Leica Ultravid 8×42 HD Plus

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Specifications:

Objective diameter:  42 mm
Magnification:  8 x
Exit pupil: 5.25 mm
Eye relief (acc. to spec): 16 mm
Usable eye relief (measured from rim of eyecup): 13.5 mm
IPD:  54 – 74 mm
RFOV:  7.4  degrees = 130 m
AFOV (measured, rounded): 57 degrees
Minimal focus distance (measured): 3.0 m
Focus type: CF (direction of rotation from close to infinity: > clockwise)
Degrees of rotation of focus wheel from 3m to infinity (measured): 380 degrees
Range of diopter adjustment (acc. to spec.): +/- 4 dpt*
Excess travel of focus wheel beyond infinity position (estimate): 4.5 dpt*
Prism system:  Schmidt-Pechan
Waterproof: yes
Weight (measured, with eyepiece cover and strap): 853 g
Made in: Germany (Portugal?)

*range of diopter adjustment and excess travel of focus wheel beyond infinity are mutually exclusive

 

 

Remarks:

Before the arrival of the Leica “Noctivid” (see separate post, https://binocular.ch/leica-noctivid-8×42/), Leica had updated its longtime Ultravid HD series with a “HD+” edition, featuring different glass and coatings and boosting transmission by a few percentage points. The difference was actually not that remarkable, because the Ultravid had been an excellent binocular even before the update, favoured by many demanding birding and wildlife enthusiasts. Today, the Noctivid takes Leica’s top spot in terms of optics, but mechanically, the Ultravid – or “UV HD+” as its often called – is hard to beat, and in terms of ergonomics, this is still one of the top instruments available. Many nowadays prefer flatfield images with higher edge sharpness and therefore would rather use competing instruments from Zeiss or Swarovski, but others praise the UV HD+ for its intense, color saturated image and good contrast.

Ratings:

Review:

A 2015 comparative review (in German) can be found here:
https://www.juelich-bonn.com/jForum/read.php?9,426194

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