequential.

Leica- 389 ft @1000
Vanguard- 377 ft @1000
Vortex- 347 ft @1000


Close Focus.....(measured)

Leica Ultravid HD Plus- 9 ft 2 in
Vanguard Endeavor ED II- 5 ft 9 in
Vortex Viper HD- 5 ft 3.5 in


Focus from stop to stop.....

Vanguard- <1.25 turns
Leica- ~ 1.33 turns
Vortex- ~ 1.66 turns

IMO = no difference in the field.


EYEGLASSES

I wear glasses most of the time....but sometimes not while glassing. So I made it a point to use these binoculars both WITH and WITHOUT eyeglasses. For me at least...I had ZERO issues either way.

 

[chill6x6]

Some Optical observations.......

I've always used a Snellen Chart when comparing optics. You've all seen it. Basically it has eleven lines of letters decreasing in size from top to bottom which was line 11 being the smallest. I also use an illiterate eye chart very similar in design which is basically capital "E's" pointing in various directions.

This observation began daily at 630pm CDT and I did it for three evenings. The test was to see how far down the chart I could read with each binocular at 630, 700, 715, 730, 745, 800, 815, and 830. BTW....I ALSO added the Vortex Viper HD 8X32 AND Cabela's/Meopta 8X32 Euro HD to this test. Let me add that this observation isn't hocus pocus. One may either read the line or not. Let me tell you that as the sun sets....this is one telling observation and very challenging for an optical instrument!

ALL binoculars could read to line 11 thru 700pm. At 715 the 8X42 Viper HD was the first to drop to line 10. At 730 only the Leica and the Euro HD could still read line 11. At 745 only the Leica could still read line 11. And the observations continued as such.

I won't bore you with the rest of the details but there were several surprises...some not so much. Throughout this observation the Leica Ultravid HD Plus was supreme. It should have been and it was. At times giving amazing clarity and detail. I can't help but believe that the precision of the diopter adjustment helped. In all areas of this test the Vortex Viper HD was beat out by the Vanguard Endeavor ED II. In fact the Endeavor wasn't THAT far behind the Leica.

So what about the 8X32s? Would you believe the Cabela's Meopta Euro HD 8X32 (central ocular adjustment BTW) had the second best result?? Would you believe the Vortex Viper HD 8X32 had a better result than the 8X42 of the same binocular? I hope I didn't just start a 32mm binocular conspiracy!

So in low light there is no doubt in my mind:
Leica Ultravid 8X42>Vanguard Endeavor ED II 8X42 >>Vortex Viper HD 8X42

 

[chill6x6]

Where do we go from here....

Which goes in my truck?

Leica Ultravid HD Plus 8X42
I surprised myself during this little review. I EXPECTED the Leica to be overall superior. It was. I am really surprised at what a great pair of binoculars they really are! The eyecups are the best. The diopter adjustment is the best. The focus adjustment is the best. The size is the best. Probably a flawless execution of binocular construction. Optically though...it's not perfect. The ONE issue I have with this binocular is the absence of a flat FOV. It's really not that different from my HT 10X42 in that regard. With a flatter FOV I truly believe it could be the perfect birding binocular.


Vanguard Endeavor ED II 8X42
Really the optical surprise of this review. Made in China. It's a good binocular and honestly the second best binocular here. It does have some construction misgivings but it will probably be fine. Optically...it's probably beyond its $500 price range.


Vortex Viper HD 8X42
I was disappointed. I secretly kinda hoped and expected this to be a Cinderella story. I was pretty sure this would be the second best binocular here. It didn't happen. It's not as good as the other two here and it wasn't as good as the 8X32 of the same binocular. Still, it's a good binocular and I like it but I would not re-buy it.


Conclusion??

The Endeavor goes in the truck and the Ultravid goes around my neck!

Thanks for reading!

 

[chill6x6]

The Leica is a classy looking glass.

Thanks

It is and thank YOU!

Great review, I just wish Leica would add some eye relief for the spectacle wearers of the world.

You know... I had been putting off buying a Leica for that very reason. Leica seems to usually under estimate some of their measurements so I decided to give them a try. Worked great for me with and without my glasses... I do understand one's mileage may vary in this regard! And thanks!

Nice. Can you tell us a bit more about the construction and build quality of them...particularly the Leica? How dose it stack up, in your opinion, against the Swarovski SV (as a yard stick) in perceived physical quality of the bino...both in feel and upon close inspection?

Cheers

Edit: also, what are your feelings about using the 8x42s after quite a while with the 10x?

Yes I will. BTW.... I practically ALWAYS wished the binoculars were 10X42s! Seriously! :king:

 

[St. Elmo]

Thanks Chuck...
Mike

 

[typo]

Chuck,

Many thanks for the comparison. I own a Endeavour EDII and have tried the Leica and Vortex a few times and would arrive at the same ranking but for possibly different reasons.

The Vanguard, or at least my sample quite possibly has better resolution and effective resolution than the Leica, and I'd confidently say the Vortex, but I'd concede that it doesn't always seem that way in some light conditions. I'd give the Leica and maybe the Vortex too, the advantage on colour and ergonomics but the optical performance of the Vanguard comfortably claws back second place for me.

Interesting low light test.

David

 

[Rathaus]

The Leica just look so...good....so good. Beautiful.

 

[LanceSaintPaul]

Thanks for the Snellen Chart inspiration.

 

[chill6x6]

Chuck,

Many thanks for the comparison. I own a Endeavour EDII and have tried the Leica and Vortex a few times and would arrive at the same ranking but for possibly different reasons.

The Vanguard, or at least my sample quite possibly has better resolution and effective resolution than the Leica, and I'd confidently say the Vortex, but I'd concede that it doesn't always seem that way in some light conditions. I'd give the Leica and maybe the Vortex too, the advantage on colour and ergonomics but the optical performance of the Vanguard comfortably claws back second place for me.

Interesting low light test.

David

One thing the Vortex DOES have in it's favor...weight and size.

Another thing that occurred to me... I'm thinking some of these Chinese/even Japanese manufactured Vortex MAY not be consistent in production lot to lot. I don't see another other reason a 8X32 Viper HD could outperform a 8X42 Viper HD....

 

[justabirdwatcher]

Interesting you would first spend time on the eyecups. I have found this to be of particular importance to me. No matter how good the optics are, if the eyecups don't fit the eye relief, or are too large diameter, or too flimsy or don't lock like they should, I am not going to like those binoculars.

Some of the best eyecups I've ever seen were on a pair of $200 binoculars - the Alpen Apex. They were perfect diameter and LOCKED in place at full extension. It was great. My Nikons are pretty darn good too. I've had some supposedly "world class" glass that suffered from just crappy eyecups, and those bin's were destined for the chopping block straight away.

 

[chill6x6]

Interesting you would first spend time on the eyecups. I have found this to be of particular importance to me. No matter how good the optics are, if the eyecups don't fit the eye relief, or are too large diameter, or too flimsy or don't lock like they should, I am not going to like those binoculars.

Some of the best eyecups I've ever seen were on a pair of $200 binoculars - the Alpen Apex. They were perfect diameter and LOCKED in place at full extension. It was great. My Nikons are pretty darn good too. I've had some supposedly "world class" glass that suffered from just crappy eyecups, and those bin's were destined for the chopping block straight away.

Yeah you are right. You don't know how important eyecups ARE until you come up against some that are subpar. OR you see how the SHOULD be! Leica's are the ones to beat. The worst eyecups paired with the best glass award probably goes to the Cabela"s Euro HD 8X32 I have. SUPER optics....small eyecups.

 

[iveljay]

I have the opposite problem, due to a low brow line, my eyes are beautifully protected against attacks by fellow neanderthals, but larger eyecups are a problem for me - I love the smaller ones on the leather Habichts. When Minox brought out the MIG version of their HG range, they changed the eyecup, presumeably to house the wider eyepieces and made them more difficult for me to use compared to the MIJ ones. Another good reason for trying before buying.

 

[justabirdwatcher]

I'm in the same boat. I'm 6'4" but I much prefer small eye cups. Even the tiny eye cups on my compacts suit me pretty well. The big eyecups on the Luepold's I used to own were unusable to me.