Compact but powerful binoculars
Written: Aug 14 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Superlative optics, build quality, lifetime warranty, very light and compact, eye relief
Cons: Price, no case supplied (current version has a case, however)
The Bottom Line: These excellent binoculars offer uncompromising performance in a pocketable package, if you can afford them.
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| majid's Full Review: Leica Trinovid BC (8x20) Binocular |
I bought these binoculars because I wanted a pair that was small enough to be carried everywhere in a coat pocket. Leica is one of the top 2-3 brands for binoculars, the other being Zeiss, and I already have a Leica camera, so I decided to go with them for binoculars as well (Zeiss does not have a compact model like this).
I had a pair of Canon 7x17 roof prism binoculars (very compact, but prone to blackout and not very comfortable to use), a pair of Canon 10x30 Image Stabilized binoculars (very good, specially for stargazing, but too heavy and bulky), and a pair of Nikon 10x25 on long-term loan from my father (also excellent, but slightly too large to be taken everywhere). I cannot bear to use the Canon 7x17 any more, having been spoiled by the Leicas, and gave them away.
First of all, these binoculars are extremely compact, barely larger than the Canon 7x17. The two barrels are held by a bridge and can be folded together for travel, and unfolded in an instant. The build quality is excellent, to Leica's usual standard (only my Nikons came close), and they are a pleasure to hold. The slightly textured body covering allows for a good grip. A handy neck strap is supplied.
The image quality is truly excellent, with a sharp, flat field without any chromatic aberrations or distortion on the edges. The image is also surprisingly bright for such diminutive lenses, with excellent contrast, probably thanks to the quality of coatings used. Many compact binoculars suffer from blackout if your eye is not positioned exactly right. Not so with these Leicas, which are extremely comfortable for extended viewing. Leica has an ingenious eyecup mechanism which allows eyeglasses or sunglasses wearers to use these binoculars by just collapsing them (they snap in with a firm click).
Focusing is done internally (the barrel length does not change during focusing), which allows the binoculars to be sealed with nitrogen against dust and humidity, a big plus. The focusing ring is very smooth.
If you buy them in the USA, as I did, Leica offers a lifetime warranty under their Passport program (as opposed to their normal warranty period of "only" 30 years...). No other manufacturer that I know of has such an extensive plan. This helps mitigate the rather steep price (they cost more than my Canon 10x30 IS)..
When I bought mine, no case was supplied, which seems a little bit on the cheap side for such expensive optics, but apparently the current model ships with pouch.
There is another model, the 10x25 BC which is barely larger, but I would not recommend it as in my opinion 8x magnification is the reasonable maximum for handheld binoculars without image stabilization. The 8x20 model is available in all sorts of variants, with leather trim or rubber armoring, and even a special edition that is almost jewelry. I have the plain black version with anodized finish, which is the most discreet. Another option you could consider, if size is a key concern, is a Nikon High Grade 7x15 monocular. I prefer binocular vision myself.
In conclusion, I would say these are ideal binoculars for concert or theater use, for tourists, hikers and casual birdwatchers. Astronomers will certainly want higher apertures and for dedicated birdwatching trips, a pair of larger binoculars will probably give a wider field and tracking capabilities.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
majid
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Member: Fazal Majid
Location: San Francisco
Reviews written: 52
Trusted by: 5 members
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I'm the CTO of an Internet startup
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