I have a Zeiss 10x42 FL, a Leica 10x42 BL, and a Leica 8/12x42 Duovid. Anyone who has owned two or more of these, please help me decide which to keep and which to sell. None of them is the ideal binocular but I have my own individual preferences for each one.
Zeiss 10x42 FL
Like: Marginally the best optics, most pleasant focus
Dislike: Bigger than the others, aesthetically wanting compared to Leica
Leica 10x42 BL
Like: Lightest and smallest, leather hard-shell case
Dislike: the leather covering lifts/peels up at seems, not as bright as the FL's, slight backlash in the focus
Leica 8/12x42 Duovid
Like: 12x in a small binocular, most comfortable eyecups and best rainguard I've seen, oozes quality craftsmanship
Dislike: heavy, not as bright as FL's
In other words I really love all three of these but would really like to narrow it down to one. I have made some progress as I used to also have a Swaro EL 10x42, a Nikon LXL 8x32, and a Zeiss FL 10x32. I gave the Zeiss to my dad and sold the other two.
That's really something you'll need to decide.
I love my 10x42 BLs. I take them almost everywhere, and the small form factor of the clamshell is one of the reasons. I have not had any problems with the leather peeling off. I've owned mine for some time now...
I have not tried the duovids, but I prefer my Ultravids to the FL.
Leica 8/12x42 Duovid sounds quite versatile. Is it?