Leica Ultravid 7x42 HD+ Review
The 7x42 specification in binoculars is one particular that's usually overlooked, primarily in favour on the 8x42 models however the 7x magnification does offer you rewards so as on the list of most up-to-date additions to Leica’s binocular line up I decided to offer them a attempt.
The fact that Leica haven’t changed the design and style may perhaps be on account of the old quote ‘if it ain’t broke, do not repair it’. The Ultravids shape moulds nicely for the hand & the soft rubber armour ensures a comfortable, properly balanced grip, even after hours of use.
As soon as you raise the binocular to your eyes you are greeted by a stunningly bright image, one of several many added benefits from the 7x42 spec. Many factors affect how bright a binocular will be such as quality of glass, prism style & coatings but possibly the largest factor may be the exit pupil figure, this is definitely the size from the circle of light you see in the eyepiece. Your eye’s pupil is able to dilate to 7mm in diameter in dark conditions ( this does diminish with age ), so to have a binocular with an exit pupil of 7mm ( or as close as possible ) is a great advantage in low light. To work out the exit pupil figure of a binocular, just divide the size in the objective lens by the magnification, in the case of your 7x42 its 6mm compared to an 8x42 with 5mm or a 10x42 with 4.2mm. The time when you benefit most from a larger exit pupil is when the light is fading & your eye’s pupil opens up- If your comparing binoculars in bright sunshine you are unlikely to see any difference as your pupil could be open to say 3mm but as the light drops & your pupil dilates you are able to make use on the additional light gathering potential in the binocular. The 7x42 is a very good compromise between performance & weight, if you move up to a 50mm objective the overall size & weight of your binocular goes up markedly.
Setting up the binocular is simple- adjust the distance between the barrels to get a comfortable image. The binocular has twist eyecups, so setting or sharing between a glasses wearer & non wearer is quick & simple. The focus wheel is in two sections which are normally locked together but click apart to allow dioptre correction for the right eye. The focus system is smooth & precise, close focus is 3.3m, not as close as other models in the range but adequate for most situations.
As you would expect with binoculars at this sort of level they may be completely waterproof & nitrogen filled so no problems with internal misting after a temperature transform. The binoculars come with a 10 year guarantee & for extra peace of mind you get the Leica passport ( UK only ) which offers a free 1 year accidental damage cover.
Choice of magnification in binoculars is very much a personal thing. For me the ability to hold a steady image & have a good field of view outweighs the benefit of a higher magnification so I’m much happier with a 7 or 8x than 10x & the Leica 7x42 HD+ is definitely among the best I’ve tried offering edge to edge, razor sharp high contrast images even in poor lighting.
Leica Ultravid 7x42 HD+ Review
When it comes to style it is fair to say that Leica’s group have already been subtle in their adjust in the Ultavid HD, the only discernible alter is the fact that the ‘HD’ lettering around the badge now seems in red in lieu of white. 1 minor niggle is definitely the fact that the box does not mention HD+, they may be only known as Ultravid HD, a fact that I’ve had to point out to consumers to reassure them they're receiving the newest model.
The fact that Leica haven’t changed the design and style may perhaps be on account of the old quote ‘if it ain’t broke, do not repair it’. The Ultravids shape moulds nicely for the hand & the soft rubber armour ensures a comfortable, properly balanced grip, even after hours of use.
As soon as you raise the binocular to your eyes you are greeted by a stunningly bright image, one of several many added benefits from the 7x42 spec. Many factors affect how bright a binocular will be such as quality of glass, prism style & coatings but possibly the largest factor may be the exit pupil figure, this is definitely the size from the circle of light you see in the eyepiece. Your eye’s pupil is able to dilate to 7mm in diameter in dark conditions ( this does diminish with age ), so to have a binocular with an exit pupil of 7mm ( or as close as possible ) is a great advantage in low light. To work out the exit pupil figure of a binocular, just divide the size in the objective lens by the magnification, in the case of your 7x42 its 6mm compared to an 8x42 with 5mm or a 10x42 with 4.2mm. The time when you benefit most from a larger exit pupil is when the light is fading & your eye’s pupil opens up- If your comparing binoculars in bright sunshine you are unlikely to see any difference as your pupil could be open to say 3mm but as the light drops & your pupil dilates you are able to make use on the additional light gathering potential in the binocular. The 7x42 is a very good compromise between performance & weight, if you move up to a 50mm objective the overall size & weight of your binocular goes up markedly.
Setting up the binocular is simple- adjust the distance between the barrels to get a comfortable image. The binocular has twist eyecups, so setting or sharing between a glasses wearer & non wearer is quick & simple. The focus wheel is in two sections which are normally locked together but click apart to allow dioptre correction for the right eye. The focus system is smooth & precise, close focus is 3.3m, not as close as other models in the range but adequate for most situations.
As you would expect with binoculars at this sort of level they may be completely waterproof & nitrogen filled so no problems with internal misting after a temperature transform. The binoculars come with a 10 year guarantee & for extra peace of mind you get the Leica passport ( UK only ) which offers a free 1 year accidental damage cover.
Choice of magnification in binoculars is very much a personal thing. For me the ability to hold a steady image & have a good field of view outweighs the benefit of a higher magnification so I’m much happier with a 7 or 8x than 10x & the Leica 7x42 HD+ is definitely among the best I’ve tried offering edge to edge, razor sharp high contrast images even in poor lighting.
