Pete, I had a pair of 10x42 SLC's that I bought in '95. I sold them in 2001 and bought the 10x42 EL's. The EL's are great, but they are not so great that they justified the $1000 CDN additional cost. If I had to do it all over again, I'da kept the SLC's.

Blue, I bought a pair of the winged rubber eyecups for my Swaro EL's. They are the bee's-fricken-knees!! Thumbs are absolutely no substitute. The wings are good for the reflection but even better than that are the nice soft rubber eye cups. Anyone who has held glasses to his eyes all day (looking for sheep is a great example) will definitely appreciate them. I hope for all the Leica owner's benefit that they copy Swaro's cups.

Cheers,
Canuck

Pete,
I really liked the Kahles, but they were a little big and bulky for what I need so I sold them after I got a good deal on a pair of 8x40 Leicas, which I sold and bought a pair of 8x30s and I am very pleased with them..They are the right size to carry all day and have proven to be all the binocular I need so far.....but I'm always interrested in better equipment..

I used a set of these in 8X42 on my recent SA safari with Garry Kelly Safaris. This was my first hunting trip with Leica's new Ultravid; previously I'd been using a set of Leica's Trinovids in 8X42, which have been excellent. I basically lived behind these binoculars for fifteen hunting days, and they were used under all conditions, including some very wet, dark and windy hunting days on the Eastern Cape, plus extremely hot days that reached the 100 degree F mark by 10:AM in the northern bushveld country.



My conclusion is that the new Ultravids are, in every way, a major improvement over the Trinovid, and they just might be the finest binocular that has ever been produced by anyone, anywhere. They feel better, for one thing, than their predecessor, plus they're smaller and lighter. The new armor coating feels a lot more grippy -- a lot more "rubbery" -- than the rather hard, slick armor coating of the Trinovids.



They are also significantly brighter, and the eyecups actually turn up to lock in place. They are at least as rugged as the Trinovid (which is as rugged as binoculars get), and the super-strong magnesium body and titanium spindle maintain the strength and minimize the weight. They also feature all new lens coatings, plus excellent objective and occular lense covers that really keep the dust out.



I was astounded at how bright they were early and late in the day. They absolutely surpassed the performance of any other binocular I had the chance to test, including Swarovski ELs. Quite honestly, there is no comparison between the ELs and the Ultravids -- the Ultravids simply hammer the ELs into the ground.



I almost hate to admit it, but I gave these lovely binoculars to my 27 year-old professional hunter, Mike Curry, as a gift at the conclusion of the safari. He earned them the old fashined way, and he was an absolutely fantasic professional hunter in the tradition of my friend John Sharp.



So now I'm in the process of trading in my old binoculars on two more sets of 8X42 Leica Ultravids, one to use, one to put away for a rainy day. These are, beyond question, the best hunting binoculars I've ever used.......



AD

Welcome back Allen, I figured you were in africa.I had an opportunity to look through subject binos and you are correct in that they superb indeed. Once you get settled, you'll have to post more particulars about your safari. Did you take your 338? lots of questions. jorge

Some more info on your hunt might be appreciated.

Allen,
So what outfit would take by 8x30 Liecas in trade on the newbies and give me a good deal..I wouldn't want a new pair to by any larger than my 8x30, but you said they were small..I sure am pleased with my 8x30BAs..

allen,



I have a pair of Leica 7x42 BAs and just love them. Actually I can't understand how I got along without them for so long. It's one of those instances in which you don't really know what you are missing until you invest the money in top shelf optics and begin to really use them.



Some people collect knives, others guns....I think I could become a bit of an optics junky. Since I purchased my Leicas I find I am constantly using them and take them out whenever I get the chance. Often I am the only guy fly fishing, hiking, ice fishing not to mention hunting with a good pair of binocular around my neck. In less than two years they have become and essential part of my outdoor gear and without question have added immensely to my enjoyment.





Regards,

Dave

Ray, the 8X42 Ultravids are longer than your 8X32s, but weigh about the same and are brighter.

I always get my binoculars and spotting scopes from Jim Rockstad in Templeton, CA. (805) 434-3567 (FAX) 462-2913

Jim only deals in fine European optics, and he's extremely fair on trades, lives by his word, and is dead-honest. He's the kind of man that you'd enjoy dealing with, as I do.

Allen

Allan and all,
So has anyone compared these binocs to the new Swaroskis 10x30s that are getting rave wright ups, most recently in the African Sporting Gazette ???

Brad, I stand corrected on the weight! 8X32s in the Ultravid format would really make for a svelte, compact set of binoculars.......

Blue, all you have to do -- and this is what I do -- to block out that annoying stray light from the side is stick your thumbs up to block it out. It works: end of problem.

Ray, yes, I compared the Ultravids side-by-side to the Swarovski 10X42s, and there really isn't a comparison. The Swarovski is an excellent glass, but the Ultravid is significantly clearer and brighter, with no off-color distortion. One thing the PHs have complained about to me about the Swarovski in camp this year is that the eyepieces have a tendancy to come apart. In fact, one of my friends from Arizona had the left eyepiece of his ELs break and become detached on a mule deer hunt we were on in Sonora this January.

The Leicas are tougher-built, and Leica has resources at its disposal that Swarovski simply cannot match......

AD

Ray, I concur with Allen... Ive compared the Ultravid's side-by-side with the top Swaro's... as Allen sadi, the Leica's are the high water mark for durabiity and the image is better in all respects to my eyes.

I have a pair of the old Swarovski SLC's that have given me stirling service and which image wise, I am very impressed with. To my eyes, the EL's image is "better" but not by a great margin.

I have not had a chance to look through the Ultravids in field conditions yet, but if they are an improvement on the EL's all I can say is isn't competion great!

Ray, I thought you bought a pair of Kahles 8x30's you were very pleased about?

Regards,

Pete

Nowadays most of my hunting is done at night, from a hochsitz. Previously I owned a pair of 8 x 56 glasses, the best to be had but very, very heavy. Some years ago I found the Leicas and, like Allen, never went back.
Absolutely superb.

I too am a fan of Leica binoculars, but the compact 10x model. This is what I use most often because it suits my style. It's compact enough to invite itself along everywhere. Optics are good enough for extended glassing. The only thing I lose is low-light capability, which in my case is not much of a problem. I especially like the long eye relief because I do not have to remove my glasses to use the binocular.

Pete, I traded my 7x30 SLC's in for a pair of Leica 8x32's. In side by side comparison's I've found the Trinovid's give a better image (color, clarity) than the Swaro SLC's. I just wish Leica made a 7x32 Trinovid, but I'm in the minority there! I've compared the Leica Ultravid's next to the Swaro EL's... I found them superior as well.



Still, when you get to a binocular at the level of the Trinovid/SLC, Ultravid/EL it's a matter of "grading diamond's" as they all give a superb viewing experience. A lot of it comes down to very subjective preferences including aesthetic and ergonomic preferences.



Whether the jump from the SLC's/Trinovid BN's to the Ultravid's/El's is a worthwhile one is a matter of personal judgement and budget. The image, while a bit better is, maybe, a five percent improvement (at most) for a fifty percent increase in price! Be it audio, photography or whatever, it's always those last few percentage points of quality improvement that cost the most!



BA