Leading edge VEO HD 2 8×42 Binocular Evaluation

Vanguard VEO HD2 Binocular Review on Ireland's Wildlife

Professionals: Top of the range optics that ship top rate options and a high-performance viewing enjoy at an affordable worth level. Sharp, contrasty symbol impresses in a spread of difficult viewing stipulations. Vivid, brilliant colors that make the picture “pop”.

Cons: Twist up eyecups are plastic, relatively than steel, Leading edge Guaranty dropped from 25 years to simply 10 since I reviewed their predecessor, eye-placement proved a bit finicky for me (occasional blackout of spaces on the outer edge of the sector), however prone to be a private factor that won’t impact you. Slight greenish/yellowish color bias… even if best noticeable while you evaluate along different top rate binoculars.

Value: GBP£399.99 (c.€455.00) — at time of writing on sale for £299.99 (c. €345.00)

Ranking: Beneficial

Leading edge is a Chinese language emblem that has quietly advanced to transform an actual contender within the congested mid-range optics marketplace. I’ve been specifically inspired with their Enterprise fluctuate of binoculars previously (I reviewed the ED, EDII and EDIV right here and located all 3 to provide nice functionality and remarkable price for cash). The VEO line seems to be a revamp in their older fashions, the use of the similar (or very an identical) optical programs paired with a brand new carbon composite frame building.

In the event you’re on the lookout for a prime quality binocular at a mid-range costs level, the Leading edge Veo HD2 is undoubtedly value a glance.

Take a look at the Veo HD 2 8×42 on Leading edge’s site.

Purchase the Leading edge Veo HD2 on Amazon:

Table of Contents

Leading edge VEO HD2 8×42 Complete Evaluation

Vanguard VEO HD2 8x42 Binocular Review Ireland

After being inspired via each and every incarnation of Vanguards Enterprise fluctuate of binoculars over time, I used to be prepared to look how their newest twin hinge top rate providing, the VEO 2 HD stacked up. Let’s to find out….

First Impressions

A lot as the unique Veo ED gave the impression to be a contemporary reboot of Vanguards Spirit ED binocular, so VEO HD 2 feels very just like a refreshed Enterprise EDII. Evaluating the specifications of the 2 binoculars, the optical programs and lines, except for the Enterprise EDII’s top rate Magnesium Alloy housing, are just about equivalent (together with using Leading edge’s a lot vaunted Hoya ED Glass). The VEO HD2 is a slightly lighter, thank you possibly to that Carbon Composite building Leading edge talks about. Name me old school, however I’d take the extra 50g or so for a Magnesium Alloy frame any day.

That mentioned, the Veo HD2 is a brilliant, modern-looking binocular that feels cast, with a pleasant heft to it and a top of the range really feel that means it’s going to move the gap.

Stability, Dealing with and Construct High quality

Leading edge’s twin hinged designs have at all times been very comfy to carry and to make use of, and so they glance nice. The VEO HD2 is not any exception. It’s smartly balanced, feels cast and smartly put in combination, and typically seems like a top rate bit of equipment.

Vanguard VEO HD Birding and Wildlife Binocular

All of the frame is roofed in a fairly textured laborious inexperienced rubber armour from Mitsubishi (I’m no longer too certain why entrepreneurs felt it vital to worry that reality) this is tactile, and appears and feels nice. It supplies a just right grip, is comfy to carry, and at hand indents at the underside of the barrels lend a hand information your palms to the perfect place for maximum stability and dealing with.

Leading edge pushes the all new Carbon Composite frame building as a get advantages in its advertising and marketing — however necessarily what it boils right down to is that the binocular itself is built out of a carbon fibre strengthened plastic polymer, relatively than the top rate steel (Magnesium Alloy) utilized in earlier fashions at this worth level.

That’s a bit of of a disgrace… however to be truthful, if Carbon Composite wasn’t plastered all over the place the packaging and advertising and marketing subject material, I’d haven’t any means of figuring out. The binocular feels cast and each and every bit as tough and smartly made as its predecessors. While you do know although, there’s no getting round the truth that it seems like a bit of of a downgrade.

My private choice has at all times been for unmarried hinge binocular designs — particularly the extra fresh single-hinge design with a narrower hinge excessive at the frame, taking into consideration a real, inimpeded wrap-around grip. I’ve at all times discovered the decrease hinge will get in the way in which on twin hinge designs, and whilst you’ll be able to get used to them, I’d relatively no longer must.

That mentioned, there are advantages to twin hinge building. They lend general energy, and each and every person hinge will also be narrower, with out compromising the total energy and balance of the design. It may additionally lend a hand scale back the total weight, and give a boost to stability… even if that may be subjective.

Regardless of my private choice, Vanguards twin hinge binoculars stay probably the most maximum comfy and very best dealing with binoculars I’ve ever used… and the VEO HD2 selections up the place the Enterprise left off in that regard, with nice stability and a comfy all-around consumer enjoy.

Center of attention & Dioptre Adjustment

The steel concentration wheel is plentiful, and the knurled rubber central ring gives a lot of grip. Center of attention motion is as easy and fluid as any binocular I’ve used, and the resistance stage is easily balanced. About 2 1/2 anti-clockwise turns take you from a quoted close-focus distance of c. 2m to infinity. Whilst this is extra concentration trip than you’ll to find in lots of binoculars, I by no means discovered focusing to be too sluggish at the VEO HD2, and the picture snaps with no need to seek from side to side.

Dioptre adjustment is within the common place underneath the right-hand eyepiece, and is lockable, because of this there’s no risk of it slipping after you have it arrange.

Eye Cups and Eye Aid

Like maximum prime quality roof-prism binoculars these days, the VEO HD2 options twist-up eye-cups with 4 stops (completely down, two intermediate stops, and completely up). This must help you regulate the eyecups to have the funds for you the entire box of view, even if for me, even with the eyecups completely prolonged, the eyepiece lenses had been nonetheless a bit too shut for my eyes. It made positioning the binoculars appropriately more difficult than it must be, and intended I’d every so often get disconcerting peripheral blackouts on the fringe of the sector of view, forcing me to reposition the packing containers.

A quoted eye-relief of 19mm is very good, and must imply maximum spectacle wearers will haven’t any downside the use of those binoculars with their glasses on.

One thing more to notice right here — the eyecups seem to be plastic relatively than steel, because of this they may well be extra liable to injury and put on and tear. On the other hand, the excellent news is, if they’re broken they are going to unscrew, so Leading edge can simply ship out a substitute that you’ll be able to change your self. Eyecups are the only maximum widespread level of failure on any binocular — and it’s very at hand so that you could change a broken eyecup your self, relatively than sending the entire device again to the manufacturing facility for restore.

Weatherproofing

Like several binoculars at this worth level, the VEO HD2 is completely sealed and weatherproof, and purged with inert gasoline to forestall inside fogging and condensation. All the way through checking out the binocular suffered no ill-effects in spite of the worst an Irish past due wintry weather/early spring may throw at it.

Optical Efficiency

Symbol High quality and Box of View

The view during the VEO HD2 is very good: vivid, sharp, contrasty and filled with element.

It’s pin sharp from the centre, and stays just right throughout lots of the box, softening only a tad as you get out in opposition to the very edge. The sector of view is just right, although no longer outstanding for an 8×42 at 7.1 levels (124m/1000m).

On stability the view during the VEO HD2 is very good, with little or no to criticise for an device at this worth level.

Color Constancy, Distinction and Chromatic Aberration

Extensively talking the view during the VEO HD2 seems impartial, and not using a actual perceptible color bias to the bare eye. The picture is punchy with just right distinction, and hues seem herbal and colourful. In the event you use the VEO HD2 along different top rate binoculars, there does seem to be an ever so fairly perceptible bias in opposition to the golf green/yellow finish of the spectrum, however that is by no means obvious should you’re the use of the device in isolation.

Chromatic aberration (color fringing) is treated smartly, and I by no means spotted it when viewing high-contrast topics beneath standard, or even somewhat excessive box stipulations. As with nearly any binocular, you must induce fringing via purposely viewing excessive distinction scenes on the very fringe of the sector of view… however that’s no longer the way you’ll be the use of the binocular.

Low Gentle Efficiency and Coatings

All air to glass surfaces within the optical device of the VEO HD2 are fully-multi-coated with Leading edge’s proprietary suite of coatings designed to give a boost to mild transmission and scale back glare and stray mild reflections. Coupled with top of the range Eastern ED glass and high-performance BAK4 Roof Prisms the picture produced stays vivid and transparent even in difficult stipulations, and whilst it unsurprisingly falls in need of the most efficient binoculars in the market, the VEO HD2 can greater than dangle its personal towards pageant in its personal worth band, and can proceed ship as the sunshine fades.

The VEO HD2 additionally has a different protecting armour/hydrophobic coating carried out to the exterior lens surfaces. This no longer best protects the extra fragile coatings underneath, but additionally method the skin will get much less grimy, wishes cleansing much less frequently and, crucially, is far more straightforward to wash when it does transform important.

Equipment

The VEO HD2 comes with the standard collection of equipment you’d be expecting with a prime quality optical device. There’s a new-design neoprene elevate case, a comfy neoprene neck-strap, an eyepiece rainguard you’ll be able to tether to the strap, and detachable tethered goal lens covers. You’ll additionally discover a microfibre cleansing fabric within the field.

Guaranty

Leading edge provides a 2 yr usual guaranty and a ten yr prolonged guaranty while you check in your acquire of one among its VEO line of optics.

Complete main points of the guaranty are to be had at the Leading edge UK site right here.

Conclusion

The Leading edge VEO HD 2 is an engaging reboot of what was once already an overly succesful binocular design within the Enterprise ED II (which remains to be indexed at the Leading edge site on the market). Whilst the transfer from magnesium alloy to a polycarbonate (necessarily a plastic polymer) frame seems like a downgrade the optics, the focusing and the whole lot else in regards to the VEO HD2 is very good.

While you weigh all of it up, the Leading edge VEO HD2 provides numerous binocular for the cash. In the event you’re out there for a high-performance mid-range birding and flora and fauna binocular, it’s undoubtedly one I’d suggest including on your shortlist.