Thread: Leica Geovid HD-B Binoccular Clarity

I've just got off the phone to a fella who told me that he had a set of Bushnell Range Finding Binoculars, and, in order to be safe, all range finding binoculars (and monoculars) have to have a special coating added to the objective lenses, in order to prevent the laser beam from damaging the user's eyes!

He claimed that this coating 'greatly' reduced the performance of the lenses out beyond 800 or so yards, as the definition had dropped way off! So much so, that he didn't have them long before on selling them and going back to standard, non-range finding binos!

Having just sold my Leica Ultravid 10x42's, with the intent of purchasing the Leica Geovid 10x42-B Range finding Binoculars (which Ive done research on, however, never actually clapped eyes on in the flesh) and with the hefty price tag they command, I was a wee bit dubious as to weather they are a good thing or not!

Sure, we are talking Bushnells compared to Leica's here, however, has anyone else ever heard of this coating, and can anyone enlighten me as to weather the Leica Geovid's are coated and the lens performance effected by this also?

Sounds like he was trying to justify why his bushnells were so horrific

Bushnells + 800 yrds = performance loss to be expected

He may be regurgitating a comment he's received in an effort to justify their lack of performance.

Leica suffers no such loss i can assure you.

Has any of you heard of this coating he was on about?

Originally Posted by Remington 5R .300 Win Mag

Has any of you heard of this coating he was on about?

No, if they did have this "coating" it would only be on one tube as that's where the finder is.
Your mate has bushnells Id stop listening when he mentioned that.


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Nothing wrong with the 800+ performance of my bushys
Dude could just need glasses

Hmmm, think dude's got glasses!

Jam jar thick?

Range finder Binos don't have special coatings as far as I know, but the rangefinder mechanism can very slightly reduce the light transmission in one side (the one with the RF sensors in it) in some designs - obvious when you think about it, its splitting some light from that side. I don't know how the new Leica's RF are, but the reduction is in-detectable in my older Leica RF's.

I think its one of those things that is more theoretical than real.

I have a pair of 25 year old 10X42 Leica Ultravids and recently compared them with a near new pair of Geovids.
To my eyes the Ultravids did appear very slightly sharper but there was not much in it.
I could happily live with a pair of Geovids if I really needed the range finder function.

Since when did the laser shoot into the users eyes? Sure he was looking through the right end? maybe he was measuring how far to his nose?

I'm pretty sure "eye safety" depends on both the wavelength and the transmission power..

There are apparently some old Russian mil units out there that reach 35km but aren't exactly eye safe..

Originally Posted by BobGibson

I have a pair of 25 year old 10X42 Leica Ultravids and recently compared them with a near new pair of Geovids.
To my eyes the Ultravids did appear very slightly sharper but there was not much in it.
I could happily live with a pair of Geovids if I really needed the range finder function.

Interesting! If your Ultravids are 25 y/o, and slightly out perform the new Geovids, mine were 8 y/o, and they were the HD model! So the new Geovids must 'pale' in optical quality to the new Ultravid HD 'Plus' 10x42s then, aye?

Originally Posted by Gibo

Since when did the laser shoot into the users eyes? Sure he was looking through the right end? maybe he was measuring how far to his nose?

Dunno mate! Dude claimed the laser beam goes to target and then rebounds back to the unit (for reading) and 'BAAAM', you're screwed if you look at it without this special coating! I ain't sure of anything!

Originally Posted by 6x47

I'm pretty sure "eye safety" depends on both the wavelength and the transmission power..

There are apparently some old Russian mil units out there that reach 35km but aren't exactly eye safe..

The last thing they ever saw, you reckon?