Leica Ultravid 10x25

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I live in the mountains of Colorado surrounded by beautiful peaks, wildlife and birds.  I often find myself confronted by an elk, fox, bear, moose, eagle, mountain sheep, or rarely, a mountain lion. At such times I wish I had a pair of binoculars on me but I never do. The Zeiss binocs I used to have were too big to tote around with me at all times or to take on trips and the compact Steiners I had bought on a whim were difficult for me to see out of (insufficient eye relief, not very bright, not particularly sharp) - they were given to my son. So I bit the bullet, melted my credit card, and ordered a pair of Leica Ultravid 10x25s. They arrived today and boy are they light and tiny for something so well made - they take up almost no space in my daily carry bag next to my M. More importantly, I can easily see through them, even with glasses, they’re surprisingly bright (I was looking through them during the golden hour), and of course they’re very sharp. I was somewhat concerned about shake with a small 10x but I didn’t find that was a problem either. Problems solved!  I just thought I’d write this mini review since I haven’t seen much about them on these pages. 

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[Leica28]

 You are very lucky to live where you do with the variety of wildlife.  I’m jealous...

[stuny]

we got into the 10x25 Trinovids quite some time ago, and have since bought a pair of Ultravids.  since we do carry-on treating out travel passion, size and weight are a necessity.  Our experience with them matches yours, and I doubt you'll ever regret your purchase.  Have fun with them, and keep them out while hiking.

[wlaidlaw]

Like Stuart, I have a pair of Trinovid 10x25 which live permanently at my French house and a pair of Ultravid 10x25 that live in the UK but are mainly used for overseas trips. Is there a big difference between the Trinovid and the Ultravid - no not really and I actually prefer the way that the Trinovid single lens compensation works to the slightly clunky Ultravid compensation. It is really only at dawn or dusk that I can detect any difference as the Ultravids transmit a bit more light and making out well camouflaged animals is slightly easier, which is why I use the Ultravid for travel. I mainly use my Trinovids for fire spotting, as I can see almost 50 miles from the vantage point of my French house. I have been the first alert a few times for fires started from lightning strikes on the forest below my house, as I am one of only two houses with a high up view over that area. I have today just bought a second hand Televid 77 angled spotter scope with 20-60 ocular, which will go to France to replace a very cheap Burris scope, which was not good new over 25 years ago. Once I have spotted some smoke with the binoculars, I can then home in with the spotter scope to get a better idea of what is happening and if required, I can guide/vector in the pompiers or the Canadair water bombers to the exact location of the fire. 

Wilson

Edited February 23, 2021 by wlaidlaw

[Huss]

Any idea why they do not ship with lens caps for both ends?  And can I get a pair of end caps?  

[wlaidlaw]

I would try a telescope shop who often have lots of different size slip on caps. That is where I found caps for my East German Navy Steiner 10 x 65 night binoculars, where the original fake leather (plastic coated cardboard) case had rotted away. I assume Leica think that with the rather cheap and very stiff nylon case supplied with the Ultravids, end caps are not needed. I bought a new old stock Leica leather case, the same as came with my Trinovid 10x25 binoculars bought 30 years ago, for my Ultravid 10x25 bought three years ago. The leather case is much less bulky than the nylon case. It is quite a tight fit on the Ultravids but is such lovely soft leather, that it soon stretches to a good fit. I leave my Trinovids at my French house and the Ultravids in the UK for when I go travelling. 

Wilson