Swarovski NL Pure 8x32 vs Leica Ultravid HD-Plus 8x42
Quick take: The Leica Ultravid HD-Plus 8x42 costs $100 less; the Swarovski NL Pure 8x32 has a wider field of view (450 vs 389 ft @ 1000 yds); the Leica Ultravid HD-Plus 8x42 gathers more light with a larger 42mm objective.
Field of view, to scale
Top-down view · drawn to true scale — no exaggeration
Which one to buy
The Leica Ultravid HD-Plus 8x42 costs $100 less, gathers more light and weighs more; the Swarovski NL Pure 8x32 shows far more of the scene and is lighter. That is most of the decision. The Leica's 5.2mm exit pupil beats the NL's 4.0mm, and NL owners themselves say the 32mm concedes real twilight performance to 42mm glass. The NL answers with a 450 ft field against 389 ft, 18mm of eye relief against 15.5mm, a 6.6 ft close focus against 9.8 ft, and 22.8 oz against 27.9 oz.
NL owners describe a picture-window view sharp nearly to the edge, color fringing they can barely see, a body that settles into one hand, and seven eyecup stops that suit glasses. Their main complaint is glare in harsh low sun, which varies widely from face to face; they also note it is heavy for a 32mm and that its interpupillary range excludes wide-set faces.
The Leica has SCHOTT prism glass for more blue-violet transmission, a magnesium body watertight to 16.5 ft, and automatic diopter compensation.
For daylight birding and anyone in glasses, the NL's wider view, closer focus and lighter body make it the better binocular. The Leica is the one to consider if you do most of your watching at dawn and dusk and don't need the extra eye relief.
Swarovski NL Pure 8x32
For daylight birders and glasses wearers who want the widest view and closest focus in a lighter body.
Leica Ultravid HD-Plus 8x42
For dawn and dusk viewing, where a 5.2mm exit pupil matters more than field width, at $100 less.
| Spec | Swarovski NL Pure 8x32 | Leica Ultravid HD-Plus 8x42 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$2,799 | ~$2,699 |
| Use case | Birding | Birding |
| Magnification | 8x | 8x |
| Objective | 32mm | 42mm |
| Exit pupil | 4.0mm | 5.2mm |
| Field of view | 450 ft @ 1000 yds | 389 ft @ 1000 yds |
| Eye relief | 18mm | 15.5mm |
| Close focus | 6.6 ft | 9.8 ft |
| Prism | Roof | Roof |
| Glass | FL | HD |
| Coating | Fully Multi-Coated | Fully Multi-Coated |
| Weight | 22.8 oz | 27.9 oz |
| Dimensions | 5.7 x 5.1 in | 5.6 x 4.8 in |
| Warranty | Lifetime | 10 Years |
Feature comparison
Swarovski NL Pure 8x32
- ✓ED Glass
- ✓Phase-Corrected
- ✓Dielectric Coating
- ✓Waterproof
- ✓Fogproof
- ✗Image Stabilized
- ✓Tripod Adaptable
- ✓Magnesium Body
- ✓Locking Diopter
Leica Ultravid HD-Plus 8x42
- ✓ED Glass
- ✓Phase-Corrected
- ✓Dielectric Coating
- ✓Waterproof
- ✓Fogproof
- ✗Image Stabilized
- ✓Tripod Adaptable
- ✓Magnesium Body
- ✗Locking Diopter
What birders say
Swarovski NL Pure 8x32
- ✓Colossal 450 ft (150m) field of view - the widest of any 8x32 ever made, wider even than the vaunted EL 8x32's 141m
- ✓Sharp essentially to the edge, with the field stop 'discernible all around' - you use the whole enormous window
- ✓Chromatic aberration nearly imperceptible thanks to fluorite-containing HD glass
- ✓The NL waist-shaped body is an ergonomic landmark - it settles into one hand naturally for long steady sessions
- ✓18mm eye relief with seven eyecup click-stops accommodates glasses wearers unusually well for a wide-angle design
- ✓Precise ~700-degree focus wheel with a far nicer feel than the EL's plastic wheel it replaced
- ✓Premium accessory kit (field bag, tethered caps, locking strap) and Swarovski's legendary service network behind it
- ✓Light and small enough that many owners make it their only binocular - a genuine full-size replacement several hundred dollars cheaper and 7 oz lighter than an NL Pure 42
- ✗Glare is the most-cited weakness - in harsh low-sun light, bright arcs at the exit pupil edges can wash out the view, with severity varying wildly between faces
- ✗At 22.8 oz and 5.7 inches it's heavier and longer than nearly every other 32mm - Zeiss's SFL 8x40 gives you 40mm objectives for less weight
- ✗The $2,799 price is brutal - within sight of NL Pure 42 money and double a Zeiss SFL
- ✗No locking diopter - the old EL's locking design was better and owners still grumble about the regression
- ✗4mm exit pupil concedes real twilight and night performance to the 42mm NL Pures
- ✗Maximum interpupillary distance of 72mm rules out wide-set faces - try before buying
- ✗No standard tripod thread - stabilized long sessions need a proprietary adapter
- ✗Versus the EL 8x32 it replaced, testers call it 'evolutionary' - star-point testing even shows a whisker more edge softness than the EL's flawless field edge
Swarovski NL Pure 8x32 vs Leica Ultravid HD-Plus 8x42: common questions
Is the Leica Ultravid HD-Plus 8x42 better than the Swarovski NL Pure 8x32 in low light?▾
On paper, yes. The Leica's 5.2mm exit pupil is larger than the NL's 4.0mm, and NL 8x32 owners say their binocular concedes real twilight performance to 42mm glass. In daylight, owners say the NL's view is bright enough to compare with good 8x42s.
Which works better with glasses, the NL Pure 8x32 or the Ultravid HD-Plus 8x42?▾
The NL Pure 8x32, with 18mm of eye relief and seven eyecup click-stops against the Leica's 15.5mm. NL owners say most glasses wearers see the full field, though its interpupillary range excludes very wide-set faces.