Hello Optics Trade: many thanks indeed for reviewing this amazing pocket binocular. I cannot agree more with your assessment of this rugged and optically excellent instrument. Keep those reviews coming! Neil.
@@OpticsTradeEU i asked a questions on your website (as you told me to do when i aked it before on youtube) - and noone answered to me... Answer to me please
From myself as owner and user of Leica UV BR Aqua 8x20 i can tell next: PROS: small and tough body, built as tank; good WP; comfortable to look (with upped eyecups), focus and set diopter; bright and sharp CONS: gives some flares/glares at bright sun (not critical); hard to "set on eyes" with downed eyecups; a little narrow FOV (6,3 deg. - appr. 110m); price Length - 9,2/10,1cm
Bought HG L DCF 8x20 and comapred with my Leica UV 8x20 BR side by side. OPTICS (Nikon better): Nikon: sharper on 10%, brighter on 5-10%, FOV wider, much easier to put on eyes with switched-off eyecups. Nikon has clear, sharp, crisp and pleasant picture with little yellow overall tint and soft (not toxic-contrast) colours. Overall i falled in love with Nikon after Leica and always my eyes asking me too take Nikon with me instead of Leica. Leica: very good sharpness, good brightness, FOV narrow, sometimes hard to put on eyes with switched-off eyecups and hold still to avoid blackouts of picture. Colours natural but very CONTRAST and SATURATED. Leica has overall VERY GOOD picture with vivid and saturated colours, but "narrrow FOV" and "Hard Putting on Eyes" make me to love Nikon more. PS: both Nikon and Leica have some glares/flares on bright sun - nearly equal, maybe Leica sometimes a little more. BODY (Leica better): Leica: smaller, tougher, built like a tank that made of steel and resin. VERY handy and smart construction. Very Good Eyecups. Nikon: bigger than Leica on few millimeters; mostly made of metal, very solid, BUT upper part of bridge and diopter wheel made of good (but) plastic - for me its not a big problem. Focus wheel (metalic) placed in front - i regulate it with a smallest fifth finger with no problem. Excellent eyecups. FINAL - I would prefer Nikon even if they were at the same price. But given that Nikon is cheaper by $ 200-250, then this is a clear win for Nikon.
Thanks for a great review. I have owned the Ultravid 8x20 BL since 2012 and I would add that the only downside is the small exit pupil, which means that they are a little fiddly to align with the eyes. I agree that the 16mm eye relief is enough for glasses wearers like me. I do not see any vignetting. They are also brighter than most 8x30 roof prism binoculars, which is surprising! When I looked inside the barrels of my Ultravids with a flashlight, I found some long hairs stuck in the paint in both barrels, but it does not seem to affect optical performance!
I've just ordered these, and I'm looking forward to trying them out, as I've heard nothing but good about them. I own also the Leica Duovid 10-15x50 which are an exceptional pair of binoculars which I've owned since 2002, they really are like having two pairs of binoculars in one, due to their dual power. Downside is they are rather heavy and large, hence the reason for the Ultravid 8x20 purchase, as I wanted a pocket sized pair of binoculars, that I could slip into a pocket for when I am out walking down by my local river area. Really useful overview/review, thanks very much.
@spinozasdreams I could not be happier with them. Pin sharp optics, great colours, and excellent in low light too. Outstanding binoculars, highly recommend them.
I have a monovid 8x20 and like it very much. Would this ultravid 8x20 bino have the same image quality ( due to lens coatings etc) or would it be different? Thanks
I second that. I have a pair of Zeiss Victory Pocket 8x25s on order and would like to see a review. I would expect that the slightly larger exit pupil would make them less fiddly than the 8x20 Ultravids.
@@GapBahnDirk I haven't tried the Leica Ultravids. But I do know that the Zeiss pocket is really good for it's size. Wide field of view, no chromatic aberration, super crisp and sharp with some fall off near the edges, extremely lightweight and of course very portable :) Tell me what you think of them when you receive them.
@@mrmaxaxl I received my Zeiss Victory Pocket 8x20 today. As expected, they are less fiddly than the 8x20 Ultravids, because they have a single bridge and so setting eye distance is easier. Also, they have a larger exit pupil of 3.125mm versus the Ultravid's 2.5mm, which makes aligning with the eyes slightly easier. They are certainly very sharp and bright. I would say that these are now my default travel binoculars. The Ultravids win only on size as they are tiny and can fit in a large shirt pocket. The weight difference, I don't really notice. the Ultravids are 240g and the Victory is 290g.
Wich of the two you would prefer: these one , or the Swarovski 7x21? Thanks for the tip! ( I think these one are slighly better then the victory and the Swarovski 8x25 they have a small exit pupil, but all 20 mm has this)
Hello! Some update HERE. Bought HG L DCF 8x20 and comapred with my Leica UV 8x20 BR side by side. OPTICS (Nikon better): Nikon: sharper on 10%, brighter on 5-10%, FOV wider, much easier to put on eyes with switched-off eyecups. Nikon has clear, sharp, crisp and pleasant picture with little yellow overall tint and soft (not toxic-contrast) colours. Overall i falled in love with Nikon after Leica and always my eyes asking me too take Nikon with me instead of Leica. Leica: very good sharpness, good brightness, FOV narrow, sometimes hard to put on eyes with switched-off eyecups and hold still to avoid blackouts of picture. Colours natural but very CONTRAST and SATURATED. Leica has overall VERY GOOD picture with vivid and saturated colours, but "narrrow FOV" and "Hard Putting on Eyes" make me to love Nikon more. PS: both Nikon and Leica have some glares/flares on bright sun - nearly equal, maybe Leica sometimes a little more. BODY (Leica better): Leica: smaller, tougher, built like a tank that made of steel and resin. VERY handy and smart construction. Very Good Eyecups. Nikon: bigger than Leica on few millimeters; mostly made of metal, very solid, BUT upper part of bridge and diopter wheel made of good (but) plastic - for me its not a big problem. Focus wheel (metalic) placed in front - i regulate it with a smallest fifth finger with no problem. Excellent eyecups. FINAL - I would prefer Nikon even if they were at the same price. But given that Nikon is cheaper by $ 200-250, then this is a clear win for Nikon.
