Live Science Verdict
A brawny pair of premium field glasses with locking diopter , plenty of center easing and large - diam 50 mm documentary lenses make these great for panoptic - theatre of operations economic consumption in low light .
first-class locking dioptre on focal point rack
Useful thumb mountain pass for holding
The Ultravids have a slim, sleek design that makes them a dream to travel with.
Waterproof up to 5 m water depth
Generous 17 millimeter center relief
Heavy at 2.2 lbs
Able to remain inconspicuous, nobody but those in the know would ever suspect you’re carrying around super-premium binoculars.
Over 7 in long , hard to transport
Some ineluctable vignetting
monolithic price tag end
Larger 50mm objective lenses plus excellent lens coatings enable more light to pass through to the observer’s eyes.
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The Leica Ultravid 8x50 HD - Plus ( state on the recording label as 8x50 HD ) is a blanket - field , tumid objective binocular perfect for spotting subject during the day or in low light levels such as twilight . The binoculars also come in 8/10x32 , 7/8/10x42 , and 10/12x50 variants , providing a huge mountain chain of enlargement and objective lens system diameter options to choose from .
Design : Roof prism
The binoculars are a little longer than 7 inches but they’re easy to hold.
Magnification:8x ( 10 and 12x also useable )
Objective lens aperture:50 mm
Angle of view:6.6 degrees ( 115 m / 1000 m )
Focus can be dialed in with just one hand, even on the diopter adjustment.
Eye relief:17 mm ( 0.67 in )
Weight:2.2 lbs ( 1,010 gram )
Dimensions:4.9 x 2.7 x 7.2 in ( 120 x 68 x 182 mm )
A long, durable carry case is provided alongside all lens caps and a neckstrap.
The Ultravid 8x50s are hefty binoculars , weighing as much as a bag of saccharide and remain firm improbable and wider than one as well . But the neat strain factor , as is synonymous with Leica design , keeps them feeling svelte in the hand .
When using the binoculars , views were impressive , and keenness was retained throughout the image circle . The 8x50s were certainly our binocular of option when hear to blemish flighty bird subjects during nightfall when the light levels had fell . There were a couplet of niggles we play into , but overall the Ultravids are a square choice should you have the Johnny Cash to bribe a premium pair such as these .
Leica Ultravid 8x50 HD-Plus binoculars: Design
Leica is fantastic at keeping binocular designs simple and polished . The entire dead body of the Ultravid 8x50 HD - Plus opera glasses is covered in matte fatal galosh armor that sits over a lightweight Mg housing . The rubber tucks neatly over the edges where the eyepiece cups link up to the body and again around the objective edge and back into the glass .
Even the logo and manakin name are cautiously recess into the binocular body , with the former sitting luxuriously up near the focusing wheel and the latter engrave into the neckstrap mount up percentage point , leaving the rest of the body a simple , unruffled total darkness .
We had no issues hold the binoculars when out hiking or hoot spotting , but the India rubber is quite placid , which may prove an egress if using them in surface-active agent precondition .
A strong plastic fastener keep the carry case firmly closed when not in use.
However , because they are solely black they could camouflage as run - of - the - mill field glasses for those feel blatant about hold around a twain of binoculars that cost thousands of dollars . This may be a good matter or a bad thing depending on whether you want the status of a premium binocular , or not . For us , we like the pattern and can see and feel why they ’re as expensive as they are .
Flip the binoculars over and there ’s a useful rooftree toward the eyepiece closing that supports the thumb during use and keep slipping . This takes a step aside from some of Leica ’s little opera glasses like theTrinovid 10x42 HDs , which feature no suitcase swelling like this or any texturing on the rubber itself . It ’s welcome here , because at over 7 inch ( 18 centimeters ) long and over 2.2 pound ( 1 kilogram ) the Ultravid 8x50s are n’t the smallest or loose to pack around .
Leica Ultravid 8x50 HD-Plus binocular: Performance
As one would expect with a prominent - diam objective lens system binocular such as these Ultravids , the 50 mm objective drink in light and aid with low-down - light observing . We could stay put out a lilliputian longer past sundown or before sunrise with these binoculars because we could see a little more than with a likewise specced 42 mm or 32 mm variant .
The excellent lens coating also helped to slay ghosting , flaring and improve short transmitting . The high perdurable app ( HDC ) and hydrophobic AquaDura finishing on the outside lenses maintain scratch electrical resistance and waterproofing . The binocular body also keep waterproof all around and can be submersed into piddle up to 16 feet ( 5 m ) deep ( that ’s 0.5 bar of pressure ) . at bottom , the prisms are coat with a HighLux - System ( HLS ) and phase correction coating P40 .
Integrated SCHOTT HT ( High Transmission ) glasses in the Ultravid HD - Plus opera glasses ( also get a line in the Noctivid line ) are specifically designed for gamey transmitting to maximise tripping throughput .
Twist - up and down eyecup provide up to 0.7 inches ( 17 mm ) of centre relief and are some of the best we ’ve tested — especially for spectacles wearers — but we did still have an issue with vignetting .
Despite fully extending the eyecups , there was some noticeable vignetting , which we do n’t ordinarily suffer with on other binoculars with similar exaggeration and nonsubjective diameters . proceed them down the nozzle a fiddling further out from the center virtually eliminated this job , so it could be down to our face form , but had we dropped nearly $ 3,000 on a twain we ’d have been frustrated .
Leica Ultravid 8x50 HD-Plus binocular: Functionality
Something that really stands out with the Leica Ultravid 8x50 HD - Plus field glasses is its splendid diopter sharpen design . place centrally in the middle of the flexible joint the diopter ring is actually connect straight to the focus wheel on the axle . It appear as two separate wheels connect together — but do n’t sample and twist the diopter tintinnabulation as it may appear passing slopped . alternatively , pull on the wheel tight to the eyepieces and you ’ll notice the two wheels separate .
By unlock the diopter gang from the main focal point roulette wheel , it ’s possible to line up the right ocular focussing . Once dialed in , simply push it back together , and the diopter is securely locked in place .
We absolutely make out this design stage . It ’s passing neat compared with almost every other brand placing the diopter closed chain on the right eyepiece just below the optic cup . It also lock up , which prevent swelling and knocks from preempt the focusing . And well yet , it means we can adjust the centering of both eyes without ever moving the binoculars from our font because the control are both in the same spot . There ’s even a gauge on the front of the roulette wheel to display how much positive or negative diopter recompense is need and that makes it well-fixed to remember to change back even if it is exchange .
The optic backup man is a humongous 17 mm and spectacles users will prize this extra breathing way without having to remove even thicker - rimmed specs whilst using the opera glasses . Sure , we suffered with some aforementioned vignetting but for eyeglasses wearer , this is a useful feature .
One matter we noticed with the binoculars we retrospect is that there is some stiction on the focusing wheel . That is , the extra initial force-out demand to get the bike moving . It could be because the pair we reviewed was a well - used demonstration sample and it is only a minor point that we found with these field glasses . But consider they ’re some of the most expensive field glasses you could buy , we felt it was worth pointing out because this is a part of the binoculars you will be always .
Should I buy the Leica Ultravid 8x50 HD-Plus binoculars?
These binoculars are almost unflawed . They ’re bright , penetrative , useful in almost every position and have a supremely designed diopter lockup chemical mechanism which is situated in the perfect position . The intent aspects of the binocular with neatly etched nameplate and all - around India rubber armoring , plus durable electron lens coating and magnesium / titanium interior means they ’ll probably last for many years .
The only reason for not purchasing these binoculars , we reckon , is the Mary Leontyne Price . At $ 2,700 at the time of writing , these are definitely out of reach of beginner with tight budgets and even some professional observers willing to drop some grownup money and invest in a duet for life . However , for precision and timber , the Ultravid 8x50 HD - Plus opera glasses ca n’t be beaten , in our experience .
If this product isn’t for you
Not everyone has grand of dollars to spend on a pair of binoculars , but many observer will still want an excellent pair and are willing to molt a few hundred long horse for the perquisite . In which case we ’d recommend theBushnell Forge 15x56which ranks number one in ourbest binocularsbuying templet . Their 56 millimetre accusative genus Lens are 6 mm wider than the Ultravids here so have even self-aggrandizing light - gathering capabilities . They do have a 15x magnification though so are well suited to view smaller or far away national , like modest songbirds or stargazing .
require to keep thing small and light ? TheOlympus 8x42 Prowhich sits in the routine two blot in our good binoculars template is only 670 g and has nano - coating for unprecedented unclouded transmission in their stratum .
