I love my Leica Ultra 8x32's, but after years of use I am starting to wish
for a little more magnification, especially for the open-area birding
(shorebirds, raptors, etc.). In addition, after a lifetime of 20/20 vision I
have developed some nearsightedness, and need glassed to see well at a
distance. The eye relief on my Leicas is not bad at 14mm, but more would be
better. Looking at 10x binoculars with greater eye relief, the Leica Ultras
and Swarovski EL's have 15mm, the Zeiss Victory and Nikon Venturers
have16mm, and the stars are the Nikon Superior E porros at 17mm. Any
glasses-wearing birders out there with advise to give?
While we are on the subject of binoculars, has anyone heard about or seen
the new Leica Duovid 8+12x42's? It is such an outrageous idea to have two
different levels of magnification in the same binocular, I wonder how well
Leica pulled it off.

Cheers and good birding,

Jack Stephens
Edmonds, WA
jstephens62 at attbi.com
Use FRS 11/22 when birding the Pacific Northwest