Celestially Bright!

Leica managed to get a preproduction example of the new 10x32mm Ultravid to us on the day before our deadline, long after our team testing day. There is also an 8x32 model.

We’re glad Leica went out of their way to get us one of the few samples that were in the USA at that time. We found it to be one of the neatest, smallest, lightest-weight mid-sized binoculars we handled. It weighs 19.7 oz. and focuses down to 7.2 ft. It's waterproof and nitrogen purged.

We were sorry to note that its 13.5mm eye relief makes it unsuitable for most wearers of glasses.

However, for a person who wears contact lenses or does not need glasses, this small binocular would be a wonderful binocular. Certainly one of the all-time greats.

Of course, the optics are superb. The focus knob is silky smooth. We love the elegant, easy-to-use diopter adjustment. It is finely engineered and beautiful to look at.

The 32mm Ultravid also has click-lock, twist-up eyecups, just as the full-sized Ultravid does. It focuses down to about six feet.

8x32		10x32

The Ultravid comes in 7x42, 8x42, 10x42, 8x50, 10x50, and 12x50. We tested the 8x42 and 10x42 for this review.

Two other sizes of Leica Ultravid that are good for birding are the 8x42 and 10x42.

Leica Warranty: twofold
1) Limited lifetime warranty. The owner must send in the registration card within 30 days of purchase. You might also need your sales receipt, so save it if you buy Leicas.
2) In addition, Leica offers a remarkably generous 3-year no-fault warranty for any and all damage to the binoculars. After any disaster, if you gather up the pieces of the binoculars and send them back to Leica, they promise to repair or replace them. This warranty is good for three years from the date of purchase and is transferable to subsequent owners.

Caution: Gray market Leica products do not qualify for warranty or service from Leica USA. Gray market Leicas can be sent back to Germany, a process with which Leica will help the customer, for a charge. However, the warranty in Germany is for only 30 years, not lifetime. To avoid inadvertently buying gray market Leica products, make sure there's a USA warranty card in the box.