Advice please

[werry]

I dropped my very old pair of greenkat binoculars had them over 40 years so i am in the market for a replacement pair. An 8x42 is what i am looking at and S/H i have seen a few adds for the leica 8x42 ultravid and the HD version. But have read that the difference between the two is not noticeable? except the price! any comments?.

[Tringa]

I can't comment on the specific binoculars, but I suggest you set a budget and go somewhere were you can try out several pairs. Even S/H Leicas will not be cheap and at that sort of money they have to be right for you.

Don't know how far you are from London Colney, but the In Focus shop there is excellent.

Dave

[wizzo]

Save your money and go for Hawke Frontier ED's! Superb bins that rival the very best 'Alpha' binoculars, imo - Wizzo

[david156]

I know of a local place selling a SH pair of Leica Ultravid 8x50HD at £1200 and they will probably sell them for that too!
I have heard a rumour that leica's after sale service is not that great at the moment and have been warned to be careful and not to damage my bins as they won't be repaired by Leica.
I currently have the Leica trinovid 7x42 bn which are superb, but if I was looking for another pair, and at that kind of money, i'd be going for something like the Swarovski SLC HD 8x42 or EL 8.5x42. Tried these yesterday and they are cracking bins. Even the 8x32 gather enough light and are really light weight. Its just trying to find a SH pair that may be the problem

David

[wizzo]

I'll second that about the Leica after sales service. One local dealer near us has even stopped stocking Leica bins because of this! Wizzo

[Hobjob]

I second wizzo.

But please, please scour the old messages; this question keeps coming up (at least twice in the last month) and there is a heap of information on the board.


Mods - what about a sticky on this subject? I'll even write the first draft if you want

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by Hobjob

Mods - what about a sticky on this subject? I'll even write the first draft if you want

You write it, I'll stick it!

Dave P.

[warren30]

hi werry I have just bought a pair of bin's for bird watching,I put up a thread on Here and other sites,everyone had own opinions,I tried lots of different pairs hawkes, optricons,stein's,and second hand leica swarvoskis I ended up with the optricon verano hd they were the ones that I thought wow,but if went on other advise without trying it would of been the hawkes ed,when tried them I didn't like them.if I was you get some information and then go try all the ones people recommend see what you like best,could save you money

[Tringa]

Spot on warren30.

There is absolutely nothing like trying binoculars for yourself.

I keep going on about this, so sorry folks, but they have to be right for you and that can only be found out by trying them.

Dave

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by david156

Even the 8x32 gather enough light and are really light weight. Its just trying to find a SH pair that may be the problem

David

I have a pair of these Swarovski ELs, and although not cheap, I have been very happy with them. I have also found Swarovski to be superb to deal with.

Chris