Leica Reviews

I want to tell you about my experience with Leica Binoculars. I purchased the Trinovid 10 X 42s back in the mid 90s for about $1,000.00. I thought they were the best binoculars I had ever owned. Last year, in November of 2003 the binoculars broke. I did not drop them or handle them any differently than I had the last 8 years of owning them. I always carried them in a specially padded backpack that I modified specifically for optics like my binoculars and cameras and such. I thought, no problem, they have a lifetime guarantee... So I thought.

I went to the store where I had purchased them. They gave me the phone number to Leica-Camera Co. I called and got a recording telling me to write down the problem and where to send them, I did. A couple of weeks later I received a repair estimate in the mail for a bit over $400.00.

I called them up and talked to a service rep. She told me that because I did not send in my warranty card when I purchased the binoculars they were not covered under the warranty. I told her I never send those things in because I understand they are a source for mailing lists which are sold and I get too much junk mail and spam as it is. Of course this did not sway her in the least. So I asked if I paid for the repair would I then be in their data base and therefore the binoculars would be covered should they break again. She told me, No; they would still not be covered. The repair would be warranted for 90 days and after that I would again be on my own.

I declined their estimate and was told they would send them back the following week. After that I wrote a letter to Leica GM telling of the situation and asking that they step up to the plate and do the right thing... repair my expensive binoculars that I got based on a lifetime guarantee. This is the first time I have ever written a letter to a company official and not got a response. I heard nothing and 3 months went by. I thought, maybe they are not good communicators and maybe they have had them this long because they decided to fix them after all. I called them. I got a voicemail and asked about them. They never returned my call but about a week later they showed up in the mail. Still broken and useless.

I will not buy any more Leica products and I thought I would pass on my experience for anyone thinking of buying their products to consider.

I want to tell you about my experience with Leica Binoculars. I purchased the Trinovid 10 X 42s back in the mid 90s for about $1,000.00. I thought they were the best binoculars I had ever owned. Last year, in November of 2003 the binoculars broke. I did not drop them or handle them any differently than I had the last 8 years of owning them. I always carried them in a specially padded backpack that I modified specifically for optics like my binoculars and cameras and such. I thought, no problem, they have a lifetime guarantee... So I thought.

I went to the store where I had purchased them. They gave me the phone number to Leica-Camera Co. I called and got a recording telling me to write down the problem and where to send them, I did. A couple of weeks later I received a repair estimate in the mail for a bit over $400.00.

I called them up and talked to a service rep. She told me that because I did not send in my warranty card when I purchased the binoculars they were not covered under the warranty. I told her I never send those things in because I understand they are a source for mailing lists which are sold and I get too much junk mail and spam as it is. Of course this did not sway her in the least. So I asked if I paid for the repair would I then be in their data base and therefore the binoculars would be covered should they break again. She told me, No; they would still not be covered. The repair would be warranted for 90 days and after that I would again be on my own.

I declined their estimate and was told they would send them back the following week. After that I wrote a letter to Leica GM telling of the situation and asking that they step up to the plate and do the right thing... repair my expensive binoculars that I got based on a lifetime guarantee. This is the first time I have ever written a letter to a company official and not got a response. I heard nothing and 3 months went by. I thought, maybe they are not good communicators and maybe they have had them this long because they decided to fix them after all. I called them. I got a voicemail and asked about them. They never returned my call but about a week later they showed up in the mail. Still broken and useless.

I will not buy any more Leica products and I thought I would pass on my experience for anyone thinking of buying their products to consider.

These are wonderful binoculars! They are light enough to slip into a pack without thinking about the weight, yet their superb quality makes them a favorite at home where weight is not an issue. Great edge-to-edge sharpness and brightness. Easy focus.

I use mine nearly every day.

I got the Leica Trinovid 8x20's as a graduation present back when I was very much into birding, and they are easily the best pair of binoculars I've ever owned. It replaced a set of very large, very heavy, very cheap binoculars, and the results have been spectacular.

If you've never owned or used a Leica product, you should realize that Leica distinguishes itself as a manufacturer of quality lens products, from microscopes to cameras. The Trinovids are no exception.

The 8x20's are billed as 'sport' binoculars, but they can find a home doing most anything. They are small enough that they can be used most anywhere. I've taken them to sporting events, as advertised, but I've used them for birding as well, with fantastic results.

The best selling point is Leica quality but compact size. It folds up and is extremely portable, but is able to resolve with the best of them. The shortcoming of small binoculars is usually that it is difficult to hold steady, but with a wide field of view and excellent craftsmanship, I've had no troubles.

This is one of the cheaper Leica binoculars available, but make no mistake, it is still Leica quality, and if you're serious about having a small, functional, portable, high quality pair of binoculars, you should definitely consider this set.

We purchased these binoculars to take along when weight forbade hauling our superb Leica full-sized binoculars, and were quite disappointed with them. Our biggest complaints:
first, they are not waterproof, so they are not really good for humid, rainy, dusty environments, and you have to use caution when cleaning them. Second, despite Leica's reputation, they are very easy to warp out of alignment (we have always been very careful with our equipment, and cannot think when this might have happened). This is a pretty irreversible situation.
Alternatives: I am very tempted by Swarovski or by a waterresistant brand which has a different tube-holding mechanism.

I know someone who had one for years and recently traded it for a Zeiss Victory compact 8 X 20 which he finds brighter and much easier to focus. It's a recommendation that I strongly second too, since I've own the same Zeiss Victory model for over a year. Regrettably, the Leica Trinovid 8 x 20 falls a distant second with respect to brightness and ease of use. It also doesn't seem to be nearly as sturdy as its Zeiss competitor (Note: I am a great fan of Leica optics, especially those for its M rangefinder system, which are among the best in the world. But unfortunately, the 8 x 20 Trinovid binocular can not be regarded as one of the firm's finest products.). However, if one wants a reasonably priced Leica binocular for outdoor concerts, sporting events, or hiking, then this is the one to get.

I recently purchased Leica's Trinovid 8x20 BC as a companion to the full-sized Trinovid 10x42bn binoculars. The 8x20 BC's superb features (in terms of size, weight, clarity and resolution) make it the perfect choice for a casual day at the beach, zoo, sporting events, theatre, holiday travel, etc. The newly released anodized silver and black leatherized finish make the 8x20 BC a pre-destined classic in its own right.