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Next Option - Leica HD 10X50

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ahiaring View Drop Down
Optics Apprentice
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    Posted: August/15/2013 at 17:41
Looking for the next best option to a Swaro SV as far as image quality, pop, brightness, edge sharpness. Have an opportunity at the above Leica Bino for a very good price. Are the two close?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/16/2013 at 12:24
Yes, in the center of the FOV, they are comparable in terms of image quality, yet the view is "different."

Leica HD has the traditional pincushion distortion present in most binos, even though it does have a pretty large "sweet spot." The pincushion distortion isn't a "design flaw," it's an intentional design choice most binocular manufacturers use to prevent the perception of the "rolling ball" effect when panning.

The SV has a flat field with no distortion and no soft field edge, as it was designed to have. In static viewing, it's image is basically without peer in terms of edge to edge sharpness. In this respect, the SV is in a class of its own. However, there's always a tradeoff, and in this case, the tradeoff is that you'll have the aforementioned "rolling ball" effect when panning. This bothers some people, while others aren't bothered by it at all.

The Leica HD has perhaps a bit higher contrast, while the SV has a much wider "sweet spot." Again, the SV will have much better "edge sharpness" by design owing to its use of field flattener lenses and resulting lack of linear distortion. The SV is said to have a bit better overall light transmission %, which may or may not result in marginally better low light performance, depending on how your eyes mesh with each bino's signature view. The view is "different" between the two, but which is "better" is a subjective thing only your eyes can determine.

All the "alpha" class binos are very good and basically comparable to each other.

What is really astonishing these days is how good the next tier (upper mid-level) binos in the $1000 price range have become. Examples include Meopta Meostar HD, Vortex Razor HD, Kowa Genesis, etc. I'd venture to say most people can't tell much, if any difference in image quality between this class of binos and the very best, uber expensive alpha class.
Ted


Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote timberbuck Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/16/2013 at 23:37
If you allready own a 10x42 swarovision (sounds like you do) the next step up optically be a 10x50 swarovision or perhaps your eyes would like the Zeiss Victory HT 10x42 better than the 42mm swarovision, some like the view through the SLC HD better than the swarovision also.
 
The 10x50 Leica Ultravid HD is a sweet glass and the 50mm will increase brightness/exit pupil over the 42mm but IMO the Ultravid HD lags behind the top Swarovski and Zeiss binoculars in CA control and brightness.
 
If you own a 10x42 swarovision you are not gaining much if anything with the 10x50 ultravid hd.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ahiaring Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/19/2013 at 11:13

Let Me clarify...I have been playing the binocular game of small upgrades and am done with that. I thought I was settled when I got a Steiner Peregrine XP, but never could get a good comfortable view with the extreme eye relief it offers. I sold those and have a $1400.00 budget for new pair.

 
I looked through a pair of SV locally and loved them, just cant afford them. So when I found a deal on the Leica's HD 10X50, that's why I started asking.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JGRaider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/19/2013 at 14:49
I personally wouldn't own a used Leica (no warranty).  I'd be looking at the Conquest HD, Meopta HD, used SLCneu, or a demo/used Zeiss FL T.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/19/2013 at 15:21
You're starting to sound like Eremicus with his Swaro fogging issues.................LOL
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/19/2013 at 16:39
Leica Ultravid HD 10x50 is a superb binocular and in terms of image quality you would be hard pressed to do better.

Had I been looking at a 10x50, it would be at or near the top of my list.

ILya
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote saltspray Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/19/2013 at 17:32
I tried one briefly and I really liked the ergos and brightness of it. I ended up going with an SLC HD though, as it had the best view to my eyes. I actually prefer it over the SV.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/19/2013 at 19:36
Originally posted by saltspray saltspray wrote:

I tried one briefly and I really liked the ergos and brightness of it. I ended up going with an SLC HD though, as it had the best view to my eyes. I actually prefer it over the SV.
 
 
 
 
 
 
.
I felt the same way after looking through both.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JGRaider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/19/2013 at 19:53
Originally posted by Roy Finn Roy Finn wrote:

You're starting to sound like Eremicus with his Swaro fogging issues.................LOL


Big Smile  Daaaaang....that's the last time you'll hear me say that.  THAT got my attention!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/19/2013 at 19:54
I also prefer SLC HD to SV.

Between SLC/SLC HD and Ultravid/Ultravid HD, it comes down to configurations.  
I think that the 8x42 SLC HD is stunning.
With 32mm objective binos, I think Ultravid HD is the best.

As far as higher magnifications go, it is not really head to head since SLC HD has a 56mm objective, but those seem to a bit too large for my hands.

10x50 ultravid HD is probably the best 10x bino I have seen to date.

ILya


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