Thread: High end binos

Gday guys,
Thinking about getting a top end set of binos. I’m thinking at the moment lecia geovid hd-b. But was wondering is the glass in the geovids better or worse than the nocovids or ultravids? As potentially with the less money spent on the geovids could pick up a better range finder. Could also be interested to here if people think the Swarovski el Swarovisons are superior to the leicas
I understand in most cases it is a personal preference but wondered if anyone had any definitive backing on one over the other
Cheers

I know you can get better glass by going non rangefinding binos but since having my Geovids I will never go back to the separate rangefinder combo. It’s just so much better having it all in one.

@High Country Boy what are you selling to upgrade

Originally Posted by stagstalker

I know you can get better glass by going non rangefinding binos but since having my Geovids I will never go back to the separate rangefinder combo. It’s just so much better having it all in one.

Ok that’s good to know.
Will be selling a pair of minox 10x44 bl HD

I have had the Leica 10x42 Geovids for about 14 years I tend to use my 10x25 Ultravids and Trinovids more easy to stick in your shirt or jacket pocket, the Trinovids are only shower proof I had to send them back to Leica Portugal for a free repair I tried a local agent who wanted me to pay some money up front and enter into some type of agreement with potential additional cost implications as I recall.

I did purchase all my Leica gear in Europe and UK.

I also use a Leica rangefinder in a pouch on my belt if you have to work out the range you generally have plenty time to faff about in my experience.

No plans to change them.

Originally Posted by xtightg

I have had the Leica 10x42 Geovids for about 14 years I tend to use my 10x25 Ultravids and Trinovids more easy to stick in your shirt or jacket pocket, the Trinovids are only shower proof I had to send them back to Leica Portugal for a free repair I tried a local agent who wanted me to pay some money up front and enter into some type of agreement as I recall.

I also use a Leica rangefinder in a pouch on my belt if you have to work out the range you generally have plenty time to faff about in my experience.

No plans to change them.

Ok thanks for that. I’m pretty much exclusively hunting South Island tops so 10x42 is what I’m looking at

Originally Posted by stagstalker

I know you can get better glass by going non rangefinding binos but since having my Geovids I will never go back to the separate rangefinder combo. It’s just so much better having it all in one.

Yup - same, I have the older Geovids and while I haven't spent "hours" behind the EL's I don't see any difference on ability to spot game (my Geovids are 8x , all the EL';s I've looked through have been 10's)

Originally Posted by High Country Boy

Ok thanks for that. I’m pretty much exclusively hunting South Island tops so 10x42 is what I’m looking at

That's what I do hunting South Island tops , I hit my Trinovids off a rock face when the snow gave way a tadd beneath me they went all blurry and had condensation inside.

I have found the Geovids are like a brick around my neck after some time the neoprene strap also seems creep up onto the back of my neck then I started putting them in my pack but had to get them out to use them so I personally use the 10x25 out of my top pocket, maybe I am getting weaker as I get older but its annoying with a brick swinging about in your way all the time hitting off your scope.

I tried the bino restraints and a direct clip onto my pack harness but it got too complicated, just me too many straps everywhere and when you need to crawl they drove me nuts.

Just my experience.

The Geovids are superb and I have no plans to change them but on the tops 10x25 every time for me.

Leica HD-B 3000 10x42 for me. 2nd pair as I upgraded to the 3000. They're excellent. I have them set up with my ballistic data. Aim at target, press button which gives MOA reading and I adjust MOA turret on VX6HD then shoot. Great piece of kit

Majority of my hunting is south island for tahr etc. Use them guiding aswell

the design of the lens covers on the Swaro EL's is total shit given the price you pay for them.

They appear great at first but the way they are attached to the actual binos is terrible.
If you just put them inside your jacket they get worn or pulled off, I dont use a bino bivy.

I carry my Geovids on the "factory" strap all day on the hill without discomfort, I think its a bit of what you're used to. I tuck them inside whatever the outermost layer I'm wearing, which can feel a bit weird if you're down to shirt only, but for me it beats having all the "strappy things" that are bino bra's/bivi's etc

Originally Posted by mikee

the design of the lens covers on the Swaro EL's is total shit given the price you pay for them.

They appear great at first but the way they are attached to the actual binos is terrible.
If you just put them inside your jacket they get worn or pulled off, I dont use a bino bivy.

I have/had the old ones from Swarovski that went around the barrels. Heard all sorts of complaints about them. Mine never come off once. Always worked perfectly and I use a bino biv.
Not long had my binos return from Austria to fix the didopter adjustment.
No fucking lenses caps

Been in touch with agent and will be sent new ones but I want my old ones back

Sent from my SM-T510 using Tapatalk

Since having my Geovids I have no more headaches or eye strain. Having a rangefinder bino and a ballistic computer in one unit is a definite bonus, makes for quick dialup and shot.

Lashed out on a pair of Leica Geovids 10x42's a couple years back and have not regretted. Before making that purchase I went to a high end optics shop that stocked Leica, Swaro, Zeiss and others - I tried lots of different models and makes. Shop was in an area of town with great views out over gulf/harbour so gave me a good feel for image clarity, brightness, sharpness etc in full light conditions. While this is by no means a true test for our hunting environment and low light I came away with good sense of "fit for my eyes" and what $$ got you what performance. To my eyes the Zeiss Victory was the best glass i tried, but hard to justify spending ~2x more than the Leica Geovids. Same for the Leica HD-B's too much moolaa for slight, if any difference, to my eyes. So I went for leading edge not bleeding edge & saved $2k. They are a bit of a "brick" but in a bino biv i find these no issue to carry on the hill, and glassing is a pleasure.

Originally Posted by mikee

the design of the lens covers on the Swaro EL's is total shit given the price you pay for them.

They appear great at first but the way they are attached to the actual binos is terrible.
If you just put them inside your jacket they get worn or pulled off, I dont use a bino bivy.

The later models have a different setup for the front objective lens covers that don't attach around the lens barrels anymore which makes it difficult to pull them off.