Leica Monovid 8x20 Monocular

Comments about Leica Monovid 8x20 Monocular:

My husband and I enjoy birdwatching. This monocular is a great addition to our pack. I find it easier to use than binoculars and have been able to spot birds that I previously missed. The quality of the product is excellent, and I would recommend it highly.

Comments about Leica Monovid 8x20 Monocular:

I used it when I went hiking. It is really clear, I love it.

Comments about Leica Monovid 8x20 Monocular:

I don't care for compact binoculars and have long considered a quality monocular. It came down to Leica vs. Zeiss and, after a good deal of research, Leica won. I couldn't have made a better choice. The optics and resolution are razor sharp and I easily get a full field of view, even with eyeglasses. Even the case is clever; the macro lens stores right inside the lid.I would buy the Monovid again in a heartbeat and recommend it highly. [...]

Comments about Leica Monovid 8x20 Monocular:

I use this for bird watching and for checking on my son while he is sailing. It is absolutely flawless. Bright, clear, solidly built, it is expensive but totally worth it. I saved for a year for it, and I'm glad I did. I don't use the case, because that makes it too big. Just slip it in my jacket pocket and its always ready, and perfect size for everyday carry. You will be happy you got it. I can't think of anything bad about it.

Comments about Leica Monovid 8x20 Monocular:

So well made that my grandson will find it useful in his old age.

Comments about Leica Monovid 8x20 Monocular:

This device delivers exactly what you pay for - ease of use, clear views and elegant design. Wonderful for travels anywhere.

Comments about Leica Monovid 8x20 Monocular:

This little gem simply exudes quality and elegance! From the moment that I opened the perfectly fitted packaging, I could see that this was a truly superior instrument. The build quality is outstanding, and the image is crisp and clear from edge to edge; color rendition is excellent The view while wearing glasses is no problem due to the well-designed retractable eyecup.
The included leather case is also extremely elegant…perhaps too elegant to take into the field. It is also rather bulky which somewhat defeats the purpose of buying a compact monocular. I simply aquired a small nylon pouch which I find to be much more practical.
The close-up lens is an interesting feature, but I really foresee no practical use for it. Something not mentioned in the product description is that a nice wrist strap is included, but I ordered the optional neck strap which I find to be much more useful.
Some reviews that I have read about monoculars mention that they are hard to hold steady, but this is not true as long as they are held properly. Any 8X instrument requires two hands to hold…monOCULAR means one eye, not one hand!
Overall, I find this to be a highly useful glass for the vast majority of my viewing needs…It fills a previously empty niche in the world of optics. As capable as the Monovid is though, I whish that Leica would offer one with a larger objective, like 32mm... this would not add much to the size and weight, but would result in performance equal to the full-size binoculars.
One other thing not mentioned in the product description is that the Monovid is made in Portugal…I knew that Leica has production facilities there, but was a bit surprised. I have read though, that some consider the Portuguese Leica optics to be sharper than those produced in Germany.
I consider the price of the Monovid to be a real bargain for a piece of this quality!

Comments about Leica Monovid 8x20 Monocular:

This is a very high quality item that is simple to use with excellent optics. I am a professional photographer and tend to review glass with a critical eye. The Leica doesn't dissappoint and its weight and size are just about perfect. Image stability at 8X isn't an issue if you brace your fingers to your forehead and palm the Mono in the webbing of your thumb and index finger. Mine came with a neckstrap even though I read that it didn't, so I purchased one separately and now have two...

Comments about Leica Monovid 8x20 Monocular:

The close up lens and the beautiful leather case just add to the experience.

Comments about Leica Monovid 8x20 Monocular:

An expensive extremely high quality monocular. It is worth the money.

Comments about Leica Monovid 8x20 Monocular:

This little gem filled all my expectation, plus more! I bring this along for my weekly trail hikes. No more heavy and bulky binoculars. Clarity and sharpness can't be beat in a small monocular configuration. It's pricy, but worth all the cost.

Comments about Leica Monovid 8x20 Monocular:

I've been using this gem daily as a professional Naturalist for over a month now. I love that I can wear the case on my belt and be un-encumbered for daily naturalist duties such as carrying nets and buckets, wrangling wildlife and children during programs, and hiking the trails for research. In such situations I often felt burdened by my full size Swarovski Els. Now I can just quickdraw this baby out whenever a warbler, butterfly, dragonfly, turtle or mammal requires my attention. Excellent optics and good eye relief even with my glasses on (all the time). Of course, it is not bright enough for birding in dusk or very low light situations, but most of the time it is bright and beautiful to look through. I love how quick the focus is: makes going from infinity down to just under six feet a snap in just half a turn. The accessory lens is fun to play with and screws nice and safe in the case lid. The easy clean coatings do a good job of repelling dust, I hardly have to clean it, but the supplied tethered rain guard helps too. I have been very impressed with its performance for birding. Wouldn't call it a pocket spotting scope, but definitely a pocket field glass. Water proof submersabilty is a bonus for the ruff and ready adventurer. The 8 power is a little hard to hold steady, but held deep in the webbing of the thumb it is very stable (do not hold in the finger tips). While in use in the palm it is so discreet many nature center visitors are fooled into thinking I have eagle eyes, picking out green herons or eastern Kingbirds in the back of the pond, and counting wood ducklings at 80 yards. Cons: Focusing requires two hands and the focus, while smooth and fast, is a bit tight, if the focus ring had less resistance to it, it would be possible to focus one handed. Bare metal scares me, but the wrist lanyard should prevent drops. I wish it was supplied with a neck strap as well for [$] bucks! The case, while nifty and protective, does not have a very re-enforced belt loop, so I fear it will fail after about a year or two of daily wear. I also wish it had an integrated objective lens cap. Low light performance is as expected for a 20mm lens, so its not going to replace full size bins in all situations. All of these cons are mere quibbles, this thing should be standard issue for all naturalists!

Comments about Leica Monovid 8x20 Monocular:

I have used this product for birding and very amateurish astronomy. It is great for the former; not so good for the latter because it is not designed to collect that much light.

The image is bright and contrasty. The construction seems rock solid. Focus is easy. The closeup lens is a bonus.