Leica 10x25 Ultravid BR binoculars

For many looking through the 10x25BRs they would find the image comparable with a good to very good larger pair of binoculars, however, to use these as an everyday pair of birding binoculars, I am not quite so sure.

Review by Brian J Small (brian At surfbirds.com)

Having recently been able to use a pair of the excellent new Leica 8x42 Ultravid BR binoculars, I have now been sent, for review, a pair of the compact 10x25 Ultravid BRs.

Small and neat they certainly are; fitting more or less into the palm of one hand or the pocket of a pair of trousers/coat, these are certainly compact. The facts are: in size they are smaller than the palm of my hand, 120mm in length and with the eyepieces (at 30mm) being the same diameter as at the objective lens end (ie, a long narrow tube for each optical unit); the focusing wheel is less than 20mm in diameter and close to the eyepieces - and with the aid of a small button the diopter can be adjusted to suit each eye; both optical 'tubes' hinge independently. The eye-cups slide out and click at an optimum distance from the lens. You are provided with a

narrow carrying strap, lens caps - those for the eye piece can be fitted to the strap to protect them from rain, or dribble, or food, or whatever - plus a padded case.

In some ways I was not used to binoculars quite so small and found, initially, the size to be a touch awkward, the focusing a touch fiddly, the eyepieces so small that it took a while to position them comfortably in my eye socket. However, with a little practise I found that by holding the eyepieces against my eyebrows, a little away from my eyes, I began to get used to them - though I do still find it hard to get that best position to look through them without having 'barreling'.

I should say from the start that it is unfair to compare these with the 8x42 BRs, they are very different 'beasts', though it is useful to use the larger pair as a factor in this review. Optically, the image is very good, with just a small amount of colour fringing near the very edge of the image. Of course, with such a small objective lens the light emission (with only a 2.5mm diameter exit pupil) is going to mean that the image is never going to be as bright as a pair of binoculars with a greater objective lens size (a pair of 8x42s will let through four times as much light). This proved to be a bit of a handicap in using them in the late afternoon, however, it is important to say that the quality of the coating on the Leica optics means that for many this will be a minimal disadvantage - but if you are not used to it.... Observable plumage detail is very good, with a crisp and quite contrasting image, and the image in good, stong light is extremely bright. The sharpness of the images is also good.

For many looking through the 10x25BRs they would find the image comparable with a good to very good larger pair of binoculars, however, to use these as an everyday pair of birding binoculars, I am not quite so sure. They are not as user-friendly as their larger cousins; they are not as easy or as comfortable to use - the focusing is fiddly and you might struggle with large gloves; they are not as optically excellent or the image as bright. I can however, recommend them as a backup pair to keep in a briefcase or car, or even for a partner that has a passing interest in looking at birds. In particular they are absolutely excellent for a child that is interested in birds and wildlife, one that finds larger binoculars too heavy, and the eye-cups too large for their smaller eye sockets. My eight year old son has used them and wants me to get him a pair; he has made his own comments and thinks they are "fantastic", "cool" and "sweet" - high praise indeed!

Brian Small
October 2005

See Brian's Review of the Leica 8x42 Ultravid BR Binoculars

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