I'm looking at buying one of these in 8x42 or 8x56.

Who here has one or looked through em. If so, comments please
Is one glass sharper than the other??? Looking for glass to really draw out game to the eye!

Thanks again,

340

Leica Geovid - NO DOUBT...

The Zeiss is unsharp at the rim...
Leica has much more experience with their RF binos....

BUT I still prefer a "bino alone" version as they have the much better image: Mine will be soon the Swarovski EL 8,5x42 SWAROVISION ...
http://www.titanium-gunworks.c...x42-swarovision.html

which will come out in January (but I have been hunting with it yet...) for me they are a big step further AND they have the sharpest, crstal cleares image I have ever seen - their is a long way for their competitors to go before reaching that!

340 Wea.

I own 1 pair of Zeiss Victory FL (10 x 42) and a pair of Zeiss 10 x 56 night owls (roof prism as well).
I also own 8 x 32 Leica ultravids and 12 x 50 ultravids.
I do not own any range finding binoc's.

This is how I would compare them.
1) I like what would appear to be the build quailty of the Leica's. Their lens are clear as a bell. They have a very good ability to differential grey scales at dusk and dawn.They are very compact.


2) The Zeiss FL's are without a doubt the brights binoculars I have looked through for a given exit pupil. That includes the Zeiss 10 x 56 night owls, and all my swarovsky;s 10 x 42 SLC's and 8.5 x 42 EL's.
They are a bit lighter than the competition as well. I compared them to 10 x 42 ultravids when I bought them. I took them both out in the field. There is not enough difference in the day light to pick one over the other. At dusk and dawn, the Zeiss will give you some more minutes.
However the Leica are more compact.
Another issue with the Zeiss is the focus wheel is very sensitive. I realize some people prefer a "fast" focus. Not me, I like a little more less sensitive wheel.
1) I carry the 8 x 32 Leicas when back packing in the extremes.
2) 10 x 42 Zeiss for general hunting
3) 12 x 50 Leica for still / blind hunting.

My son has my Swar. and my old 8 x 32 trinovids He loves them!

Leica is just nw coming out with their (HD version) of their range finding option which has Flourite objectives. The Zeiss unit already incorporates a Flourite objective.
If you can find a shop that will allow you to take both into the field and compare them side by side, especially at dusk and dawn. You should be able to make you own decision.

EZ

I bought a pair of Leica 10 x 42 Ultravid HD in June 2009. I believe they are the best binos I have ever used. The Geovids were a little bulkier I thought, the range finder is just something else to keep batteries in and to breakdown at the wrong time.

About 30 years ago I bought my first pair of high quality binoc's. Avaiable were Zeiss classics, Leica Trinovids and Swarovsky was a fairly new name here in the USA. I went to a optics shop in Houston,Tx. who also handled quite a bit of expensive astronomy gear and binoc's.
The man that owned the shop told me a very good thing to compare these models against each other was to look at a bright white sign a few blocks down and see which pair provided the truest white! I compared and the Leica's were the best. This was before Swar even made their SLC's.
He then took me out to the country and let me do the dusk and dawn thing and again the Leica's prevailed. This is where I learned about grey scales in the evening and morning prior to light you cannot see color. In my neck of the woods we do allot of hunting at this time.
I ended up buying some Swar 10 x 40 Poro's. I could not afford the Leica's at that period and the Swar were about 1/2 the price.
All the major premium manufacturers will provide a brilliant picture in broad day light. Check their grey scale ability and also find a white sign and see which produces the cleanest white.
I suggest paying attention to the hinge and determining if it is stiff enough so that you are always not having to adjust the width to you eyes and the focus wheel to your liking.
As for size, that may be determined my your physical size and the size of your hands.
Take some 10 x 32 and 10 x 42 in the field in low light and see if there is enough differnce to make you want to pay more for the larger binocs.
I suggest you do not spend 5 figures based on someone's suggestion over the counter.
I have only had one problem with a pair of high end binoc's and I accidently dropped them on the concrete (Swar 10 42 SCL's) I returned them to Swar and they had them back to me in 2 weeks fixed and up graded for free.
Test them for your self! Search for a good optics shop that knows something about their product and is willing to go the extra mile to sell you a product. It will be money well spent!
Have fun shopping!

EZ