New Binos from Leica

[gbflyer]

That’s pretty nifty. I wondered why they have been stuck on the huge bino/RF combo. Maybe it’s a technology thing. I have 3 Leica products, a RF, compact bino, and 10x42. The glass is great. The RF and compacts have been back to the factory twice (the compacts in the box as we speak), for internal fogging. The service has been great, however it’s not a compliment to the quality to have to use it. Hope this new gizmo is better.

 

[tdhanses]

Nothing is without fault, i had to send back my hdb-2200’s the first year because they wouldn’t range in below freezing temps, they replaced with new and now my then new hdb-2200’s had the focus or something mess up, intially they thought they could fix them here but just received word these are going back to the factory for repair.

I’ve had good experiences with their CS and in 3 years used it twice, hopefully I won’t need it again.

That said I’d get the 8x32 pro’s if they were in the cards this year.

 

[Mhopper5]

8x32 ordered.
Shout out to Neil and his slave like working conditions

I hate you Leica.

 

[Mhopper5]

If anyone feels this way I have a pair of 10x42s for sale. I’ll let the free market decide which is better.

 

[alaska_bou]

Ah, I see they are not only more compact, but feature new technology. Hopefully the optical trade-off is worth it.

 

[Spiral Horn]

This is gonna cost me.

 

[alaska_bou]

That’s pretty nifty. I wondered why they have been stuck on the huge bino/RF combo. Maybe it’s a technology thing. I have 3 Leica products, a RF, compact bino, and 10x42. The glass is great. The RF and compacts have been back to the factory twice (the compacts in the box as we speak), for internal fogging. The service has been great, however it’s not a compliment to the quality to have to use it. Hope this new gizmo is better.

Mine had internal fogging as well, and for me this happended during an expensive Alaskan hunt. Leica warrantied it as expected, but without a backup rangefinder I would have been screwed.

 

[Mhopper5]

Ah, I see they are not only more compact, but feature new technology. Hopefully the optical trade-off is worth it.

Alaska,
The 10x42 geovids I have don’t have the best glass. I posted how I use ultravids then switch to the goevids after game is spotted. I see so much more through the ultras. Hopefully the smaller glass allowed them to make improvements in optical quality to go with the new RF technology. Two pair of binos will always be heavier than one…

 

[Mhopper5]

This is gonna cost me.

It looks like they will be a 9/10.
They would be 10/10 if they worked with OnX. Bummer…

 

[JGRaider]

This is gonna cost me.

You and me both. Which one are you leaning towards? I'll likely make mine an 8x

 

[Spiral Horn]

8x is definitely the default in a 32mm format. Even more so for a rangefinding binocular, as there are a few optical compromises that must be made to integrate all that technology into a single device.

I actually handled and looked through one today - would have loved to have had one many years ago. Cannot imagine how handy it would have been on all of those stalks, especially while Bowhunting.

Just don’t expect NL/SF level optics. This is more like a Trinovid with a depth of incredible tech.

 

[bpurtz]

8x is definitely the default in a 32mm format. Even more so for a rangefinding binocular, as there are a few optical compromises that must be made to integrate all that technology into a single device.

I actually handled and looked through one today - would have loved to have had one many years ago. Cannot imagine how handy it would have been on all of those stalks, especially while Bowhunting.

Just don’t expect NL/SF level optics. This is more like a Trinovid with a depth of incredible tech.

Except for weight and dimensions compared to the Ultravid 8x32 HD+, what optical compromise are you suggesting?

From what I've read, Geovid and Ultravid (and I presume Geovid Pro) products have the same HDC and Aquadura lens coatings and Perger-porro prism. Trinovids don't have the Aquadura coating and use a roof prism.

It doesn't make sense to me that Leica would upgrade the rangefinder tech but downgrade the optic - I'm anticipating the Geovid Pro will be much more in line with the Ultravid HD+.

 

[Mhopper5]

Except for weight and dimensions compared to the Ultravid 8x32 HD+, what optical compromise are you suggesting?

From what I've read, Geovid and Ultravid (and I presume Geovid Pro) products have the same HDC and Aquadura lens coatings and Perger-porro prism. Trinovids don't have the Aquadura coating and use a roof prism.

It doesn't make sense to me that Leica would upgrade the rangefinder tech but downgrade the optic - I'm anticipating the Geovid Pro will be much more in line with the Ultravid HD+.

The geovid prior to the pro and ultravids do not have the same glass. There is a significant difference when compared side by side. If the pro includes tech and upgraded glass to the UVHD+ level… now we’re talking.

However I still wish it worked with OnX.

 

[Shraggs]

Until they improve the coatings, RF binos won’t equal their non-RF counterparts with otherwise equal glass. I could like an 8x32. I sure do like my Swaro 8x30 CLs.

I know when I talked with ZEISS about the new RF he said the glass and coatings is identical to the victory’s, but in order to display the numbers there is actually a thin led membrane that lights up. This, slightly degraded clarity and brightness. So I’m guessing all mfg have this challenge.

 

[rodney482]

Might have to buy these…..

 

[Spiral Horn]

Except for weight and dimensions compared to the Ultravid 8x32 HD+, what optical compromise are you suggesting?

From what I've read, Geovid and Ultravid (and I presume Geovid Pro) products have the same HDC and Aquadura lens coatings and Perger-porro prism. Trinovids don't have the Aquadura coating and use a roof prism.

It doesn't make sense to me that Leica would upgrade the rangefinder tech but downgrade the optic - I'm anticipating the Geovid Pro will be much more in line with the Ultravid HD+.

The Geovid PRO is not designed purely as a binocular. It is an integrated Rangefinding, multi-technology device, and is holistically designed to optimize all of its functions as a complete system. So, they set out to make the best compact, dual-barreled, fully-integrated, ballistic solution device - which it very well may be. But they didn’t set out to make the world’s best 32mm binocular. That would be a completely different effort that would likely compromise the functionality/effectiveness of other system components/features.

BTW - the Geovid PRO binocular is based on a Perger-Porro-prism, and has other unique features and coatings to optimize overall component integration and displays. Conversely, Leica’s binocular model lines (Trinovid, Ultravid, Trinovid) are all Schmidt-Pechan Roof-prism design.

My reference to the Trinovid was only to provide some comparative reference for my subjective impressions of the view through the Geovid PRO. IMO, the Zeiss Victory RF offers the best view of any RF Binocular, but it is a large 42mm system.

 

[OutdoorAg]

The Geovid PRO is not designed purely as a binocular. It is an integrated Rangefinding, multi-technology device, and is holistically designed to optimize all of its functions as a complete system. So, they set out to make the best compact, dual-barreled, fully-integrated, ballistic solution device - which it very well may be. But they didn’t set out to make the world’s best 32mm binocular. That would be a completely different effort that would likely compromise the functionality/effectiveness of other system components/features.

BTW - the Geovid PRO binocular is based on a Perger-Porro-prism, and has other unique features and coatings to optimize overall component integration and displays. Conversely, Leica’s binocular model lines (Trinovid, Ultravid, Trinovid) are all Schmidt-Pechan Roof-prism design.

My reference to the Trinovid was only to provide some comparative reference for my subjective impressions of the view through the Geovid PRO. IMO, the Zeiss Victory RF offers the best view of any RF Binocular, but it is a large 42mm system.

Zeiss knocked it out of the park with the view.

But killed the momentum with the button placement. Not intuitive whatsoever, borderline cumbersome to use.

 

[bpurtz]

IMO, the Zeiss Victory RF offers the best view of any RF Binocular, but it is a large 42mm system.

Zeiss knocked it out of the park with the view.

But killed the momentum with the button placement. Not intuitive whatsoever, borderline cumbersome to use.

I was on a Sheep hunt last Nov with a buddy whose wife had the tag - my buddy had the latest Zeiss RF Bino, another guy had the latest Swaro RF Bino, and I had my Geovid HD-B 3000. For me, they were all great - I personally couldn't see an optical difference.

 

[JGRaider]

Spiral Horn, you knocked it out of the park with that last description of the Geovid Pro. Well done.

I also appreciate Outdoor Ag's great points and questions. It's a lot of money to spend, but all signs so far point to a big bunch of positives for this new unit.

 

[prm]

The Geovid PRO is not designed purely as a binocular. It is an integrated Rangefinding, multi-technology device, and is holistically designed to optimize all of its functions as a complete system. So, they set out to make the best compact, dual-barreled, fully-integrated, ballistic solution device - which it very well may be. But they didn’t set out to make the world’s best 32mm binocular. That would be a completely different effort that would likely compromise the functionality/effectiveness of other system components/features.

BTW - the Geovid PRO binocular is based on a Perger-Porro-prism, and has other unique features and coatings to optimize overall component integration and displays. Conversely, Leica’s binocular model lines (Trinovid, Ultravid, Trinovid) are all Schmidt-Pechan Roof-prism design.

My reference to the Trinovid was only to provide some comparative reference for my subjective impressions of the view through the Geovid PRO. IMO, the Zeiss Victory RF offers the best view of any RF Binocular, but it is a large 42mm system.

Excellent comments. By chance, would you have a guess on how these perform as a binocular vs. a Swaro 8x30 CL? I’ve never tried any Leica binos so don’t have a good reference. I also have Swaro 10x42 wb SLC Habicht binos, but don’t feel comparing a 42 to a 32 is productive.