Leica Ultravid BR 8x20

Probably the best compact 10x25 binoculars - but with some compromises Tested this model against the trinovid 10x25 and Swarosvki CL 10x25 - dismissing the trinovids was easy, has it was very obvious right away they did have a lower sharpness and subdued color. They were lighter and felt a bit flimsy too. The Swarovski, was a different story - very sharp, nice contrast, but they are 4 ounces heavier, a bit thicker and I dislike the diopter adjustment wheel. OTOH, the eye cups are better designed and found the pouch, raincover and strap a better deal than with the leica. So why the Leica Ultravid? weight, overall size, and better controls.As far as optics, I barely can tell the difference. To my eyes, the Ultravids seem to have a more pleasant blur. They supply an eyecup cover set,which the swaros don't. Both models don't come with front lens covers The Leica strap is pretty flimsy, and not sure how well it held in the field, so likely will have to be upgraded. Wish they would offer lens covers. Overall outstanding optics and craftsmanship - you (have to) pay premium to get almost flawless higher quality

I need a pair of bins that stay in my car, that I can take on a casual walk, or take with a big lens (500-600mm) camera for spotting. These tiny 8x20 are perfect. The image quality is excellent. I had some Nikon 10x25 but it was very difficult to get the eyes to align and I often got double image. These Leica's are very easy to get aligned and they focus very easily. The push-button diopter adjustment is great! No accidental changes. I picked these over the 10x25 because my main pair are 10x and these 8x have better close focus. They see about 8.5" at minimum distance. Your center of view is about 4", so a single flower looks good. The 10x see about 11.5" at minimum distance. It's not as good as the Trinovid HD (at 4.6" FoV minimum distance), but those are giant compared to these guys. I don't mind having no front lens caps -- I never use them anyway. But I'm not going through wind blown sand or extreme dust. The case is easy to use and slide the bins in/out. It's a bit bulkier than some cases, but small nonetheless. I appreciate that there's no velcro.

These are simply the best mini binocular available when considering the most important features (excluding cost). I am a retired wildlife biologist and have owned Swarovski, Ziess, Leica, Nikon, Milolta, and numerous cheaper brands of optics equipment. For convenient travel size, bright and clear focus, solid and durable with high quality construction, very close focus and good light gathering quality, these waterproof mini binoculars are my top choice for travel or nature hikes. Don't waste your money on disappointing cheap binoculars. If you appreciate quality over price, and use and carry binoculars frequently, these are the best you can get.

Best pair of Binoculars I've ever used. Small and compact so you will bring them with you instead of leaving them at home.. I just wish they had a soft leather case instead of the canvas pouch ...

If you prioritize compactness and light weight but still want a top-tier binocular, this is probably it. It compares very well to high-end full-size binoculars, but with its form factor there are the expected compromises. Swarovski makes something similar (forget the model) but those are a bit more expensive and noticeably heavier. Eye relief is adequate for me (I wear eyeglasses), and the depth of field is a bit shallower than full-size binos. They are very bright for what they are but a tiny bit dimmer compared to good 42mm glass. I find them plenty bright even on gloomy overcast days. Clarity and color representation are fantastic for my eyes. They are slightly slower to unfold and deploy compared to full size binos but that’s to be expected. With a little practice I’ve gotten pretty quick with them. The case is well made but is a bit larger than it needs to be…I’d like the case to be a bit smaller/snug fitting but it works fine as is. For my use (field work, travel, hiking, keeping in my motorcycle tank bag) they are awesome and I love them. If size and weight aren’t the priority for you and you are looking for a single do-it-all binocular then there are similarly priced full-size binos which are probably a better value.

We purchased a Leica Ultravid BR 8x20 binocular to take on a recent visit to Australia, which included two weeks of casual birding. In this trial, the binocular proved to be an excellent choice for the trip, as a result of its robust construction, light weight, precise and easy focusing, and impressive light gathering performance across a wide range of light conditions. We were so impressed that we plan to purchase another.

Bought this pair of binoculars as a gift having owned a pair for the past five years. We keep them in the glove box of the for birding when not in our backpack during the hiking season. They are very lightweight but yet stabile when viewing just came back from Africa where they proved their weight in gold. Either in the pocket or around the neck always available without heavily hanging around the neck as larger glasses. Their brightness and field of view are quite surprising for such a small set. The plane of focus and ability to focus are both stunning. The only downside might be the price, but you are buying a Leica product and this product is a great example of that quality and engineering.

The Leica 10x25 pocket binocular is one of the finest on the market. Unfortunately, the seller misrepresented the terms of sale in transit time, so it was never opened before immediately returning it. I recommend finding a more dependable vendor for this Leica 10x25.

Nous voulions des jumelles légères, performantes, de bonne qualité, nous sommes très satisfaits, en particulier de la luminosité.

These Leica binoculars only arrived yesterday! Ordered Sunday collected from local PO Friday, excellent service. Rather than re deliver the system now appears to be to leave goods at a local shop for pick-up by customer which I find convenient. Well now what can one say Leica is synonymous with excellence as soon as I touched these I knew that the feel was going to be just right they are craftsman built the optics are amazing true Leica quality. As with all good things you get what you pay for. I did ask previously to buying about a bag. They do come with a little handy one it does have the Leica wording embossed on it although not in the traditional red circle and no longer leather as with my previous 8x20's, that is no doubt cost cutting over the years! However the bag seems pretty durable and is neat, it is designed for a strap or to be worn on a belt. The most difficult thing was fitting the neck strap so it went through to hold the eye pieces as well! Chinese puzzle that one! I succeeded and pasted that test. I now look forward to many happy years using these binoculars. My previous Leica ones now being redundant will no doubt be past on to a younger family member whose eye sight can manage 8's now I have gone on to 10 magnification. An excellent buy delivered in excellent time. I LOVE LEICA was the old advert and it still stands for excellence!

Mein Trinovid 8x20 ist schon eine Freude, jetzt wandert es weiter in der Familie und wird durch ein Ultravid ersetzt. Das Ultravid ist in eigentlich allen Leistungsmerkmalen etwas besser. Nur die Brücke beim Trinovid ist steifer eingestellt, das Ultravid ist hier auf der leichtgängigen Seite. Das Ultravid leistet optisch einiges mehr. Insbesondere Gegenlichtsitutation werden besser gemeistert, die Einstellwalze ist etwas grösser und griffiger, das Teil ist richtig wasserdicht - Trinovid im Regen ist kein Problem, aber mal in den Bach fallen, kann daneben gehen. Einen direkten Wasserstrahl würde ich nciht auf das Ultravid richten, im Wasserbad säubern sollte kein Ding sein. Das Ultravid ist das leistunsfähigste Glas seiner Klasse. Bei den Top Herstellern baut nur noch Zeiss ein kompaktes 8x20 - die Form muss man mögen und so richtig klein ist das dann auch nicht mehr. Swarovski hat sich aus dem 8x20 Markt zurückgezogen, Leica baut noch das ebenfalls tolle Trinovid. Alle anderen top Gläser sind erheblich grösser und schwerer und fallen nicht mehr in die Hemdtaschenklasse. Zeiss lässt das 8x20 in Japan bauen, Leica baut beide 8x20 in Portugal. Was nervt: Anbringen des Tragegurts ist extrem fummelig - solche Details hat Swarovski bei allen Gläsern im Griff, auch wenn es da kein 8x20er mehr gibt. Die Tasche ist billigst gemacht. Beide Features sind für ein Fernglas dieses Preiklasse ein Witz.

I agree with Remus that these are likely to be the best binoculars of this specification that money can buy. Very sharp and (considering the small objective lenses) very bright. The contrast is excellent, as is colour accuracy. Comparing them with my Swarovski EL SV 10x42s, they're not as bright, but it would be astonishing if they were. I've also compared them with a Zeiss (West Germany) monocular bought around 35 years ago, and the Leicas are far brighter and generally superior. It takes a little while to get a feel for how they work - eg the need to set the interpupillary distance each time you open them up from the folded position - but such things quickly become second nature. Only slight quibble is that the case is a very tight fit, but that's hardly a deal breaker. These Leicas wouldn't quite do as main birdwatching bins, but they feel light as a feather and can be taken anywhere, and I wouldn't be without them. Sheer luxury! Also, I ordered them on a Saturday and they arrived the following Thursday, which is excellent, given that they were sent from Germany, so full marks to the suppliers ,Koester.

After using for years cheep binoculars, I splurged. OMG what a difference good optics make. Amazing clarity, precize focusing. If you can afford, get them! You won’t regret.