I was in Anacortes at the Anacortes Telescope and Wild Bird Store for an
entirely different reason today, but tried the Leica Duovid 8x12x42's. I
was impressed, and think Leica pulled it off the two different levels of
magnification very well. While these bins are a bit heavier than the
Swarovski EL's, they had a really nice feel in my hands also. I think
they are more comfortable than the regular Leicas. Anacortes Telescope has
a good selection of a variety of binoculars and spotting scopes, and I am a
firm believer in actually looking through them before buying.

Kristin Stewart
Olympia
> From: Jack Stephens <jstephens62 at attbi.com>
> To: Birdchat <birdchat at listserv.arizona.edu>
> Cc: Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Binocular recommendation
> Date: Monday, April 08, 2002 10:09 AM
>
> 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