Spent A Week With The 7x35 Retrovid... (24 Viewers)

[Scott98]

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.

I saw that! I couldn't help but wonder, how did you find NOS on 40-year old binoculars? Must be a story behind that. I was lucky to find new-condition E's from Japan on ebay and also scored a new condition E-c by directly soliciting (begging) a forum member on CN. Don't like to do that but these don't exactly grow on trees

Had the 7x35E-c out for an hour yesterday, while my snow tires were being removed, in nearby forest trails. So awesome! After many years of 8x42's I'm thinking 35mm is the ultimate size for birding. 42's are heavy and bulky for hiking around the woods. And I want the bigger aperture over the many 30-32mm's which just seem too small to me.

The optics on the 7x35E-c are exquisite. I like smaller FOV and minimum glass and they suit me perfectly. The highlight of the hour was watching a gold-crowned kinglet in some white pine saplings. I'm sure I would appreciate the 7x35 Leicas but I blew the rest of the 7x budget on 7x42 EDG. There's a certain elegance to these older non-rubber binoculars I really like. I wouldn't want to rubberize the Retros or pressure-seal them which would stiffen the focuser.

 

[Paultricounty]

I saw that! I couldn't help but wonder, how did you find NOS on 40-year old binoculars? Must be a story behind that. I was lucky to find new-condition E's from Japan on ebay and also scored a new condition E-c by directly soliciting (begging) a forum member on CN. Don't like to do that but these don't exactly grow on trees

Does macys tell gimbles 🤪. Seriously, I was looking for a nice clean pair for a while and when it popped and said new, I questioned it the Japanese seller, but he said if not new he’ll pay for me to return. I’m with you on the begging, don’t like to grovel, but a man has to do what man has to do😆.

You should’ve seen me grovel for my two new Rangemaster acquisitions that I’ve been looking for over a year, a truly was embarrassing spectacle. But the seller was great and I didn’t push, just stayed in touch for months and I must’ve wore him down, or he felt sorry for me 🤣.

Had the 7x35E-c out for an hour yesterday, while my snow tires were being removed, in nearby forest trails. So awesome! After many years of 8x42's I'm thinking 35mm is the ultimate size for birding. 42's are heavy and bulky for hiking around the woods. And I want the bigger aperture over the many 30-32mm's which just seem too small to me.

I like 7x myself, great DOF and very calm image. I can sit and observe all day. Some 30/32’s are real nice as well and for me , can take the place of my 42’s most of the time.

The optics on the 7x35E-c are exquisite. I like smaller FOV and minimum glass and they suit me perfectly. The highlight of the hour was watching a gold-crowned kinglet in some white pine saplings. I'm sure I would appreciate the 7x35 Leicas but I blew the rest of the 7x budget on 7x42 EDG. There's a certain elegance to these older non-rubber binoculars I really like. I wouldn't want to rubberize the Retros or pressure-seal them which would stiffen the focuser.

If you like the old style leatherette classics and Nikon image image , you’ll really like the Retros. But the EDG’s great glass and will definitly help you forget about the Retros, at least for a while until the itch starts again.

I hear what you saying about the budget, it’s a very very addicting hobby.

Paul

 

[LucaPCP]

I've been clamoring for a 7x32 or 7x35 Ultravid for years. If such a binocular existed I'd never have given the Retrovid a second thought.

Indeed. I will not buy a binocular that's not waterproof, for both rain (and this season, in California, I certainly needed the waterproofness) and cleaning. That's a complete deal breaker for me. The slow focus is also not appreciated.

A 7x35 UV with better eye relief than my 8x32 would likely become my one and only binocular, the ideal one. As it is, I use the 8x32 for travel, and 7x42 on a harness for local birding.

 

[lmans66]

I use my 7x35 as my go-to bin. Easily fits my needs all around. I mite hv to get a second pair and leave them at my other daughters house so when I travel across country, I can pack light.

 

[adhoc]

Paul: "I like 7x myself, great DOF and very calm image. I can sit and observe all day. Some 30/32’s are real nice as well and for me , can take the place of my 42’s most of the time."

Does that "30/32's" refer to any 7x's also? If so then which? Thanks. I'm presently thinking of getting a Hawke Endurance 7x32, discussed on this forum, while awaiting that weather-sealed "alpha" 7x35, maybe! It's possible we're seeing now the beginning of a wave of small-obj. 7xs. Correction in edit, if needed, after reading post #46 below: I mean a wave of different small-obj. 7x models, not of purchases.

 

[gweller]

I wonder just how many 7x35 Retrovids Leica has sold?? It's very popular here, and quite a few forum members have one (including myself) but I question how popular it is outside those of us "in the know", so to speak. If it is selling well, then maybe we can hope for a 7x35/32 Ultravid in the future.... one can always dream of course...

 

[Trinovid]

...maybe we can hope for a 7x35/32 Ultravid in the future.... one can always dream of course...

That 7x Ultravid dream looks a lot like mine...

 

[Paultricounty]

Paul: "I like 7x myself, great DOF and very calm image. I can sit and observe all day. Some 30/32’s are real nice as well and for me , can take the place of my 42’s most of the time."

Does that "30/32's" refer to any 7x's also? If so then which? Thanks. I'm presently thinking of getting a Hawke Endurance 7x32, discussed on this forum, while awaiting that weather-sealed "alpha" 7x35, maybe! It's possible we're seeing now the beginning of a wave of small-obj. 7xs. Correction in edit, if needed, after reading post #46 below: I mean a wave of different small-obj. 7x models, not of purchases.

It’s not what I had meant, but of course that would be really nice. I was speaking more of the 30/32 format, I like the 7x , but my most used magnification is 8x in 30/32/42 Usually for long hikes or rough terrain I use 8x32’s and on shorter hikes or where I can sit I prefer 8x42’s. It’s just lately I have been enamored and am really enjoying these old vintage super wide 7x35’s, but some of these are heavier than 42’s, so I don’t know how long the love is going to last.

It’s kind of interesting how the manufacturers have circled a little over the years with magnification and objective size. I would think 7x30/32 , 8x35, 9x40/42/44 and with options for 10x in all those sizes would be more balanced. 😉

 

[John M Robinson]

When the rumors of the possible manufacture of the 7x35 Trinovid surfaced at least 5 years ago, I was pretty excited. They were shown with rubber armoring, and I naturally assumed they'd be waterproof. Several years came and went, until Leica finally announced their production! I was excited until I saw "how" they were being offered - a metal housing with faux leather, no waterproofing, non-screw eyecups, and no objective covers. Really?

I am NOT interested in "retro" anything (the only things that have sentimental value to me are the things I've used for years). So, the way these were offered was really disappointing. I was purely interested in the 7x35 size built around a robust and useful package for where and how I use binoculars.

So, I waited, and watched as some here on BF acquired, used, and reviewed the 7x35's. Over time my objections softened. And since I've always believed a quality 7x35 would be the perfect binocular for me (despite really wanting a 7x32/35 Ultravid), I put my misgivings aside and ordered the 7x35 Trinovid.

I spent a solid week with the Retrovid's, comparing them with my 8x3UV's in all kinds of lighting conditions. I have to say, optically, they really stand up to my Leica HD's.

What I liked:

7x35 - The "perfect compromise of magnification and objective size, allowing a fairly compact build for use in most lighting conditions.
Eye Relief - Plenty!
Size - Handy!
Optics - Fine resolution, and that beautiful warm Leica view.

What I disliked:

Focus - The focus knob is too small (not really comfortable) and the focus is too slow.
Diopter - Fussy. It took me quite a bit of time to get it dialed in. Could be I'm just used to the wonderful Ultravid diopter, but I suspect that slow focus is the main culprit.
Exterior Finish - nice, but impractical for me. They ARE cold in the hands. We have a LOT of cold weather here.
Objective Covers - there are none. I need and use them. I ordered the appropriate size for the Retrovid from Opticron. They just didn't fit well, and I'm not going to go on a google holy grail search to outfit a binocular with something it should already have from the factory.

I sent them back with some regret, since optically they are VERY nice. I could have lived with their non-waterproof build. I could have lived with the pull-up ocualrs (they are nicely positive). But the sum of the negatives outweighed the positives for me, so back they went. Too bad. For others, given where and how they use binoculars, I can see how they'll fill a niche. But I'm not a niche binocular owner. I'm a less-is-more sort of guy, and want my binoculars to span a wide variety of applications. Sigh...

Great review and I agree with all you said. The retro 1960s look was a big deal to me. I remember seeing them in the 1960s Eddie Bauer catalog and dreaming about them. I finally got a pair around 1980, they were damaged beyond reasonable repair in the mid 90s. So when Leica came out with this updated version, I was all in.

My observations; I prefer the feel in hand to any other binocular. I don’t like the new eyecups, I like the old rubber ones. I don’t wear glasses with my bins. The focus is slow and the depth of field so deep, they don’t pop in and out of focus rapidly, but it works. I actually like the feel of the focus knobs. They are more waterproof than my old Leitz which were never a problem. That said, if I ever went out in pouring rain, highly unlikely, I’ll take my Ultravids and leave the Retrovid in the truck. I finally figured out how to use the leather pouch, which eliminates the need for objective covers.

Bottom line, the slim size, great optics, light weight and feel in the hand make these my favorite.

 

[adhoc]

Paul, thanks. I agree with your last sentence, and have been thinking pretty much the same thing for years. Somehow as the Next Big Thing I thought of 8x36, not 35, probably because for decades the figures for most/?nearly all 8xs and 10xs have been even, 30, 32, 40, 42, 44, 50, 52, 56. But, apart from the hidden wisdom of such as us, the manufrs. have been doing some thinking of their own, as we see, say, among the "alpha" cos., in the unexpected and successful launches of 7x21 (Swaro.), 7x35 (Leica), 8x and 10x30 (Nikon), 8x and 10x40 (Zeiss), etc. PS. Let's not divert the thread off topic, though!

 

[Scott98]

When I do a search on "7x35 binoculars" at B&H photo, there are tons of models that come up - the size is still popular. It's the higher-end premium binocular niche that moved to 8x. Maybe because birders are the ones spending a lot of money on binos and they prefer 8 or 10x?

 

[gweller]

When I do a search on "7x35 binoculars" at B&H photo, there are tons of models that come up - the size is still popular. It's the higher-end premium binocular niche that moved to 8x. Maybe because birders are the ones spending a lot of money on binos and they prefer 8 or 10x?

Yes, it's strange isn't it?? I know a lot of birders like 7x but maybe it's less popular with hunters, and that's why the likes of Swaro and Zeiss don't make an alpha 7x bin (excluding the 7x21 Curio of course)?

 

[GrampaTom]

Yes, it's strange isn't it?? I know a lot of birders like 7x but maybe it's less popular with hunters, and that's why the likes of Swaro and Zeiss don't make an alpha 7x bin (excluding the 7x21 Curio of course)?

Prolly not so strange. Cant we suspect the bino makers know their market pretty well, the number and preferences of we their customers? There are several 7X fans here on BF and you may know many. Where I bird, mostly salt marsh and open water, things are different. Seems a decent guess the market for 7X is limited. And well covered, by existing choices. Swaro and Zeiss would know this, make a choice. If the makers see limited demand, and the attendant limited chance for return on investment for an Alpha 7 they wont go there. Cant help but wonder what is brewing in those new R&D facilities Swaro just built. Is the future image stabilization? Where would you put your R&D money?

Tom

 

[gweller]

Prolly not so strange. Cant we suspect the bino makers know their market pretty well, the number and preferences of we their customers? There are several 7X fans here on BF and you may know many. Where I bird, mostly salt marsh and open water, things are different. Seems a decent guess the market for 7X is limited. And well covered, by existing choices. Swaro and Zeiss would know this, make a choice. If the makers see limited demand, and the attendant limited chance for return on investment for an Alpha 7 they wont go there. Cant help but wonder what is brewing in those new R&D facilities Swaro just built. Is the future image stabilization? Where would you put your R&D money?

Tom

In the long term I suspect we will get high resolution digital binoculars with full digital image stabilization and auto focus. If you look at the superb oled view finders that top range mirroless cameras have, and the image stabilization that long lenses use then I can see that tech eventually ending up in binoculars. Maybe even with in built recognition software - who knows!!

 

[GrampaTom]

In the long term I suspect we will get high resolution digital binoculars with full digital image stabilization and auto focus. If you look at the superb oled view finders that top range mirroless cameras have, and the image stabilization that long lenses use then I can see that tech eventually ending up in binoculars. Maybe even with in built recognition software - who knows!!

Im kinda with you. It is one reason Im choosing to think of binos as tools, rather than collectibles, Objets D'art, (dont think I ever wrote that term before... ha ha). The tool argument is easily made and most birders I see seem to agree. Hard to glimpse the latest and greatest we spend so much time discussing here, out there. The merging of camera tech with bino/scope tech seems inevitable, in which case values on conventional optics stuff would seem in jeopardy.

 

[GrampaTom]

That said, and Ive written this before, think it was 1971ish, out of college, back from the military, just married, no career yet in motion, living in New Hampshire, I wandered into an optics shop in Hanover. There I saw my first Trinovid roof prism bino and the smoke started to rise from the top of my head. I get the appeal of the Retrovids. I surely do.

 

[lmans66]

The merging of camera tech with bino/scope tech seems inevitable, in which case values on conventional optics stuff would seem in jeopardy.

It isn’t just the loss of conventional optics; it goes way further than that. With AI, these bins will have ebird recognition ( visual and audio) built into it … perhaps connected using software and satellites. You see a bird, well… immediate recognition.

More important is that technology will wipe out human ability ( not us old timers though) and skills and stored human knowledge on bird habitats, behavior, environment, mannerisms, bird visuals and ID, skills such as creeping up to a bird so they don’t know you are there ( already a lost skill with current long range lens) etc etc. Birding as a ‘skill’ will be lost and supplanted with something the newcomers will all want and treasure and think more highly of than old fashioned birding skills. They will talk themselves into it.

After a decade or so, a group of retro’s will return, just like film cameras now are making a comeback over digital cameras. Old Binoculars thru the years will be in demand; somewhat.

The evolution of technology will mean a loss of human knowledge and skill, but hey… how many of you can build a log cabin, or ride a horse, or live off the land, or even wash your own clothes?

 

[Trinovid]

...technology will wipe out human ability... The evolution of technology will mean a loss of human knowledge and skill...

This is why I've always resisted the idea that today's youth are smarter than the previous generation or that we're smarter now than we were 10,000 years ago. Mankind has always had the same level of mental capacity; it's just the things that each generation needed to know that changed.

 

[lmans66]

This is why I've always resisted the idea that today's youth are smarter than the previous generation or that we're smarter now than we were 10,000 years ago. Mankind has always had the same level of mental capacity; it's just the things that each generation needed to know that changed.

True…. Spot on. Or not just needed, but perhaps they didn’t have things before and just went about business with that in mind.

IE…. In birding… my dad’s old Peterson bird guide was in black and white. No color option as we have today. He learned to ID birds based on habitats, mannerisms and Black and White sketches…. While today with modern guides we rely heavily on color ID and many have no idea concerning bird habitat ( high in canopy or low or open fields etc).

 

[GrampaTom]

It isn’t just the loss of conventional optics; it goes way further than that. With AI, these bins will have ebird recognition ( visual and audio) built into it … perhaps connected using software and satellites. You see a bird, well… immediate recognition.

More important is that technology will wipe out human ability ( not us old timers though) and skills and stored human knowledge on bird habitats, behavior, environment, mannerisms, bird visuals and ID, skills such as creeping up to a bird so they don’t know you are there ( already a lost skill with current long range lens) etc etc. Birding as a ‘skill’ will be lost and supplanted with something the newcomers will all want and treasure and think more highly of than old fashioned birding skills. They will talk themselves into it.

After a decade or so, a group of retro’s will return, just like film cameras now are making a comeback over digital cameras. Old Binoculars thru the years will be in demand; somewhat.

The evolution of technology will mean a loss of human knowledge and skill, but hey… how many of you can build a log cabin, or ride a horse, or live off the land, or even wash your own clothes?

I hear ya. I bird with a pal I met on the trails multiple times. He birds with a camera. I haul binos and scope. He takes pictures of birds he knows and certainly works hard to get better at his craft. But for those he does not know, he sends pics to Merlin and EBird and has them do the identification. We kid about it. I chide, "you're cheating man." Suppose that makes me a luddite. Then have to confess I have those same 2 resources and Sibley in my phone. Whoops! We still have fun, so gotta just laugh and move on. Ive forgotten how to read a map and cant hand write anything legible, to even me...