C-7 Home Page C-7 News Consignment Library Products & Services Product Lines Order Search C7.com

History News Products Pricing Distribution Notes & Interesting Articles

Binoculars Telescopes Cameras Accessories Warranty / Service & Repair

ULTRAVID 8x 42 BL and 10x 42 BL Binoculars

Above: Leica ULTRAVID 8x 42 BL binocular with provided hard shell case on display at Company Seven.
Click on image to see enlarged view

Leica binoculars have traditionally set the standards of brilliance, sharpness and brightness when it comes to meeting the objectives of turning observations that are rich in details into an unforgettable experience, even at great distances. And now, Leica has historically succeeded in establishing an entirely new standard of excellence with their introduction of the Ultravid binocular line in 2003 and 2004, and the ULTRAVID HD series of binoculars and APO-TELEVID spotting telescopes announced in 2007.

Left: Leica ULTRAVID automated presentation (269,609 bytes) showing 50mm BR model at introduction with overview of the product construction and components features. Click "Start Film" below and right of illustrated ULTRAVID 50mm binocular image to view.

Note: this is a Macromedia "Shockwave" film presentation and so your Web Browser must be suitably enabled to play it. Broad band Internet access is also suggested to speed download time.

Introduction

Announced in 2003, available in limited supply in the Winter, and to become more readily available for 2004, the new generation of the Leica binocular product line is the ULTRAVID series. The 42mm models are available in magnifications of 7x, 8x, and 10x "BR" indicating a soft armor covering. In addition the lighter weight 8x 42mm BL and 10x 42mm BL described here are provided with a black leather covering. While the larger ULTRAVID 50mm models come in 8x 50, 10x 50 and 12x50 arrangements. This line represents Leica's best possible optical performance, coupled with a lightweight yet rugged body design with improved ergonomics.

ULTRAVID takes the 42mm Trinovid BN and 50mm Trinovid BN series to the next level of technology development and ease of use. The ULTRAVID will be in some cases an alternative to the remaining Trinovid line, since several of the most popular Trinovid BN models will also remain in production.

FEATURES OF THE ULTRAVID

Easier to Use: Better, Faster and Lighter: Logically tailored to the intended use, every technical and ergonomic detail that went into the development of the ULTRAVID has been painstakingly examined, perfected or completely reinvented. The ULTRAVID simply put "feels good in the hands". Its ergonomics provide an instrument that is an extension of the observer - it "gets out of the observer's way" with a very comfortable, natural and well balanced feel. It places its controls and hardware at a convenient and comfortable position - and it's obstructions (strap hinges, etc.) remain out of the way. It features a comfortable and unobtrusive thumb rest groove on the underside of each barrel.

The BR models are covered with a new "soft touch" rugged cladding. This material is more comfortable to grip in all kinds of weather conditions. And the material is notably lighter in weight than the PVC covering used in the 42mm Trinovid BN models. The BL versions are covered in even an lighter weight Leather.

New eyepiece designs provide improved eye relief thereby making the observing experience more comfortable whether observing with the naked eye, with sunglasses, or prescription spectacles. This also makes it easier and quicker for the observer to center onto a distant object.

Twist up rubber covered eye cups design allows the user to quickly and conveniently snap the eye cup in our out, with two click stop settings along the way. Unlike some other twist up designs, there is no peaked contour of the rubber cup so that the ULTRAVID eye cup can be used while in or out, or in between their extension range without the observing bumping into the peak of the contour of other binoculars.

Right: eyecups provided with Leica ULTRAVID binoculars with one at left in extended position (leather covered 8x 42 BL ULTRAVID shown here). Also note the Diopter Adjustment Dial and Scale is just visible between the eyepiece barrels click on image to see enlarged view (245,496 bytes)

And these rubber covered eyecups can be removed by the user to facilitate cleaning the eye lens of the binocular, or replacement.

The ULTRAVID focus gearing provides smooth focus for a lifetime of service, with rapid focus from infinity to near focus points with slightly more than one full revolution of the convenient focus knob. This process can require as many as three revolutions in some competing models!

The diopter adjustment of the ULTRAVID is accomplished quickly by a pull and turn adjustment of the Leica Multifunction Center Drive focus mechanism. This can be locked securely, and when secured it preserves the waterproof integrity of the binocular.

As well as the high grade lightweight structural materials including a housing made of magnesium, a central hinge shaft of extremely sturdy titanium - which materials could possibly be more robust and lighter at the same time?

The ULTRAVID also differs from its predecessors in that the BL is provided with an innovative, zip up form fitted hard shell case made of leather, while the BR models are provided with a durable black nylon pouch instead of the soft leather zip up pouch with carrying strap. The new pouch has a snap closure, is more resistant to abrasion, and rot and is therefore a better solution for those who keep a binocular near the salt air environments. While the BL model featured on this page includes a black hard shell case made of leather, finished in black. The case zips open or closed lengthwise, and it is provided with slots to accommodate passing the carrying strap through from the binocular. This form fit hard shell leather case will not accommodate the slightly larger ULTRAVID 42mm BR models.

Left: Black fitted leather zip case (shown opened) as is provided with Leica Ultravid 42mm BL Binoculars
click on image to see enlarged view (245,496 bytes)

Brighter: This development is achieved by Leica's continued application of state of the art computer aided optical design, and by the use of special high grade optical raw glass materials. The optics incorporate the new HighLux System (HLS™), this is an optical coating that is unequalled in its quantity and uniformity of transmission of light in the visible spectrum. The HLS™ coatings consist of a precisely applied forty three (43) layer coating, with each layer applied as thin as only 40 nanometers. By means of a special mirror layer on the prism system the process yields a level reflection of 99.5 %; it was possible to raise the image brightness to this level over the prior generation models. This among those attributes that makes the impressively high resolution imaging performance, and striking enhanced contrast possible.

The external lens surface of the eyepiece and objective field lenses are multi-coated with Leica's patented High Durability Coatings. This provides improved long term resistance to abrasion and environmental staining.

Stronger: As if the Leica durability was not already good enough (read about our Leica No-Fault warranty), Leica takes this too to another level of endurance. The housing of the ULTRAVID is made of an all metal magnesium chassis construction. This provides light weight and great strength compared to aluminum. And the ULTRAVID frame has nearly twice the thickness and strength of any competing magnesium or magnesium composite binocular made today.

The critical oversized Center Axis Shaft is made of extremely rigid and durable titanium. This is highly resistant to wear, contributes to structural integrity, and is a critical aspect of maintaining precise alignment of the binocular over a lifetime of service.

The all metal focusing system of the ULTRAVID which begins with the titanium Center Axis Shaft, utilizes a precise helicoid gearing mechanism. This is smoother, more durable, and more costly choice than the spur gear drive and materials employed by many competitors.

The ULTRAVID are now highly shock resistant, are nitrogen purged to be fogproof, are waterproof to a depth of 5 meters (16.5 feet), and will function over an extremely broad range of temperatures of from -25 degrees C (-13 degrees F).

PERFORMANCE OVERVIEW

The 42mm aperture ULTRAVID series provide a great balance of resolving power, and portability. And ready for most daylight, early morning and dusk light conditions. These models achieve an image brightness that was impossible before now in a 40 to 42mm roof prism binocular. And their images will appear brighter even when compared against other less sophisticated models even with larger aperture objective (front) lenses.

Right: Leica Ultravid 42mm BR Series Binocular
click on image to see enlarged view (181,339 bytes)

The remarkably slim and compact housings assure these binoculars can easily be put into a large coat pocket, into a brief case or travel bag, making these a very handy binocular to travel with - having a binocular available is just as important as its optical properties.

To make it even easier to carry and deploy Company Seven offers an optional "holster" custom fitted to hold this binocular. This is made of heavy duty leather, finished in black. It is similar in quality and construction to conventional heavy duty leather pistol holsters. This accessory can be attached onto a belt and it incorporates a leather strap to keep the binocular in place. The holster protects the objective (front) lenses of the binocular, and we include a smaller leather strap to attach the furnished binocular rain guard onto the binocular to protect the eyepieces. The holster provides excellent protection, and ready access to the binocular while hiking or climbing. Furthermore, one no longer needs to carry the binocular with the strap, it now becomes a quick and simple matter to "draw" the binocular and share it with others without the nuisance of having to clear a dangling strap over your jacket hood, hat or sunglass straps.

• ULTRAVID 7 x 42 BR
  A wide actual field of view of eight (8) degrees sharp to its very edges - in combination with very high image brightness and a very steady image characterize this professional binocular. The 7x 42 is easily managed by most including the inexperienced observer. The 7X magnification provides great versatility - for indoor and outdoor uses, or even when observing from unstable platforms such as a boat. With 17mm of eye relief, this is a practical choice for those wearing even the thickest prescription spectacles.

• ULTRAVID 8 x 42 BR/8 x 42 BL
  The multi-talented binocular that delivers images with rich contrast for observation in daylight and at twilight. The ratio of brightness and weight and size, that extra magnification over the 7X, and 7.4 degree actual field of view featured by this model make it optimal for a great many applications.

• ULTRAVID 10 x 42 BR/10 x 42 BL
  The binocular with the highest magnification in the line of 42 mm binoculars. The newly designed eyecups permit a particularly comfortable positioning at the eyes with 15.8mm eye relief. This becomes especially apparent with the improved image steadiness during observation at great distances. The close focus of the 10X is the best of the 42mm series at 2.95 meters!

  The fact that the leather covering made it possible to reduce the weight to less than 700 grams (less than 25 oz) makes the BL models the binoculars of choice of true purists.

ULTRAVID BR AND BL BINOCULAR SPECIFICATIONS