Spent A Week With The 7x35 Retrovid... (23 Viewers)

[Scott98]

I think a good if not major part of the Retrovid appeal is its style. Leica, from their cameras to binoculars, seem to put a high priority or emphasis on really cool industrial design.

Yes, they remind me of "Bang & Olufsen" in the stereo world - I think that's a fair analogy

 

[John M Robinson]

Yes, they remind me of "Bang & Olufsen" in the stereo world - I think that's a fair analogy

Perfect analogy! I own two turntables, both since early 80s. A totally manual Sonographe with a nice tonearm and cartridge which supposedly sounds better and a fully automatic B&O tangential drive that looks cool and works great.

 

[Paultricounty]

You’ve essentially confirmed all my reservations. Why oh why Leica can you not produce this binocular with a “normal” field binocular housing (rubber armor, larger twist up eye cups, larger focus knob, fully waterproof)??

7x35 is truly the perfect all-around format for birding :/

Because then it wouldn’t be what it is, a retro classic with improved modern day Leica optics. Now if we want all those specifications , which I’d like as well, then we’ll have to call it something else.😉🤔

How about custom classic😁

 

[Paultricounty]

Yes, they remind me of "Bang & Olufsen" in the stereo world - I think that's a fair analogy

I was selling a clients home back in the late 1990’s in a very expensive north shore area on Long Island, multi million dollar homes at that time. The whole home, 7 bedrooms, den, family room , office, library , winery cellar and 5 car attached garage all had Bang & Olufsen built in speakers in all the ceilings and wall control units in every room. I was told at the time that this was an over $100,000 install.

The guy had one gold plated televue (I believe the renaissance model) 100mm refractor on a gorgeous wooden tripod on the Televue alt-azimuth mount at the back of the home glass sliding doors over looking a large property with open bay and in the far distance the Manhattan sky line.

I think it was there more for decoration than use.

 

[henry link]

The guy had one gold plated televue (I believe the renaissance model) 100mm refractor on a gorgeous wooden tripod on the Televue alt-azimuth mount at the back of the home glass sliding doors over looking a large property with open bay and in the far distance the Manhattan sky line.

I think it was there more for decoration than use.

Might have looked shiny and yellow like gold, but those scopes were made of brass, or maybe only brass plated. As they say "all that glitters..."

 

[Scott98]

yeah, it sounds like the brass Tele Vue. I like the stereo setup! They were way ahead of the curve. I know an electrician who spent like 6 months wiring up a single new-construction mansion up here. They had an Ipad in the wall of every room to control things.

 

[Paultricounty]

yeah, it sounds like the brass Tele Vue. I like the stereo setup! They were way ahead of the curve. I know an electrician who spent like 6 months wiring up a single new-construction mansion up here. They had an Ipad in the wall of every room to control things.

I believe it was brass plated, something like this.

The head units on the wall of each room were all metal toggles and dials that had the smoothest feed back feel , almost like a Zeiss SF or EDG focuser. Everything on it had a precision feel. No plastic or cheesy feeling operation. I may have a few pictures , I’ll see if I can dig them out.

Back to the OP, I’ve had these retros out many times comparing them with the 7x42 UV, 8x32 UV, Nikon 7x30 E C and the E2. They clearly are on par optically with the other Leica’s albeit with slightly more edge distortion and a touch more noticeable CA under certain conditions. A creamy delicious image. These are optically superior to the Nikons in every way (except FOV in E2). These are great binoculars with high end modern optics with the flare and design from a bygone era. They can be used , and I do use them like any other high quality pair of binoculars. They can do the job of any of the more modern designs , but the newer designs are an all around better tool. All depends on what flavor your in the mood for the day your going observing. If I could only have one pair of binoculars, these would not be it.

Paul.

 

[Scott98]

Back to the OP, I’ve had these retros out many times comparing them with the 7x42 UV, 8x32 UV, Nikon 7x30 E C and the E2. They clearly are on par optically with the other Leica’s albeit with slightly more edge distortion and a touch more noticeable CA under certain conditions.

So they're on par with the others....except for where they're not on par

 

[Paultricounty]

So they're on par with the others....except for where they're not on par

Sorry, meant on par with the other two Leica’s. 🫢🥃

 

[John M Robinson]

So they're on par with the others....except for where they're not on par

To me they are absolutely on par with my 8x42 Ultravid BRs which are still very very good binoculars. CA doesn’t particularly bother me, but I feel the 7x35s have a little less. The big 5mm exit pupil is really nice, but the Ultravids are fine. I also have 8x32 and 10x42 SEs, the Retrovids hold their own against those as well. As for the latest and greatest Alpha bins, they are basically half the price, so maybe not a fair comparison, but even then, they are close. On top of all that, what a delightful package to hold in the hand, and beautiful to look at if that means anything.

I don’t know how many on here, if anyone, only own one bin that they use for everything? For the last year these have been my carry everywhere, use every day bins, but I have those 10x42 SEs if I need more power, and those Ultravids if I need absolute waterproof bins.

 

[Scott98]

Sorry, meant on par with the other two Leica’s. 🫢🥃

I meant if the edges aren't as sharp and there's more false color, they're not on par optically....not trying to rain on the parade, several people I know love these 7x35's, they sound great

 

[Paultricounty]

I meant if the edges aren't as sharp and there's more false color, they're not on par optically....not trying to rain on the parade, several people I know love these 7x35's, they sound great

I’m very sensitive to CA, so I can see it almost on every pair of binoculars at some point, many people won’t see the difference in that area on those three Leica’s. On par optically I’m mainly speaking more about the image quality, sharpness, resolution, transparency and so on. Very similar to how an EL is on par with an NL with optical image quality. The retro can be a little warmer, softer image than the other two as well, so when you ad up all the checked boxes , they ad up to on par😜.

We could split hairs all day long and on Tuesday, wait it’s Friday , right. Sorry having a Biden moment.

 

[John M Robinson]

I meant if the edges aren't as sharp and there's more false color, they're not on par optically....not trying to rain on the parade, several people I know love these 7x35's, they sound great

Scott, I think you just have to try a pair. See what you think.

 

[Scott98]

Scott, I think you just have to try a pair. See what you think.

I think I'll like them! 7x35 is a wonderful size, I already have two of them and I'm hoping to keep it that way

 

[John M Robinson]

Remember when 7x35 was the most common size binocular? Bausch and Lomb had a nice nine power, but that was considered extreme.😊

 

[Paultricounty]

I think I'll like them! 7x35 is a wonderful size, I already have two of them and I'm hoping to keep it that way

Are they both on par with each other 🫢🤣.

 

[Scott98]

Are they both on par with each other 🫢🤣.

No! it's a 7x35E and a 7x35E-c. The C's improve the optics a bit but add 2 ounces of weight, so the E's have their own charm. I love the size & shape of these.

 

[Paultricounty]

Remember when 7x35 was the most common size binocular? Bausch and Lomb had a nice nine power, but that was considered extreme.😊

Like these.

 

[Paultricounty]

No! it's a 7x35E and a 7x35E-c. The C's improve the optics a bit but add 2 ounces of weight, so the E's have their own charm. I love the size & shape of these.

Ohh, so there not on par 😜👊🏻. Is it raining over there🫢.

I just sold one of my 7x35E’s, they were new old stock, buyer loves them. The C (criterion) was definitely an improvement, brighter and sharper, very close to the early E2’s.

 

[Boogieshrew]

Like these.

They look a lot like the Opticron Elite 9x35s that were my first binocular in 1983.