Ultravid HD+ 12x50 vs Meopta Meostar 12x50 B1 Plus (5 Viewers)

[Yarkho]

The Czech eshop.meopta.cz says that the body is made of aluminum alloy. The 2025 product catalog says "Mg-Al body". I will try to send them an email.

Catalogs (including EN version): Ke stažení | Meopta :: Lepší pohled na svět

 

[adhoc]

Thank you, Yarkho! In the Catalog, reached thru. your link, on pages 20 and 22 each, which in the EN version are each titled "MeoStar B1 Plus", yes, the CZ version says "MG-AL [...]", as I see now, but the EN version says "MAGNESIUM BODY". Then, on page 54, which in the EN version is titled "Technical Specifications Binoculars", both the CZ and EN versions give the lesser weights. Looking forward to Meopta's response!

 

[tenex]

and i get herring in tomato saus for diner

Funny, my wife and I discovered makrell i tomatsaus (for breakfast!) in Norway and still quite like it. But growing up with it could be different.

Some months after that Typo put up (reluctantly, at my urging) this remarkable post on resolution in binos...

Yes, I remember copying that, still have it for reference.

The Meopta website has been stating for 2-3 years to date that the MeoStar Plus bodies are now magnesium and in the spec. table give weights for them that are much less than of the aluminum bodies we know. Have any such been marketed? Or, is the change going to happen, and when?

Sadly we've been through this already in a thread here in the Meopta section. The magnesium claim is false, never happened; the catalog weights are incorrect. Right hand, left hand, corporate buyout...

 

[HenRun]

To round off this thread:

Both binoculars are so impressive that it is really hard to choose between them. I really can't pick a favourite. You can't really go wrong with either one.
I like looking through the Leica a little more than through the Meopta. I see why it is popular and why it is a keeper for some forum members. Or maybe it is because it is the latest addition to the addiction...

... but Leica UVHD has a slightly larger AFOV and the view is wonderful, and it is slightly brighter than the Meostar.

Midday this is not much of an advantage. For the most part CA is well controlled and in field use it is very seldom noticed. After the initial "shock" I have been using it two three full days and I am almost never noticing it at all, so for me it is not an issue for field use.
However, at times it does pop up quite visibly, especially compared to the Meostar. It has only been distracting on a very few occasions.

Overall I feel I could happily live with the Ultravid experience. I had some great sessions already and one of my favourite local birds, the European Green Woodpecker, actually showed up just 30m or so away, just as I was getting in the car this morning.

I had not seen a single one for over a year or so - so I stepped out again and spent a few minutes with the Ultravid on a monopod. It flew off across the field and joined a sibling so I got to enjoy seeing two at once. Even at far I could follow them in the foliage (a red capped skull helps of course) and that was clearly a sign for the Ultravid (Leica Red Dot). Unfortunately I had chores and work so that turned out to be all I got to see for today.

I can't really see myself dropping the Meostar though. There is something quite remarkable with a virtually CA free (at the center with some margin) image on a 12X bino that is very appealing and for birds in flight and everything in contrasty or back lit situations I have yet to see better. I just have to rotate them in use. I already "prefer" the Ultravid in the field, for that classic Leica comfortable view.

Alternating between them during the afternoon none of them showed any particular weaknesses.

If I bring out the spotting scope for long range viewing or on bright sunny days I will probably bring the Meostar to catch birds in flight - something it really excels at. (Even if the Ultravid would arguably go along with the APO Televid even better for similarity in color/contrast).

Also I think I will get more winter use out of the Meostar.

The only drawback I can think of having two excellent 12x binos is that my SFL 8x40 will get practically zero use.

 

[HenRun]

Tenex: yes, I am not holding my breath when it comes to new Meopta "alpha" binos.

...just hoping they will prove me wrong one of these days.

 

[Thotmosis]

Funny, my wife and I discovered makrell i tomatsaus (for breakfast!) in Norway and still quite like it. But growing up with it could be different.

For breakfast or lunch i eat herring or makrel in tomato saus quite often on roasted bread with butter. They produce really tasty makrel in tomatosaus in Portugal which i buy at my local fish shop.

 

[HenRun]

Here in Sweden it is quite common with "Makrill" in tomato sauce on dried hard bread, "knäckebröd".
At least for some of the outdoorsy people. I like it but I have not had it in years.

 

[PatR]

Here in Sweden it is quite common with "Makrill" in tomato sauce on dried hard bread, "knäckebröd".
At least for some of the outdoorsy people. I like it but I have not had it in years.

For breakfast or lunch i eat herring or makrel in tomato saus quite often on roasted bread with butter. They produce really tasty makrel in tomatosaus in Portugal which i buy at my local fish shop.

All this talk of fish in tomato sauce is making me hungr........ill!

What's wrong with you Johnny Foreigners, didn't we 'Brits' (!) invent Fish and Chips so you could at least have a decent meal?

You poor Soles, there is no Plaice on Cod's Earth for sauce impregnated poisson. It is the invention of the Devil....Whale at least I think so (that was on Porpoise).

 

[ReinierB]

To round off this thread:

Both binoculars are so impressive that it is really hard to choose between them. I really can't pick a favourite. You can't really go wrong with either one.
I like looking through the Leica a little more than through the Meopta. I see why it is popular and why it is a keeper for some forum members. Or maybe it is because it is the latest addition to the addiction...

... but Leica UVHD has a slightly larger AFOV and the view is wonderful, and it is slightly brighter than the Meostar.

Midday this is not much of an advantage. For the most part CA is well controlled and in field use it is very seldom noticed. After the initial "shock" I have been using it two three full days and I am almost never noticing it at all, so for me it is not an issue for field use.
However, at times it does pop up quite visibly, especially compared to the Meostar. It has only been distracting on a very few occasions.

Overall I feel I could happily live with the Ultravid experience. I had some great sessions already and one of my favourite local birds, the European Green Woodpecker, actually showed up just 30m or so away, just as I was getting in the car this morning.

I had not seen a single one for over a year or so - so I stepped out again and spent a few minutes with the Ultravid on a monopod. It flew off across the field and joined a sibling so I got to enjoy seeing two at once. Even at far I could follow them in the foliage (a red capped skull helps of course) and that was clearly a sign for the Ultravid (Leica Red Dot). Unfortunately I had chores and work so that turned out to be all I got to see for today.

I can't really see myself dropping the Meostar though. There is something quite remarkable with a virtually CA free (at the center with some margin) image on a 12X bino that is very appealing and for birds in flight and everything in contrasty or back lit situations I have yet to see better. I just have to rotate them in use. I already "prefer" the Ultravid in the field, for that classic Leica comfortable view.

Alternating between them during the afternoon none of them showed any particular weaknesses.

If I bring out the spotting scope for long range viewing or on bright sunny days I will probably bring the Meostar to catch birds in flight - something it really excels at. (Even if the Ultravid would arguably go along with the APO Televid even better for similarity in color/contrast).

Also I think I will get more winter use out of the Meostar.

The only drawback I can think of having two excellent 12x binos is that my SFL 8x40 will get practically zero use.

Hej HenRun,

If it is so hard deciding which of the two 12x50's to keep, what about swapping one for a 10x50? The UHVD 10x50 should be wonderful as well, with larger exit pupil/DOF/FOV it is a very nice addition. It could be your twilight class when the days are getting very short in Scandinavia.

 

[ReinierB]

For breakfast or lunch i eat herring or makrel in tomato saus quite often on roasted bread with butter. They produce really tasty makrel in tomatosaus in Portugal which i buy at my local fish shop.

I am looking forward to june when the "nieuwe haring" arrives. My alltime favourite. Grap by the tail, dip in chopped raw union, and slide down the throat... jum jum...

 

[Isthatascratch?]

I am looking forward to june when the "nieuwe haring" arrives. My alltime favourite. Grap by the tail, dip in chopped raw union, and slide down the throat... jum jum...

Where else can you talk optics, birds and food. It is a place for the renaissance man (and woman???).

 

[HenRun]

Hej HenRun,

If it is so hard deciding which of the two 12x50's to keep, what about swapping one for a 10x50? The UHVD 10x50 should be wonderful as well, with larger exit pupil/DOF/FOV it is a very nice addition. It could be your twilight class when the days are getting very short in Scandinavia.

Hmm, it is actually not a bad idea, not bad at all. I know for sure the Meopta is going nowhere, the things it does the best are very useful for me. So for all practical purposes it does everything I want and everything I need. The things the Leica does better are not dealbreakers for me. I just like the Ultravid, very much, but it is not a replacement for the Meostar.

The only question is do I have "room" for another 12X? It is a nice, but expensive, spare.
Swapping for a 10x50 would keep me in La La Leica Land and give something different.

Food for thought.
Macquerel for the Mind.
Doughnuts for the Dogma.

 

[looksharp65]

@HenRun I see that you've put the Leica up for sale already. Are you going to swap for a 10x50? Before doing so, consider that the possible added value of a 5 mm exit pupil might not be beneficial if your pupil doesn't dilate enough. Conversely, the better twilight number of the 12x50 may be a real asset. I used to be a fan of 6.5x/7x and 10 binoculars while I saw no real value in 8x. Now I'm more into 8x to replace both, and the indispensable 12x as a real boost. I think a 10x would leave me cold but YMMV. By the way, have you seen that Docter 8x58 at an incredible bargain price?
Perhaps not a really useful binocular though, at >1500 g and an insane 7 mm exit pupil only the youngest users can make use of.

//L

 

[Patudo]

Thanks for sharing your observations @HenRun. It's an amusing paradox isn't it - we all see things differently (and most of us acknowledge that) and yet read what other folks see with great interest!

Your observations very much chime with my own thoughts (which I've had for some time) that the Ultravid series are really more comparable to Meostar and similar "a little below alpha" class binoculars. IMO the Meostar 10x42 HD may not have the FOV of the Monarch HG and I thought it was maybe slightly less (perceived at least) sharp on axis than the Conquest - but offered the most alpha-like colour rendition and overall image appearance of that tier of binoculars. Very capable device. That category of binoculars has some really good performers these days.

 

[Yarkho]

I would say 10x is the perfect middle - sometimes I am stunned at how much more detail it shows compared to 8x while having similar size, weight, etc., and still being handholdable.

My own assesment is that the Meostar 10x42 is a tad less sharp compared to a NL Pure, but I'll have to do a tripod-mounted test to be sure.

 

[HenRun]

Looksharp: yes, I put it out for sale. A little reluctantly so - but I don’t really need two 12X binos. Rotating them sounds good in theory but for the intended primary use I prefer the Meostar. Better to bring the one bino on all occasions and live with the few shortcomings.

Unfortunately for me I did find a very small scratch on one of the oculars, did not notice it until I wiped it clean today.

So small I know it will not affect performance in any way but I don’t want to withhold that from a potential buyer and I am not interested in dumping the price all too much so I might end up keeping it after all. 🤷🏼‍♂️

It really shines on murky days, early mornings and late evenings.

Yarkho:
I am not entirely sure about replacing it with a 10X. The middle ground between 8x and 12x is not something I would use much. A 12x on a monopod gets me very far and brings that little extra reach.

I agree that a 10x is a fair step up from 8x.
Even though a 10x50 is tempting I would probably need the monopod for that beast too and if so the 12X is not much more of a burden anyway.

I do like the 10x42 Meostar but it has more fierce alternatives in the 10x segment. The 12x Meostar feels like it is just as good or even better and that is why I find it hard to replace. I could probably get along well with a couple of the better 10x binos.

 

[HenRun]

Patudo: I hesitate to call the Ultravids dated, but perhaps they are.

They do strike a very nice balance in viewing and panning and although I don’t get along with all the models they are very nice to look through, sub top alpha or not. 😊

 

[HenRun]

Looksharp: Again, I think we have reached more or less the same conclusion.
Anything below 8X is not that useful for me, personally. The intermediate step of 10X is of course very useful, but, there have been almost no circumstances where I have used a 12X and felt that a 10X would do me better - quite the opposite.

The exception would be a smaller and well balanced 10X (like the 10x32FL I had a long time ago) where the compactness, useable performance in terms of handholdability is a benefit. Between the 10x42 Meostar and the 12x50 Meostar I find that the 10X is only a little easier to hold steady for me.

As for the twilight factor, the Leica 12x50 is really nice to use when it darkens, so for birding and wildlife that is a definite plus. I have been out every morning now with the Leica and the large AFOV, the reach and the high transmission is great for these low key morning outings.

 

[Bentley03]

Before doing so, consider that the possible added value of a 5 mm exit pupil might not be beneficial if your pupil doesn't dilate enough.

The other side of that coin is the viewing comfort the larger exit pupil offers, regardless of the ability of someone's pupil to dilate sufficiently to take full advantage of it in the sense you imply.

10x is my preferred magnification, my 10x32 EL's are my default daily binocular, but increasingly I'm opting for bigger and heavier binoculars in 10x format, for the more relaxed view and the luxury of being able to move my eyes around within the parameters of the exit pupil. For the past several days I've carried my 10x50 EL's and enjoyed the wonderfully relaxed, immersive and uncorrupted view. For me, 10x50 is probably the format I enjoy most, due to the combination of magnification and size of exit pupil.

I love my 12x50 Ultravid, but have a suspicion I might love a 10x50 Ultravid even more, if it fits me.

 

[looksharp65]

The other side of that coin is the viewing comfort the larger exit pupil offers, regardless of the ability of someone's pupil to dilate sufficiently to take full advantage of it in the sense you imply.

10x is my preferred magnification, my 10x32 EL's are my default daily binocular, but increasingly I'm opting for bigger and heavier binoculars in 10x format, for the more relaxed view and the luxury of being able to move my eyes around within the parameters of the exit pupil. For the past several days I've carried my 10x50 EL's and enjoyed the wonderfully relaxed, immersive and uncorrupted view. For me, 10x50 is probably the format I enjoy most, due to the combination of magnification and size of exit pupil.

I love my 12x50 Ultravid, but have a suspicion I might love a 10x50 Ultravid even more, if it fits me.

I can relate. Apart from my-then Vortex 6,5x32 I've mostly used binoculars with a ~4 mm exit pupil, even 3,2 has worked well. But here's the thing. My EDG 7x42 proved extremely sensitive with eye placement and I had to add spacers below the eyecups to get the exact eye relief, and also a Vortex Bino-Loc to ensure the IPD stays put. Then it's a completely different beast. My new MHG 8x42 has that extremely relaxed view you suggest.
It's just that great viewing comfort isn't linearly proportional to the exit pupil size. True, a ~4 mm EP statistically demands greater care with eye placement so I see where you're coming from. Personally, I prefer more magnification if the binocular is that large.
Twilight number is a thing, really. In dusk or darkness, the sharpness does very little. But the area of an object viewed through a 12x is 44 percent bigger than with a 10x, and if your own pupil can't dilate enough, then magnification is all you have to go with.

I was torn between 8x42 and 10x42 when I chose the MHG, but I'm confident that the 8x was the right decision. I have no FOMO and when I've tried the 2,5x booster I really can't see more than with both eyes at 8x.
We have much flatlands in my area with some really long distance viewing and more magnification makes more difference at long distance than short or medium distance, because you must move a lot to get sufficiently close to compensate for the smaller magnification.
Edit: Clarification: I believe I can do a lot, maybe everything with an 8x and don't feel the need for more power at least at moderate distance. With much greater distance, nothing beats magnification.
In my experience, the scope magnification can be no less than 2,5x the binocular magnification, preferably more than 3x.
With my Meostar HD 12x50 I have a decent overlap when going to 30x in the scope.
With an 7x or 8x binocular I find 27x ideal with my ED50A, and even 30x with the bigger scope is OK.

//L