Leica Ultravid HD 8×42
By Sam Millard
Long range hunting puts serious demands on a hunter’s optics. The shot is often taken at distances where most people would break out the spotting scope to size up an animal for a stalk. It entails hours of glassing, trying to pick out targets well beyond spotting with the naked eye. In northern Idaho, the vegetation and terrain requires the hunter to be able to penetrate thick brush and timber to find his quarry. It puts demands on optics like no other. I found the Leica Ultravid HD binoculars to be up to the challenge!
These binoculars were carried and used this season for my fall bear hunt and for late season whitetail. On the bear hunt, they were carried in a FHF pouch. For the whitetail hunt, I used the supplied neck strap and lens covers. On that note, the neck strap is well designed with a padded, neoprene center section that’s anatomically curved. I found it very comfortable to carry these 30 ounce binoculars for a full day of hunting. The eyepiece lens cover works very well and is easy to use. It attaches to the left side strap only, making it fast and easy to remove. The objective lens covers are standard, slip on rubber caps that also worked very well.
On my September bear hunt, the temps range from 40 – 80 degrees and on my November whitetail hunt, the mercury dipped into the teens several times. Leica’s lubricant free, floating plastic disks used in the focus ring worked as designed to keep the focus wheel smooth and fast in all conditions. A fair amount of precip was encountered in November. The Ultravids use Leica’s AquaDura lens coating to help shed water and dirt, keeping the glass clear and spot free. It worked as advertised and of course, these binoculars are fog proof and waterproof to 5 meters.
I normally carry a pair of Swarovski SLC 8x30WB binoculars. The Ultravid is built with a magnesium body and titanium hinge axis, keeping the weight down to a measured 30 oz. (with neck strap and lens covers). My SLCs weigh in at 27 oz. identically equipped. For 3 oz. more, it was a real treat to carry these! The shape and size (6 inches long) fit my hand well, whether sitting with both hands or snapping up for a quick look with one.
Leica’s HLS (High Lux System) and HDC (High Durability Coating) used on all 9 lens elements, provided excellent clarity and true color viewing that was sharp and crisp. Glass in this price range really stands out during the crucial viewing times of first and last light, and even more so when the ranges involved are over 500 yards. I was easily able to pick up whitetails feeding in tall tan grass and brush at the edge of clear cuts well before and after legal shooting hours.
The 8x42HD Ultravids definitely lived up to Leica’s reputation for extremely high quality, top of the line glass. I would not hesitate to use these for any hunting application.
Price: $2099
Weight: 30 ounces (With neck strap and lens covers)
Fog proof and waterproof to 16.5 feet
Field of view at 1000 yards: 389 feet
Exit pupil: 5.2mm
Twilight factor: 18.3
Length: 6 inches
Eyepieces: Removable with 2 click stops
Leica Ultravid HD Binoculars are supplied with anatomically curved neoprene padded neck strap, lens covers, and Cordura case.
