Customer Reviews

Leica BCR Binocular, 10 x 25

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've owned the Ultravid 10x25 for a few years and they are excellent for their size. The previous reviewer mentioned that he loved his until getting a pair of Bushnell Legend HD 10x36. This is an unfair comparison. I can tell you as an owner of both of these particular binoculars that yes, the Bushnell 10x36 HD does have incredible image quality for its price, but as most optics afficianado's know, the larger an objective lens (36mm vs 25mm) the more light makes its way in, therefore producing a brighter image. Also, larger bodies are easier to get all the guts installed and working properly. The Bushnell's are literally twice the size and weight of the little Leica 10x25's.

The Bushnell Legend HD 10x36 is a great buy at two hundred something dollars, and they almost eliminate chromatic abberation, but I still notice some blurring toward the edges, unlike the Leica 10x25's which have a crisp image all the way to the very edges. I own both sizes because they each have their own usage and carry scenarios. For a super compact pair of truly "pocket" binoculars the Leica's are excellent.

Some say the Nikon LXL 10x25 are nearly identical in image quality at half the price of the Leica's, well I owned a pair of the Nikon's and the image quality is excellent, but I sent them back because they have a metal body without a rubber coating. The rubber armoring on the Leicas is so much nicer when you sent them down on something hard. I always felt like I could damage internal components when setting the Nikon's down on a glass table or any hard surface.

The reason for my purchase of this Leica is that I am crippled and have very little arm/hand strength. I can no longer manage my 10X Swarovskis. The optical clarity is absolutely amazing and the ubtility...weight, size and accessibility is outstanding. Given my lack of fine motorr skills, I may increase the diameter of the focusing control. Great product!!

I have had my Leica for about two years now. When I bought them I wanted something of highest optical quality and small enough to always take with me. I compared the Leica, Zeiss Victory and Swarovski. Leica beat the competition: Zeiss not as sharp (!), and Swarovski had not nearly as good minimum focus distance. I was very happy with the Leica until I bought a pair of Bushnell Ultra-HD 10x36. Maybe there are lab tests that say differently, but my Ultra-HD appear optically as good as my Leica (i.e. sharpness, colors) but with the benefit of a much wider field of view. For a pair of 10x the field of view means a lot, especially for birding. I still like my Leica very much in that they are so small and compact (and optically good, of course!). I can have them in my pocket during urban hikes, and they strip some grams (ounzes) off while in high country with ultra-light gear. However, the Bushnell are also very small and leight-weight, almost pocket size. I now find myself with the Bushnell at more and more occasions for which I had planned to use the Leica. Mechanically, I find the Leica robust and nice to hold. However, the focus wheel feels a bit flimsy.
Considering the price difference between my two 10x binocs I think I could expect more from the Leica. They are still on the top, but other brands are now catching up, maybe due to the introduction of relatively cheap ED glass.