Brightness • The brightness of a binocular is important to birders, especially if they like to go owling or want to watch woodcocks displaying at dawn. Furthermore, the black alteration of Leica models seems more elegant than the obsidian shade of Zeiss varieties that come off as not very good. These two lenses make a strong case for the best Leica lenses ever made and they are arguably the standout pair among the production line. All its binoculars are made in Austria. The only difference is that the "HD" part of the name on the left barrel is red instead of white. Many binoculars have hollows or ridges on the barrels to help locate your hands. So, one might ask, how important is sharpness at the edges, anyway? The chrome and mounts detach too easily hence this lens tends to loosen up extremely quickly which poses longevity issues. The Victory SF binocular also carries a USA and Canada, non-transferable, 5-year "No Fault Policy" that covers damage during normal and intended use, provided the binocular is registered within 60 days of purchase. Consequently, the latter is the go-to variety in telephoto and macro lenses and basically any other case that involves a shallow depth of field. We did not see the rolling-ball effect when we panned with the Victory SF. The sharpness around corners and edges definitely stands out as really good and the wide field of depth is also just as nice. Also, 1/3 stops allow a finer transition of exposure compensation in comparison. The Leica took 2/3 of a turn to cover this range. On the outer surfaces of the lenses, Leica have added a hydrophobic coating to the 10x42 Ultravid HD Binocular (and all other HD models) that repels both water and dirt. This site is not responsible for any damage that the information on this site may cause to your system. Optics - Eyepieces The eye lenses are moderately large, but not the glass dinner plates you get with the Noctivids (Zeiss SFs and Swarovski’s ELs too) and they are flat, not heavily dished like the ELs’. The Leica is the most compact, at only 5.63 inches long and 4.75 inches wide, which is near the size of many 32mm binoculars. Swarovski • (Middle photo, below) Its shallow thumb indents allow more range for where you grasp the binoculars. You can locate your hands wherever you want. They all have light transmission specifications well over 90%, and it would take expensive scientific instruments to objectively detect any difference this small. Some birders have noted that field flattening technology can create distortion when you pan the binocular. Light transmission, contrast, and resolution • In the HD Plus line, Leica uses a new kind of Schott glass, which offers an enhanced ability to transmit light in the blue-violet end of the spectrum. This ability is especially important at dawn and dusk. This is what one would expect, considering they all have special glass and the most advanced coatings. See Michael and Diane's comparison of the new and original SFs. Zeiss Victory SF Warranty • All Zeiss binoculars purchased from authorized US dealers carry a transferable, limited lifetime warranty against manufacturer's defects. Both Zeiss and Leica binoculars are at the same level, have similar features, and are mid-priced which might make the decision difficult for you. Both the 10×42 HD binoculars of Leica Trinovid and Zeiss Conquest offer amazing image clarity and ease of use. They suggest a placement but don't force it. The focus wheel on Zeiss is a little smoother than Leica, though I don't really find fault with the Leica focus, which has supposedly been improved on the HD model. The new glass enhances these frequencies and allows the viewer to make out more detail in dim light. These two Zeiss lenses are among the elite in their category and if you are unsure of which Zeiss lens would cut it for you, then you are sure to find what you’re looking for within this pair of worthy contenders for the number one spot. 2Bridges Productions Copyright © 2017. On the most important features, resolution and brightness, all of the Titans are equal. It adds realism. However, to get two fingers on the focus knob, they have to be at a slight angle. v) Auxiliary features and general build quality. The last column in the chart shows a calculated overall score, which takes into account all the other scores. The Zeiss's setting is also easy to see, but not quite so easy as the Leica's. It utilized fluoride-containing HD glass in lenses, which provided improvements in color fidelity and freedom from chromatic aberration. Although we could not actually resolve measurably finer detail, the subjective impression of sharpness seemed enhanced. The combination provides an exceptional experience of immersion in the image that works even if you wear glasses. Which are the BEST binoculars? When the sun is rising or setting, light travels through more atmosphere, and much of the blue-violet light gets filtered out. Leica • (Left photo, below) With your thumbs below the ridges, your index finger falls comfortably, straight across, on the focus knob. Test period: starting 11-11-2015 Serial Nr: 1634973 Origin of sample: Leica Germany demo pool 2-7-2018: I own a sample since spring. Leica Ultravid HD Plus Warranty • Leica includes a lifetime warranty against manufacturer's defects. Leica Ultravid 8x32 HD Plus review. Experts in vision say that the unaided human eye is not a reliable instrument for measuring small differences in brightness, because the brain is always involved in seeing, interpreting what we see. German manufacturer Leica rarely misses the mark with their lenses which forms the subject of today’s discussion i.e. As a result, the focus ring of Zeiss tends to stiffen a bit during the colder days of the year as the lubricant easily freezes; problems unheard of with Leica lenses where the lubricant is of top-notch quality and will last you a good couple of years without any difficulties. Discussion in 'Leica and Rangefinders' started by jim_jeblee, Dec 21, 2006. It does, however, have a numbered scale, making it easy to remember the setting.