Colin Key
January 25th, 2008, 05:57 PM
Just wondered whether anyone has got their hands on any of the new Ultravid HD range, and if so what is their opinion. I currently have the "old" Ultravid 10x42 which are excellent, but still reckon that my even "older" Trinovid 10x50 BA are better optically (but with advancing years they feel as though I have a bag of cement around my neck).
Since the new model seems to be trickling through and I understand that the current Ultravids are now being discounted to shift stock, the price differential makes the HDs roughly 50% more expensive. I cannot believe that they could be optically and mechanically 50% better than the old model.
Some mates who went to the last Bird Fair had a look through what was there on the Leica stand and, although they said there was a lot of "ooohing and aaaghing", they could not detect any noticeable improvement in IQ.
There could be a reason for this: one of my friends (who is in the optical glass business, but nothing to do with "sports optics") who recently went to see a well known retailer in the U.K. was told that although the models on show at the BF were the new HD housing, they just had the old Ultravid glass in them because they could not meet the BF deadline for prototype production. Gossip maybe, but given Leica's recent problems it just might be true.
Apology for long post but I am the sort of person who gets a bit "itchy" when a "new and improved model" is released, and with the Leica HDs, Televid 82mm APO 'scope, and Canon's 800 mm lens coming this year it is going to be quite an expensive time!
Colin :ohdear:
Since the new model seems to be trickling through and I understand that the current Ultravids are now being discounted to shift stock, the price differential makes the HDs roughly 50% more expensive. I cannot believe that they could be optically and mechanically 50% better than the old model.
Some mates who went to the last Bird Fair had a look through what was there on the Leica stand and, although they said there was a lot of "ooohing and aaaghing", they could not detect any noticeable improvement in IQ.
There could be a reason for this: one of my friends (who is in the optical glass business, but nothing to do with "sports optics") who recently went to see a well known retailer in the U.K. was told that although the models on show at the BF were the new HD housing, they just had the old Ultravid glass in them because they could not meet the BF deadline for prototype production. Gossip maybe, but given Leica's recent problems it just might be true.
Apology for long post but I am the sort of person who gets a bit "itchy" when a "new and improved model" is released, and with the Leica HDs, Televid 82mm APO 'scope, and Canon's 800 mm lens coming this year it is going to be quite an expensive time!
Colin :ohdear: