Greatest binoculars

Pure! Indeed. A first look (16-12-2021)

The NL Pure 10x42 followed by Zeiss Victory FL 10x56, HT 10x54, SF 10x42, and my SLC8x42.

8x Leica binoculars at Wetzlar (13-11-2021, updated 16-12-2021)

I wanted to look through all of them. Love in the time of cholera. Long live the Ultravids...

Visiting Leica in Wetzlar (13-11-2021)

Some special binoculars from their exhibition, and why Elsie Kühn-Leitz was put into prison by the Gestapo in 1944.

Compared to what, where and when...? (22-9-2021, more added 13-11-2021)

New and old favourites, tested under different conditions. Never underestimate Swarovski, or sell your favourite Leica for a Zeiss.

Swarovski SLC 8x42. NEW REVIEW. My favourite 8x42. (16-12-2020)

The two biggest surprises in 2020: SLC 8x42 and Zeiss Victory 8x25.

Noctivid 8x42 review: Leica magic...gone (11-6-2020, rewritten 16-12-2020)

It´s heartbreaking. Really. Finally, even a Leica binocular´s images have become flat and boring. Brave new world.

Three 8x42s compared in 2020, and looking back... (16-12-2020)

Zeiss Victory Pocket 8x25 mini review (11-6-2020, last version 22-9-2021)

Shortest review ever. No matter if you read it or not - don´t miss this glass.

When owning binoculars was forbidden under threat of death, why an attempt to assassinate Hitler failed, and scenes from the history of Zeiss... a look at Vintage 8x50mm binoculars from Carl Zeiss Jena and Oberkochen - and a conversation with their owner, Börries von Breitenbuch. Beware the Super Nobilem! (27-5-2019, complete rewrite 27-7-2019)

I bought a Nikon EDG 8x42 because it is an awesome glass with a unique combination of qualities that may soon become unavailable. Unique selling point: best contrast and best colour of all 8x42s with great ease of view in an extremely compact package. Best flat field 8x42.

My favourite binoculars 2020 (11-6-2020)

4 hours, 15 binoculars (15-1-2019)

This was an eyeopener, venturing out with my Leica 8x32HDPlus and having a look through a whole bunch of premium bins. Leica vs Swaro vs Zeiss... with some real surprises.

What really matters: 3D HIGH FIDELITY vs the curse of flat field (10-12-2019)

Why do we need flat glass when it really destroys the rendering of space? I want to watch birds, not cartoons of birds. I want to photograph faces, not sheets of metal...

Nikon 8x30 E2 100th anniversary edition - mini review (9-7-2018)

Leica Noctivid 10x42 review (16-1-2018, last update 15-12-2020)

Impressive. But then, compared to what?

Leica Ultravid 8x32 HD Plus Review and second look 2018 (26-12-2015, last revision 2-7-2018)

This is what a great binocular should be - a door to a new world and a joy for every day. The Ultravid has the perfect ultra sharpness few of the very best 8x42 have. It is incredibly small, light, and beautiful. It has become my everyday bin.

Classic porros

I will be looking at a bunch of completely serviced old glass I own and hopefully have some fun with it - Binuxit 8x30, Zeiss West 8x30B MK2 (!), Optolyth Alpin 8x30, Habicht 8x30 (1961) and throw in the modern Habicht 8x30 (2009) as a reference... unfortunately most of these glasses are still stuck in the service.

Leica Ultravid 7x42 HD Plus vs. Zeiss Victory FL 7x42 vs. Nikon EDG 7x42 (7-12-2017)

First came the Leica - by far the best binocular I ever used and a compelling case for the 7x42s: best view in a glass lighter than 800g. Next, the Nikon EDG, and finally the legendary Zeiss FL.
MORE...

Second look at the Nikon 8x30 E2, and why I still prefer the Habicht (29-5-2017)

Colours and brightness in binoculars (1-12-2015)

I really wanted to get to know a few things better by having a closer look and find more evidence to answer some interesting questions: Is the Zeiss SF really too green, is the Nikon EDG really darker than most other 8x42s, and why is the Leica Ultravid so bright and vivid? So, I photographed through the binocular objectives to find out more...

The Magnificent Six - Shootout Premier 8x42s - 15-9-2015, last update 7-12-2017

In April 2015 I started to do a comparative review of the Leica Ultravid 8x42 HD Plus, the Swarovski SLC W B 8x42, the Swarovski EL 8.5x42 Swarovision, the Zeiss Victory HT 8x42 and the Zeiss Victory SF 8x42. Are the crown jewels of the European and Japanese premium manufacturers worth their money, and what is the unique character of each glass?

The Nikon EDG 8x42 joined the party late, surprised me with its excellence and raised a lot of new questions. Including the unique Swarovski Habicht 8x30 as my reference for center performance it´s even "The Magnificent Seven".

An objective ranking of these bins is impossible, each model has its own character with pros and cons, so it really depends on what is most important to you. My personal winner is - well, you really need to read the whole thing.

Zeiss Victory SF 8x42 review - 15-9-2015, last update 24-11-2015

Revolution: will Zeiss successfully challenge the Swarovision with their first flat field design? New shades of grey vs established green...

Leica Ultravid 8x42 HD Plus review - 15-9-2015, last update 27-12-2015

Beauty reloaded: 12 years after the first version, can the latest Ultravid still compete with the rest of the best? Seems HT glass for the prisms and the lastest thunder and lightning plasma coatings were not vain.

Zeiss Victory HT 8x42 review - 15-9-2015, last update 24-11-2015

Evolution? Victory! With high transmission and AK prisms back to the future. Or, to quote Darth Vader: "The force is strong in this one."