Optics4Birding.com: Leica Reviews

The following comments are the opinions of the writers. We're publishing them here with the permission of their authors, with minor edits for clarity or brevity. If you would like to submit a comment, send me an email.

Leica 8x42 Ultra Trinovids

I have recently purchased a pair of new binoculars. When shopping at a local retail store I compared Leica, Swarovski, B&L , and Nikon side by side. My good relationship with the owner allowed me to bring them into the field. (I have a hard time judging optical quality in the store.) It was a very tough decision. The first one to be ruled out was the Swarovski 8x SLC. They just didn't feel right in my hands. Also, the color and clarity was better in the others. The Nikon Venturers are a beautiful glass but not worth the extra few hundred bucks. The B&L 8x42 Elites are probably the best value of the bunch. They are bright and sharp with an awesome close focus of about 5 feet. The Elites were very comfortable to hold and had a sexy look. The rubber eyecups are the only downfall to this binocular. That's why I purchased the Leica 8x42 Ultra Trinovids. I prefer the pull out eyecups. They seem better in terms of quality and is a must for eyeglass wearers. I don't, but sometimes I wear sunglasses when it comes to hawk watching. I just can't tolerate rolling down rubber eyecups. The optical quality is a tossup between the B&L's and the Leica's. The diopter adjustment on the Leica's is the best. It is like having 2 focus knobs for left and right. Once it is set it stays set. They are waterproof, as are the others, and a built like a tank.

I think when you get to this level of quality, it is a matter of personal preference. Also a side note- If your pockets are deep check out the Swarovski 8.5x42 EL's. They are incredible. They came out just after I purchased my Leica's.

Rob Gallinoto, 1 May 2000

I found using the Leica 10x50 to be a transcendental experience. The view was so sharp and bright that my brain gave a little start of surprise. It was uncanny. The other top of the line binoculars were also sharp and bright, but didn't produce the same sensation. For a bit less than the Leica's $1,100, the $200 Kowa 8x45 was superb. I have tastes and preferences that made the Burris my choice, but for someone with other tastes the Kowa could easily be the best value in birding binocs. Forget the National Audubon Society-stamped Bushnell. They weren't even close to the Kowa in clarity and color.

Robert Lane, 21 September, 1998.

I recently researched purchasing a pair of top-of-the-line binoculars. I looked at many pages on the Worldwide Web and visited retail establishments where I could view various brands side-by-side. For my particular applications, I wanted 10 power binoculars. It came down to Leica 10 X 42 Ultras, Zeiss 10 X 40's, and Swarovski's 10 X 42. I compared each of these three brands side-by-side in the middle of the day and at dusk at a local store. I found the optical quality, depth of field and brightness to be comparable in all of them. However, despite the rave reviews that Zeiss gets, they were out of the running early for several reasons. First, for the amount of money involved, I wanted something that was absolutely waterproof, which Zeiss are not. Second, I did not like the rubber fold down eye cups because they appear to me to be the kind of thing that would eventually dry out, crack and break off. Both the Swarovskis and the Leicas had a mechanical pullout eye cup that looks as though it will last as long as the binoculars do. Third, the Zeiss binoculars just did not seem to be quite as heavy-duty as the other two, certainly they were not quite as heavy. I finally decided on the Leicas over the Swarovskis for several reasons. I ordered my binoculars from B & H Photo and Video and the price was comparable between the two with the Leicas running only forty dollars more, so price really was not an issue. (Incidentally, these prices were approximately two-thirds retail.) I like the way the Leica binoculars focused better than the Swarovskis. I also think the Leicas had slightly better color than the Swarovski, and the last factor was the incredible three-year Passport warranty offered by Leica which essentially is a no-fault replacement warranty. I was extremely impressed by B & H Photo's service and price, they were more than a hundred dollars less than the next best price I could find.

Jeff Graves, 30 December 1997

About 20 years ago I purchased the [Leitz] 7x35 model (armored). I did this after much research and setting a set of standards for myself. I wanted light weight, wide field of view, good optics, the ability to carry them in a coat pocket easily, armor. Not in that order, but each was important. I made a list of all the available good (I thought) models available at that time and compared the requirements. Many models excelled in one or more areas, but the Leitz had more of what I wanted when I totaled them all up. It was a good decission for me. They have performed the job I wanted. I have had a number (and still do) of lesser optics that I use for special occasions or just have in a glove compartment, but when I have a choice I always reach for the Leitz. My one dissapointment was with the eyecups. The fold down feature, like so many of the cheap one's, cracked and finally came apart at the fold. Since I wear eyeglass's it was not a big deal, but I was frustrated that nevertheless. I have used other's of various makes, and some were fantastic. Some were easier to focus or clearer (not much), but overall I would not trade. The ability to drop them in a side pocket (I hate to have them hanging around my neck when I don't need them), the light weight, and the excellant field of view make them just right for me.

Wayne Furrie, 12 December 1997

Editor's Note: Wild Leitz and Cambridge Instruments merged in 1990 to form Leica. The Leitz brand is no longer marketed.

Arriving at Cape May, money in hand for the touted zeis 7x42's; but after an hour of trying [I could not] see better then with my B&L 10x42 elites. I tried every thing they had for another hour. Sadly I said to Louise I'm very disapointed I wanted something especially good for warblers. Wait; she said and pulled out her personal binos out of a purse on the floor no case all dirty. Funny looking binos? I was shockedÿ at the clarity and depth of field, looked at the eye chart, wow! exactly the same magnification as my 10's! Looked out the window and was shocked again by how much depth was in focus! and how bright! Wow! I bought her last pair of Leicas 8x32, and to this day never even adjusted for my own eye sight. I thing I figured out why this seller of Zeis in Zeis Land was using Leicas.

(I still can't figure out why most of those birders down there all have German tank commander long tube 7 power Zeis)

Joe Worley, 23 July 1997