Leica Noctivid 8x42

Good Points: Compact size, smooth focus, build quality, eye cups and binoculars case. Improvement Points: Nothing.

Good Points: Beautifully clear and sharp. Improvement Points: All good.

Ive wanted to buy a pair of high quality birding/wildlife binoculars for my wife for years. With advancing age and declining eye-sight (and plenty of spare time in retirement), I decided that there was no better time than the present to pull the trigger. Settled on the 8x42 Noctivid after a short Internet search of birding sites. My wifes reaction when she first saw them? They cost HOW much? Oh, my God! Her reaction when she first looked through them? Oh, my God, these are amazing! Makes me wonder why Ive been using those cheap ones all these years. Mission accomplished. The view is incredibly bright, crisp and pops out at you. Accommodates eye-glasses very well. In short - - do it if you can!

Good Points: They are very nice to use, the focus is so smooth. I do not now need to remove my spectacles due to the built in eyepiece function. I have much better success rate in going from eye sight to binoculars in bird watching. Improvement Points: They are heavier than I expected but not a problem for me, I like them very much

I know the price scares you but we have taken these type of field glasses to safaris in Africa over 10 times. When we let the spotter and or driver use our glasses they ALL tell us they are the brightest and clearest they have ever used. So a little heavy but well worth it when you need it.