Introduction
In this article I will make a comparison of two binoculars, both from German manufacturers, Leica and Zeiss. I will compare two smaller, but extremely popular quality models- Leica Trinovid 8×32 HD and Zeiss Conquest HD 8×32. Both brands are premium producers of high-quality optics.
Leica introduced its new generation of the Trinovid HD in 2017 and expanded their entry-level series with the Leica Trinovid 8×32 HD binoculars. The high quality of Leica optics is guaranteed by their special coatings. All lenses and prisms of binoculars are equipped with multilayer coating, among which are also HDC and Aquadura coatings. The Leica binoculars are divided into different series which all have their own characteristics. Therefore, the compact Leica Trinovid binoculars are perfect for hiking, outdoor and wildlife enthusiasts. They are considered entry level in Leica world of optics. Thanks to its compactness and low weight, Leica Trinovid 8×32 HD is the perfect companion for travel: the binoculars can easily be stored in any luggage, backpack or in a bag.
Zeiss wanted to improve its previous Conquest series. They have designed binoculars with all the characteristics of the previous one, but also introduced two significant improvements in terms of optical technology- the high-quality HD T* (HD glass, T* coating) lens and LotuTec water and grease- repellent coating. It is given the desgination T* , which is the supreme coating for a unique brightness and high-contrast images. This makes the new Conquest HD the new member of the family of premium binoculars of Zeiss. The new Conquest HD 8×32 is for its light weight ideal for travelling, on trips or to observe animals.
These two models are both brand’s entry level binoculars and are positioned as one of the best options of this type in the market. Price is very similar for both models; 945 EUR for a Trinovid and less than 895 EUR for a Conquest.
Size & Weight
| Leica Trinovid 8×32 HD | Zeiss Conquest HD 8×32 | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 630 g | 624 g |
| Width: | 117 mm | 118 mm |
| Length: | 130 mm | 132 mm |
| Max interpupillary distance: | 76 mm | 75 mm |
Proportions of both binoculars are almost the same; both are small, lightweight and compact with a fine ergonomic design.
Both are coated in black, non-slippery durable rubber, so they are well protected in case you drop them. Both fit and feel very well in hands.
Trinovid’s rubber is matted and gives very good grip. Details are either plastic or metal. Whole appearance is very nice- looking; binoculars are extremely elegant and practical.
Conquest binoculars also look very “stylish” with their high-quality rubber, that is smooth and soft, but nonetheless solid and durable. Details are also plastic and metal.
Optical Properties
| Leica Trinovid 8×32 HD | Zeiss Conquest HD 8×32 | |
|---|---|---|
| Prism type: | Roof – Schmidt/Pechan | Roof – Schmidt/Pechan |
| Lens Diameter: | 32 mm | 32 mm |
| Magnification: | 8x | 8x |
| Variable Magnification: | No | No |
| Coatings: | Fully multi-coated | Fully multi-coated |
| Close focus: | 1 m | 1.5 m |
| Field of View: | 124 m/ 1000 m | 140 m/ 1000 m |
8×32 binoculars are the best for the birdwatchers and daytime hunters, are comfortable enough for longer observations, events, sightseeing in nature or around town. 8×32 binoculars are smaller and compact enough to put them in the pocket and take them with you everywhere you go and are much more useful than the full size 42 mm binoculars. 8X magnification provides shake-free and sharp images.
Both binoculars have a roof (Schmidt/Pechan) prism and fully multicoated lenses for maximum light transmission. Both perform very well in low light conditions too, even though such binoculars are not really intended for the low-light use. We were still surprised how much light they are both able to gather at dusk or dawn. The Conquest HD features two main qualities of Zeiss; T * and Lotu-Tec coatings and the new HD lens system. The result of T* full multi-coating is a very bright and colorful image. Lotu-Tec exterior coating is a protective coating that sheds the dirt and makes the drops of water simply pearl off. This feature makes them super easy to maintain and clean. Trinovid is offering P40 phase-corrected coated prisms with HighLux system, which improves clarity, colors, contrast and sharpness. Also, Leica’s outer lenses have water and dirt repellent AquaDura coating.
Close focus distance on Trinovid is shorter than on a Conquest, and is a great advantage in observation of smaller birds, insects and butterflies. On the other hand, field of view is better and wider on a Conquest. Both models are impressive with their brightness, incredible resolution, edge to edge sharpness, flare minimization and chromatic aberration.
In practice, observing with these two binoculars is a great experience; it is amazing how these “small size” binoculars can produce such a high-quality image. However, I need to mention, Conquest gave an excellent performance on a sunny day- the image was even brighter and clearer than on a Trinovid. On a gloomy day, both performed simillar, maybe the colors were just a little bit warmer on a Trinovid.
Focus Properties
| Leica Trinovid 8×32 HD | Zeiss Conquest HD 8×32 | |
|---|---|---|
| Focusing System: | Central | Central |
| Central Wheel Grasp: | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Central Wheel Rotation: | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Diopter Setting: | Right-eye | Right-eye |
| Central Wheel Diameter: | 30 mm | 30 mm |
| Central Wheel Length: | 21 mm | 20 mm |
| Total Revolution: | 730° | 400° |
| Bridge Length (Without the Central Wheel Length) | 56 mm | 50 mm |
Focusing system on both binoculars is central. The proportions are, again, more or less the same. It is worth mentioning the difference in the bridge length, which is longer for 6 mm on a Trinovid. Both are ergonomically good enough to be held in one hand, since they are small sized binoculars. The angle of rotation of the central wheel is larger for 330°(almost one additional revolution) on a Trinovid, which gives you a feeling of better and more precise focusing.
Both models have a right-eye diopter that has a turn and slide mechanism and offers ±4 dioptric correction.
I have evaluated Central wheel grasp and the rotation better on a Trinovid (8/10) than on a Conquest (7/10), simply because it all seems a bit loose on the latter. The rotation on a Conquest is perhaps a little too fast and that means the unwanted changes of the focus settings can occur while observing. Also the grip is quite bad, especially when using gloves. Leica’s knob is in this case, much better and the bumps on the surface give a good grip. The material on both is black rubber. Regardless of all, both wheels are quite average looking and nothing special, considering that they are being used on the binoculars by two of the greatest optics companies.
Eyepiece Properties
| Leica Trinovid 8×32 HD | Zeiss Conquest HD 8×32 | |
|---|---|---|
| Eyepiece type: | Multipositioned | Multipositioned |
| Number of Click-stops: | 4 | 3 |
| Eye relief: | 17 mm | 16 mm |
| Exit pupil: | 4 mm | 4 mm |
| Firmness: | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Quality: | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Suitable for Eye Glass Wearers: | Yes | Yes |
| External Diameter: | 38 mm | 38 mm |
| Internal Diameter: | 21 mm | 24 mm |
The type of eyepieces on both models is multi-positioned, offering precise click-stops (Trinovid 4, Conquest 3)and are convenient for use with or without eyewear. Since eyecups can be locked in many settings, proper adjustments of the eye-relief can be made for different needs. Both offer wide enough range of settings for everyone to find their perfect eye-relief. Settings of the eyecups on both binoculars are extra firm and make no unwanted moves while using them. Eyecups on Trinovid are a bit more comfortable and made of softer rubber than on a Conquest. I have evaluated firmness and quality of eyepieces for both binoculars with a good 8/10; thickness of rubber is almost the same on both, so is the shape and structure.
General Properties
| Leica Trinovid 8×32 HD | Zeiss Conquest HD 8×32 | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing Material: | Plastic/ Rubber/ Metal Details | Plastic/ Rubber/ Metal Details |
| Chassis: | Aluminium Alloy | Aluminium Alloy |
| Armoring: | Rubber | Rubber |
| Quality of Armoring: | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Quality of Covers: | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Build in Rangefinder: | No | No |
| Waterproof: | Yes | Yes |
| Submersible: | Yes | Yes |
| Filled With: | Nitrogen | Nitrogen |
| Number of Colors: | 1 | 1 |
| Tripod Adaptable: | No | No |
| Made in: | Portugal | Germany |
| Introduced in: | 2017 | 2017 |
| Warranty period: | 5 years | 10 years |
| MRSP Price: | 945 EUR | 895 EUR |
As mentioned previously, Trinovid has a much more appealing design and good ergonomics, nevertheless, Conquest is preferred by many because of its simple look. Both models have a non-slippery rubber armoring which quality I have evaluated with 9/10 on the Leica and 8/10 on the Conquest. I prefer the rubber design on Leica because of the matt effect, Conquest’s rubber is a little prone to getting stained quickly.
Both are O-ring sealed and filled with Nitrogen, that prevents fogging and protects internall glass from the condensation. They can be used in the most extreme weather conditions.
As far as the covers are concerned, eyepiece ones are pretty similar for both models- detachable, made out of one piece of rubber. Objective lens covers can, in Leica’s case, be attached to the barrels of the binoculars with a thick rubberband. On a Conquest, objective lens covers come on a string with a clip mechanism on both sides so they can be fastened to the neckstrap attachment. I have evaluated both with a 6/10 because none of them really convinced me; Conquest’s covers are a bit impractical for use with their fixing system and Trinovid’s covers are made of thin rubber. I need to say the edges bothered me a bit because they are sharp to the touch. Still, Leica has a bit better covers.
Both are from the German manufacturers, however the Trinovid is made at Leica’s new plant in Portugal. The latter has a warranty period of 5 years and Zeiss is offering 10 years for a Conquest.
Group Test
How we made a test
We made a test with a group of 6 people with very diverse knowledge about sports optics. Some had previous experiences with binoculars and other almost none. We compared central and edge sharpness, glare, real FOV, eye-box and overall impression. Everyone in the test group tested binoculars individually without being influenced by other people. We also covered down any brand signs on binoculars, so no one was influenced by knowing which company manufactured which.
| Leica Trinovid 8×32 HD | Zeiss Conquest HD 8×32 | |
|---|---|---|
| Central sharpness: | 1/6 | 5/6 |
| Edge sharpness: | 4/6 | 2/6 |
| Glare: | 0/6 | 6/6 |
| Real FOV: | 0/6 | 6/6 |
| Eye-box: | 2/6 | 4/6 |
| Overall impression: | 0/6 | 6/6 |
The results were quite surprising, given that Leica is usually considered a favorite for all optical enthusiasts. Conquest won the most categories, except for the edge sharpness, which is really excellent on a Trinovid. The latter got zero points for a glare, real field of view and for the overall impression, which is quite disappointing for binoculars of this rank. Overall impression means, all 6 people who tested and compared the binoculars to each other, would rank the Conquest by Zeiss higher than the Trinovid by Leica in terms of optical performance.
I personally liked the Zeiss Conquest more too, because of its exceptional brightness, contrast of the image and wide field of view. When I was testing it on a sunny day, the whole image was absolutely splendid, since it was so true-to-life and clear.
Conclusion
When comparing both binoculars to each other for their optical properties, I am allowed to say that the winner is Conquest by Zeiss, because not only me, but also all 6 people from our test group have seen the same! I have to point out once again that these are both truly remarkable models and that the differences between them are minimal, but when evaluating binoculars of this quality, we must pay attention to the smallest details.
Zeiss Conquest comes in a big white box, packed with all the accessories- a black carrying bag, covers for the objective lens and for the eyepiece, neck strap and instructions.
Leica Trinovid is packed in a big silver-green box, where there are light brown nylon purse, covers, neck strap and instructions included.
If I would go for the design and the appearance of the binoculars, I would choose Trinovid by Leica, but for getting the best optical performance and enjoying my observations to the fullest, I would much rather decide for the Zeiss Conquest.
Disclaimer
This test wasn’t financed and is unbiased. As a wildlife enthusiast interested in sports optics I made this tests because I would like to see how binoculars perform and if they meet the advertised expectations. With this test, I also hope that it will help people choose the right binoculars for their personal use. I am not in any way connected with the manufacturers of sports optics and I’m not personally in favor of particular brand.
In the end, I would like to thank Optics-trade.eu to lend me these binoculars for this test. I also thank them for letting me use their videos.
