Rich N
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/22/04
Posts: 5311
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area, Calif...
|
|
Have any of you had a chance to have a look through the Leica Ultravid 10x50 HD? Any tests out there?
They seem to have a pretty wide field and good eye relief.
Thanks,
Rich
|
Vincent33
member
Reged: 09/18/07
Posts: 95
|
|
Quote:
They seem to have a pretty wide field and good eye relief.
For a price that would let you buy 40 other binoculars, if they don't offer HIGH resolution HIGH contrast AFOV corrected to the VERY EDGE and, furthermore, they DON'T make coffee ... they are rubbish.
|
Denis
sage
Reged: 12/24/05
Posts: 225
Loc: Rennes, France
|
|
I don't know what exact type was his 10x50 leica, but a owner of these has made some tries and comparisons on resolution and contrast with my canon 10x42 IS canon and he concluded the canon were better without any doubt even whithout using the IS.
And if I don't see much differences between the two, there was undoubtedly a slightly better contrast in the canon
He sold the leica and bought canon 10x42 after this experience.
--------------------
Canon 10x42 IS binoculars.
Meade sc 4" on homemade fork equatorial mount.
homemade 10" an 14" dobsonian
Nikon photogear.
|
charen
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 05/28/05
Posts: 786
Loc: New Zealand
|
|
Hi
The birding forum has some reviews / comments on them.
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tvwg.nl%2Ftestrapporten%2Fkijkers%2Fleica_ultravid-hd.htm&hl=en&ie=UTF8&sl=nl&tl=en
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=1236875
http://www.birdforum.net/forumdisplay.php?f=444
Hopefully the links work. The first one is a translation.
Chris
--------------------
35 binos.
80mm Cat.
WO66ED
SV NH 80mm / EQ3
Meade 8in.LX90
Skywatcher Equinox ED120 / Goto HEQ5.
|
Joe Ogiba
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/14/02
Posts: 3358
Loc: NJ USA
|
|
I am sure I could see more detail handheld in my Canon 10x42L's. BTW the new new Swarovski 10x42 EL's cost $3,377 so they might be a good buy compared to them since they cost alot less. 
--------------------
Pentax PF-80ED
Meade 102ED APO
Orion EON 72
120ST
Apex 127
C6 XLT
CR150
C9.25
XT10
Zeiss 7x42 FL
Canon 10x42L IS WP
15x50 IS
12x36 IS II
Garrett Optical 28x110 HD-WP Signature Series
Oberwerk BT-80 45
Apogee RA-88-SA
Denk II Power x Switch binoviewer w/13mm Ethos, 20mm Pentax XW's, 20mm Widescan III's.
|
Rich N
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/22/04
Posts: 5311
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area, Calif...
|
|
Thanks very much guys! Great links, Chris!
Last night I found that the eye relief on the Ultravid HD 10x50 isn 17mm but 15mm (listed on the Leica website).
All this has me leaning toward the Zeiss 10x56 T FL. It has the same eye relief as my 10x42 FL and more aperture. The Ultravid isn't so light I'd want to hang it around my neck, so why not go a bit more in weight with the Zeiss.
Thanks very much,
Rich
|
Paul G
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/08/03
Posts: 1765
Loc: Freedonia
|
|
I have the 7x42 FL's, nice binos but some loss of sharpness off-axis. Not sure if it's isolated to the 7x but it would be nice to side by side your choices at a local store.
--------------------
Gus
|
Rich N
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/22/04
Posts: 5311
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area, Calif...
|
|
Hi Gus,
Yes, the edges are a little soft but they are birding binoculars. When looking at extended objects (leaves, bushes, etc.) the distortion isn't very noticable.
I think I know a store that will have the Leica. I can bring my Zeiss along for a comparison. But, at this point if I but a larger 10x I'll likely go for the Zeiss 10x56 T FL. The problem is the 10x42 FL performs so well I'm not sure I'd see much of a difference with the 10x56.
Rich
|
John F
sage
Reged: 02/16/04
Posts: 308
Loc: Washington State
|
|
Rich,
Compared to the price of the new Leica 10x50 HDs the Zeiss 10x56 does look attractive. However,the 10x50 HDs are a little smaller and considerably lighter. So from a hand hold-ability standpoint (and that's quite important in a 10x binocular) I think the Leica HD's have an advantage.
I've never compared the new HD models to any other binoculars but I have compared the 10x50 Ultravids to a pair of Swarovski 10x50 SLs and while the latter were a little sharper out towards the edge of the field (and the Leica Ultravids were not bad), in every other respect I'd preferred the Leica 10x50 to it.
If weight and ergonomics are not major concerns then the Fujinon 10x50 FMT SX model is a real bargain and its optical performance puts it right up there with the very best of the European models.
John Finnan
--------------------
Leica 7x42 Ultravid
Nikon 7x50 Prostar
Swarovski 8.5x42 EL
Nikon 10x70 Astroluxe
Leica 12x50 Ultravid
Zeiss 15x60 B/GAT
Takahashi 22x60 Astronomer
NP-127 w/Bino Vue
|
ronharper
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/14/06
Posts: 1005
|
|
Rich,
By day, like in the store, you probably won't see a difference between the brightness of a 10x42, which your closed down eye already cannot fully use, and 10xBigger. Near dark, or for pushing the limits of deep sky observing, the 78% light increase with the big Zeiss would be appreciated.
But, although aperture matters, magnification rules. This is personal, of course, but I feel that there is something kind of unexciting about having two binos with the same magnification, especially of the same series. Ok, maybe a 10x25mm compact and a honking 10x56mm would be interesting. But my collection is so sparse that if I had a 10x42, that would be plenty enough 10x for me, and for the next step I'd be after a 12x at least.
Finally, a kind word about Leica. This brand is highly revered among hunters and birdwatchers, who demand not only excellent optics, excellent in quite different ways from astronmers, but also easy usability and extreme reliability. Astronomers are correct is thinking them overpriced and unnecessarily elegant for starwatching. But, based on the quality of my two generations ago 8x42 Trinovid, I would have no hesitation getting the 10x50 HD if I wanted to watch birds with that size binocular, and had the money.
Ron
|
charen
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 05/28/05
Posts: 786
Loc: New Zealand
|
|
Yes the Leicas are desirable binos. I have the original Leica Trinovid 10x42 BA roofs with phase coatings. They are very well made. The coatings are excellent. The image is bright. There are absolutely minimal distortions. I see no obvious false color. They are a reasonably solid 890gms.
The other ‘sleeper’ binos are the ‘Minoxs’ which is a subsidiary of Leica.
The higher spec versions are considered equal to the ‘big three’ - Zeiss, Leica and Swarovski.
I have the BD 10X58 BR ED binos. I have had them about 2 months. These are my favorite hand held bino. The 3D effect, color fidelity, clarity of image and sharpness is very impressive. The Afov is a generous 62 degrees. CA is zero. They weight a solid 1490 gms.
There is a 15x58 ED version but the 10x58 ED versions are truly an effective hand help astro bino.
Both these binos were / are in excess of US$1000 - are they worth it – yes.
Minox site below.
http://www.minox.com/index.php?id=138&L=1
--------------------
35 binos.
80mm Cat.
WO66ED
SV NH 80mm / EQ3
Meade 8in.LX90
Skywatcher Equinox ED120 / Goto HEQ5.
|
RichD
sage
Reged: 11/08/07
Posts: 202
Loc: Derbyshire, UK
|
|
I didn't realise Minox were a subsidiary of Leica - Thanks for that info.
They are a highly rated brand in the UK.
--------------------
Clear skies
Rich
|
Paul G
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/08/03
Posts: 1765
Loc: Freedonia
|
|
Quote:
I didn't realise Minox were a subsidiary of Leica -
They were at one time but have been completely separate for over three years, functionally separate for seven years. They functionally separated when General manager Thorsten Kortemeier took over when he acquired 51 percent of the MINOX partnership capital in 2001, leaving Leica with 49%. They became fully independent of Leica in early 2005 when Leica was financially strapped, so no relationship whatsoever since then.
--------------------
Gus
|
Rich N
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/22/04
Posts: 5311
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area, Calif...
|
|
Quote:
Rich,
Compared to the price of the new Leica 10x50 HDs the Zeiss 10x56 does look attractive. However,the 10x50 HDs are a little smaller and considerably lighter. So from a hand hold-ability standpoint (and that's quite important in a 10x binocular) I think the Leica HD's have an advantage.
I've never compared the new HD models to any other binoculars but I have compared the 10x50 Ultravids to a pair of Swarovski 10x50 SLs and while the latter were a little sharper out towards the edge of the field (and the Leica Ultravids were not bad), in every other respect I'd preferred the Leica 10x50 to it.
If weight and ergonomics are not major concerns then the Fujinon 10x50 FMT SX model is a real bargain and its optical performance puts it right up there with the very best of the European models.
John Finnan
Hi John,
Thanks! The Fujinon 10x50 FMT-SX sounds interesting. I wonder if anyone has done a side by side with a Zeiss 10x56 FL?
The 50mm Leicas are heavy enough I would use a bino harness and if I'm going to use a harness I may as well go with the heavier Zeiss 10x56 FL.
Rich
|
Rich N
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/22/04
Posts: 5311
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area, Calif...
|
|
Quote:
Rich,
By day, like in the store, you probably won't see a difference between the brightness of a 10x42, which your closed down eye already cannot fully use, and 10xBigger. Near dark, or for pushing the limits of deep sky observing, the 78% light increase with the big Zeiss would be appreciated.
But, although aperture matters, magnification rules. This is personal, of course, but I feel that there is something kind of unexciting about having two binos with the same magnification, especially of the same series. Ok, maybe a 10x25mm compact and a honking 10x56mm would be interesting. But my collection is so sparse that if I had a 10x42, that would be plenty enough 10x for me, and for the next step I'd be after a 12x at least.
Finally, a kind word about Leica. This brand is highly revered among hunters and birdwatchers, who demand not only excellent optics, excellent in quite different ways from astronmers, but also easy usability and extreme reliability. Astronomers are correct is thinking them overpriced and unnecessarily elegant for starwatching. But, based on the quality of my two generations ago 8x42 Trinovid, I would have no hesitation getting the 10x50 HD if I wanted to watch birds with that size binocular, and had the money.
Ron
Thanks, Ron! I have a Leica Trinovid 12x50 BA. It's one of my favorite astro binoculars. I've had the urge to get a high end 10x50 or 10x56.
Rich
|
ronharper
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/14/06
Posts: 1005
|
|
Rich,
You are way ahead of me, plus you have "the urge". I hereby back off! Whatever you get, please tell us something about it after you try it out.
Ron
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
