Leica Trinovid 8×42 BA

Specifications:

Objective diameter:  42 mm
Magnification:  8 x
Exit pupil: 5.25 mm
Eye relief (according to spec.): 17 mm
Usable eye relief (measured from rim of eyecup): 14 mm
IPD: 54  – 72 mm
RFOV:  7.4  degrees = 130 m
AFOV (measured, rounded): 59 degrees
Minimum focus distance (measured): 4.8 m
Focus type: CF (direction of rotation from close to infinity: > clockwise)
Degrees of rotation of focus wheel from 4.8 m to infinity (measured): 230 degrees
Range of diopter adjustment (estimate): +/- 5 dpt*
Excess travel of focus wheel beyond infinity position (estimate): 5 dpt*
Prism system:  Schmidt-Pechan
Waterproof: yes
Weight (measured, with eyepiece cover and strap): 1‘010 g
Made in: Germany
*range of diopter adjustment not affected by position of focus wheel

Remarks:

Leica (then still “Leitz”) introduced the first “Trinovid” model, a 7×42, in 1958, and it has produced binoculars with that great name ever since. The “BA” (“Brillenträger-tauglich, Armiert”) series was introduced in 1981 and remained Leica’s flagship until the early 2000’s; in 2001, the successor to the BA called “BN” was introduced; in 2003, Leica topped its binocular range with the new Ultravid series, which has been the premium model until the launch of the “Noctivid” in 2017 (today, all three lines of instruments – Trinovid, Ultravid and Noctivid – are being produced concurrently). The body shape of the Trinovid BA changed considerably over the years. With the BA series, Leica for the first time made a 8×42 model. Thanks to phase coating making its way into the market in the very early 1990s, the Trinovid of the 1990s represented the finest binocular making at that time. The model presented here was produced between 1993 and 2000 – heavy, built like a tank, fully waterproof, with excellent mechanics, and with optics that still impress today with very good sharpness and contrast, it is one of the classics of the binocular world.

see also separate posts “Leica Trinovid 12×50 BA”, https://binocular.ch/leica-trinovid-12×50-ba/ and “Leica Trinovid 10×42 BA”, https://binocular.ch/leica-trinovid-10×42-ba/

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