Leica Geovid HD-B vs Non-rangefinders (1 Viewer)

[Bloodstriker]

I'm brand new to this site and I don't have a lot of experience with binoculars. However, I have a growing interest for optics stemming from target shooting and I realized that I just love to glass things.

Recently, I decided to purchase a pair of binoculars and tested a few for myself. I looked through a friend's HD-B and was shocked at how bright, clear and wide the field of view was for these binocular/rangefinders.

I am not in the market for a pair of rangefinders, so I set out looking for a good 10x42. I tried the Zeiss Victory HT 10x42, Conquest HD 10x42, Swaro EL 10x42(?), and the Steiner 10x50(?). My favourite of these was the Victory, but I couldn't justify the additional cost over the Conquest HDs and as a result, I have ordered a pair of the Conquests.

However, one thing really stood out. None of the binoculars I tested give me the "gasp, oh my..." feeling that the HDBs gave me. Granted, I couldn't do an A/B comparison with the other bins, but...

My question is this: Is the HDB really *that* good versus the other dedicated alpha bins, or was I simply imagining things? I've heard the Zeiss HTs are supposed to be the ones to beat...

 

[SteveTS]

Yes, they are good.

Take a look here : Leica Geovid HB-B 8x42, an independent comparative review http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=279895

Best wishes,

 

[Bloodstriker]

I've read that thread. I see that the HDB performs great versus the other rangefinder binoculars, however, the light transmission test results from that thread indicate that the Swaro and Zeiss rangefinder binos don't have the same optical performance as their top of the line binoculars. From what I can tell, the HD-B should perform optically similarly to, or even slightly worse than, the Ziess Victory HT. However, from my personal experience, the HD-B seemed to easily beat out the HT.

 

[Gijs van Ginkel]

Bloodstriker,
We have also tested the rangefinder binoculars from leica, Swarovski and Zeiss and I can not confirm your statement that the optical performance of the Swarovski rangefinder is lower than that of its other top of the line binoculars. You can find the test report on the WEB-site of House of Outdoor. The Zeiss rangefinder has a peculiarity in that sense that right and left tube have a considerablel difference in light transmission, you can read that in the test report you quoted, and we found the same with our measurements.
The new Leica Geovid with Perger prisms has a somewhat lower light tansmission, scores second with regard to the FOV, but it is in itself a very beautiful design both to look at as to look through. And it has a very nice handling comfort. However all these rangefinders are rather expensive, allthough it is still peanuts if I look at the prices of top cameras and top photographic lenses now presented at the coming Photokina.
Gijs

 

[SteveTS]

It seems that the Geovid HD-B 10x42 may now be discontinued and Leica are introducing a range of compact RF binos, the Leica Geovid HD-R 42 (8x42, 10x42) and Leica Geovid HD-R 56 (8x56, 15x56) : http://uk.leica-camera.com/Sport-Optics/Rangefinders/Leica-Geovid/Geovid-Range.

It is also possible to find the Geovid HD-B 8x42 new and at an appreciable discount at the moment.