Leica Trinovid 10×42 Vs Zeiss Conquest HD-Check Who Is The Winner!
Here, we compare two of the class-leading binoculars i.e Leica Trinovid 10×42 Vs Zeiss Conquest HD 10×42 binoculars. They pose stiff competition to each other.
When it comes to binoculars, there is absolutely no doubt about the quality and optical performances of Leica and Zeiss binoculars.
Leica Trinovid binoculars are known for their image performance and color fidelity, and also for durability and ruggedness. The Trinovoid name comes from Tri Novi or ‘three novel innovations’ relating to ergonomics, superior sharp image, and optical performance.
On the other hand, the Zeiss Conquest binoculars are made by the sports optics division of the legendary Carl Zeiss who are iconic optical lens-makers.
Below we have tried to get a detailed comparison of the flagship models of both companies – Leica Trinovid 10×42 HD and Zeiss Conquest 10×42 HD.
It would be interesting to see how both the binoculars compare as both come with identical specs of 42 mm diameter of the objective front lens and 10x magnification.
Leica Trinovid 10×42 Vs Zeiss Conquest HD 10×42-Specification Table
Leica Trinovid 10×42 Vs Zeiss Conquest HD 10×42-Comparison Of Both Binoculars In Detail
- Close focus under six feet
- Innovative carrying system for quick and comfortable use
- Compact construction
- Lightweight Ergonomic Design: Compact lightweight ergonomic design for ultimate comfort in the field
- HD Lens System: The HD lens system provides exceptionally true and neutral color fidelity: a visual experience that sets...
- Lotutec Protective Lens Coating: LotuTec water shedding outer coatings for all weather use as well as fully armored and...
On the Basis Of Build Quality and Construction
Both the binoculars reviewed are quite similar in appearance and have an attractive yet rugged look. The bridges between the barrels have similar length and form. The Trinovid-HD has excellent solid construction with superb mechanical features. The lightweight magnesium alloy chassis makes it ideal for carrying around outdoors. The non-slippery full rubber armor provides good grip and impact-resistant protection.
The Zeiss Conquest has perfect ergonomics and balance that makes it easy and comfortable to use. The body is made of aluminum alloy which makes it light. It also has rubber armor on the outside for better grip and protection. The large and efficient focusing knob is precise and easy to operate with a finger even while wearing gloves.
Both binoculars have been made fog-proof with nitrogen filling. The perfectly sealed and fitted lenses make them waterproof. The Leica Trinovid is water-tight up to a depth of 13 feet whereas the Zeiss Conquest is water-resistant up to 400 millibar.
Optical Performance/ Image Quality
The HD lenses in both the binoculars make these binoculars stand apart in comparison with others not having these HD lenses. The images stand out in crispness and contrast. They are also free of chromatic aberrations that appear on the edges of the images.
The Leica Trinovid HD comes with a BaK4 roof prism system with a P40 phase correction coating and HLS HighLux system. The fully multi-coated optics enables 90% light transmission. This produces razor-sharp high-contrast images with superior color rendition even in cloudy days and dim lighting.
Both Binoculars provide very good sharpness levels with almost equal contrasts.
The difference is in the sweet spot i.e how big the sharp part of the image is. The sweet spot of Conquest HD is around 3/4 of the image which is slightly larger than the Trinovids.
The Zeiss Conquest has a Schmidt-Pechan roof prism system. The optical system has Zeiss T multi-coating, dielectric mirror coating, and LotuTec® protective coating. These optical systems also provide around 92% light transmission. Together they produce a vivid image that is free of color aberration in all kinds of weather or low-light conditions. The chromatic aberration which interferes with the color fidelity of the image is less in Zeiss Conquest.
In the case of Leica Trinovid, the adjustable interpupillary distance is 58 to 76 mm which makes it suitable for people with narrow or wide-set eyes. In this respect, The Zeiss Conquest scores lower with a narrower range of 54 to 74 mm.
Both the binoculars have the diopter compensation on the right eyepiece and can be adjusted up to ± 4 diopters. The twilight factor, which shows the optical performance in low light, is the same with both sets of binoculars, at 20.5.
The exit pupil in Leica Trinovid is 4.2 mm which makes it ideal to view even in low light conditions. This is the same as in Zeiss Conquest binocular. The sweet spot, which is the sharpest area of the image is larger in Zeiss Conquest as compared with Leica Trinovid.
The eye-relief is the distance you can keep your eyes away from the eyepiece. This is important for those wearing spectacles. The eye relief in Leica Trinovid binoculars is 15 mm where is it is longer at 17 mm for Zeiss Conquest. Therefore, those wearing glasses may prefer Zeiss Conquest more for the comfort and ease of use.
The Leica Trinovid has a close focusing distance of 5.3 ft (1.6m) which lets you observe butterflies and birds from a shorter distance. This is much better than the close focus distance of Zeiss Conquest which is 6.5 ft.
Field Of View
The Leica Trinovid 10×42 HD has a Field of view of 355 feet at 1,000 yards and a subjective angle of view of 61°. Compared to this, the Conquest HD 10×42 offers a wider Field of View at 345 feet at 1000 yards at a subjective viewing angle of 66°. Both are having the best in their class field of view. No doubt, both offer a panoramic wide field of view. Moreover, this difference may not amount to much in the real sense.
Weight and Size
The Leica Trinovid 10×42 HD has a length of 5.7 inches and a width of 4.6 inches. The thickness of the barrels is 2.6 inches. The binocular weighs 25.75 oz or 730 grams. In contrast, the Zeiss Conquest 10×42 HD is slightly bigger and bulkier. It has a length of 6.5 inches and a width of 4.7 inches. It weighs 28 oz or 793 grams.
Price/Warranty
Leica Trinovid 10×42 HD is priced at $ 949 while Zeiss Conquest 10×42 carries a price tag of $ 1,049.
Leica Trinovid 10×42 HD comes with a Limited Lifetime Manufacturer’s Warranty of 30 years. This excludes damage caused by impact and mishandling. The included accessories have a two-year warranty. For binoculars purchased in the US, there is also a three-year US Passport warranty, which covers against impact and water damage.
Zeiss Conquest 10×42 also offers a Limited Lifetime Transferable Warranty. This covers defects in workmanship or materials for the life of the product. Additionally, Zeiss also offers a No-Fault Policy for 5 years after purchase.
Extras Included
The Leica Trinovid 10×42 HD package includes lens cover, eyepiece cover, and a neoprene Adventure Strap carrying system. The Zeiss Conquest package includes eyepiece and lens covers, a neoprene Zeiss Harness Strap and comes with a Cordura nylon case.
Both binoculars can be mounted on tripods. This helps you keep your hands free and fatigue less for long hours of observation.
Conclusion
Both the 10×42 HD binoculars of Leica Trinovid and Zeiss Conquest offer amazing image clarity and ease of use. Feature for feature, they are quite comparable. However, despite being a newcomer in comparison to the iconic Carl Zeiss, the Leica Trinovid scores well some areas, even if with a narrow margin.
Leica Trinovid is more portable and easier to carry, having smaller dimensions and lesser weight. They also fare well in harsh weather conditions and are apt for mountaineers and trekkers. It also has a larger interpupillary distance which makes it more suitable for its users. It has a closer focusing distance which enables you to see objects like butterflies and insects from a closer distance.
Where the Zeiss Conquest scores in giving you a better and sharper image. It also gives you a nice ample field of view and provides more eye relief for spectacle wearers. It is slightly more expensive. While Leica Trinovid 10×42 HD is a good value for money, if you are willing to spend slightly more, you can go in for Zeiss Conquest 10×42 HD.
Last update on 2024-03-28
