Visionary 6x18 WDX or Leica 8x20 Ultravid? (1 Viewer)

8-P

The Visionary is more compact with a nice wide 7.5deg field oh and less than a tenth of the Leica price.

At least for fun, lets compare so thoughts on either or both?

Visionary do a line in reverse porros which look interesting spec wise but I've no idea if they are any use?

The Viosionary 6x18 has rather strong "ruby" coating,
which does reduce the UV, but also violet and even blue.
Most ruby-coated systems also reduce the red a lot, so the scene
looking isn't yellowed. Yout can see the red being rejected..
that is in fact why they are 'ruby'.

In fact, the view is very 'green' looking.
That gets to the actual reason for most ruby-coated optics:
with most of the red and violet gone, they can eliminate the
expensive achromatic lenses inside. Many times, green window glass
is used.
These are not likely to be that great.

In that range, the Carson 7x18 "Mini-Scouts" are a lot clearer and truer.
Their field is a bit 'bulgy-shaped' but incredibly wide...kind of fun.

If you really want 90% of the performance for 10% of the cost,
Olympus Roamer 8x21s or the Nikon Aculon 8x21s are really crisp and rich.
I give out Roamers as gifts sometimes...very sharp.


There are a lot of good binoculars around that size that aren't too pricey,
but the Ruby-coated Visionaries look odd from the word go.
I tear open some ruby-coats now and then when they are cleared out very cheap
(after holidays).....they are incredibly dim and b+w/green, usually.

Just got a great little 8x20 RSPB HD. Very good optics indeed.

Of course the damn thing is faulty and won't focus (or rather will but the two sides are out more than the diopter range) although I did get it to work for a little bit and will try again this morning but I think it's a goner and will have to be returned.

I think it's Chinese, there is no indication of origin, but I can see the internal baffling is very similar to the Hawke Sapphire ED I had but I actually think the optics in this are clearly better. Very good clear bright sharp view with negligible distortion right to the edge so what's not to like. No blackouts and easy eye placement with comfortable eyecups. I would definitely have kept this one but it's an ex demo from the bay so I'll probably have to return it via there but I'll wait and see what the seller says.

I think though it is almost necessary to have a warranty with these (which I don't think this demo does) as they don't seem as though they would last without some issue or maybe I just got yet another bad bin. I'm pretty fed up with that scenario.

Seems also that one hinge loose is pretty compulsory with these type of compacts (just picking them up lightly by the barrel outsides collapses one side) but I liked these straight off and would have kept them even then I think but if they can't or won't replace them then it's bye bye and I'm a bit sad and definitely disappointed to have found something good only to be let down again with faults.

Just had a thought on the loose hinge. When the bins are open and closed I suppose one side tightens with this movement while one loosens according to whatever way the hinge threads are so therefore inevitable that they always result in one weak and one strong hinge? Bloody annoying though.

Are Leica 8x20 like this or is that massive price justified in that only they actually make a bin that works although the 10x32 HD I had didn't focus properly without strain in one direction or even that good after their service.

Update: getting a replacement for the HD so very happy. Some photo's here
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=3321261#post3321261

CliveP said:

...Are Leica 8x20 like this or is that massive price justified in that only they actually make a bin that works although the 10x32 HD I had didn't focus properly without strain in one direction or even that good after their service...

Click to expand...

The Leica 8x20 Ultravid is not like that. Both its optics and mechanics are not just solid and functional, they're elegant and high performing. I've used mine heavily for almost a decade.

--AP