Athens Noctua is the owl. In Greek mythology it accompanies or represents Athena, the goddess of wisdom, in the Western world it has always symbolized knowledge and wisdom. Noctivid could make one think of the night, of the ability to take another step forward in the eternal battle of optics against the dark, and for what it feels like those who put their eyes in a Noctivid after sunset the combination would make more sense than with any other binoculars in the world. Instead it is inspired by the owl, also not by chance capable of winning the night, but above all as a symbol of knowledge.
Because the new Noctivid 8 × 42 and 10 × 42 binoculars are the result of over 115 years of Leica experience in developing precision microscopes, cameras and lenses, as well as optical observation instruments. 115 years in which the common thread has always been the search for perfect fidelity of the image to reality. And if all Leica binoculars, spotting scopes, telescopes are appreciated for the purity of the image, the brilliance and perfection of colors, the sculpted contrasts, as well as for the uncompromising mechanical reliability, with Noctivid the German company has outdone itself , presenting his greatest masterpiece to fans of image perfection. It is no longer time to compare binoculars on data that can be found in a catalog, because by now all the major manufacturers have reached a level of light transmission, field of view, eye relief so close to the theoretically possible maximum, that who is better it is for a trifle hardly appreciable.
The Noctivid introduces a new era that goes beyond the catalog data. An era certainly and today more than ever the result of extreme technology, an era that can only be dominated by those who are able to count on truly exceptional foundations and experience. Anyone who brings the Noctivid to the eye, making comparisons with other instruments, immediately experiences a sensation of superior brilliance. In reality, after a few more seconds you can easily appreciate the total absence of chromatic aberration, the incredible naturalness and vividness of the colors, the perfection of the image up to the edges of the visual field, the total elimination of any reflection, even a clear feeling of three-dimensionality and plasticity and the most sculpted contrasts ever seen in an optical instrument.
We talked about overcoming the judgment based only on catalog data because the revolutionary experience that Noctivid offers to the observer is the result of the combination of several extremely innovative and complex basic elements, which can hardly be translated into numerical data: first of all, from the design totally new 12-element optic gives a feeling of three-dimensionality never seen in a roof prism binoculars. The very high light transmission - thanks to Schott HT ™ glasses - is perfectly balanced over the entire wavelength range of the visible due to a revolutionary high-temperature plasma deposition process of the coatings on the lenses, while innovative shielding systems for the suppression of stray lights ensure the elimination of reflections and maximum contrast. By modifying the radii of curvature of the lenses it was possible to obtain absolute perfection of sharpness up to the extreme edges of the field of view, for the first time without any “rolling ball” effect even when observed in motion. Certainly, in terms of field of view, exit pupil and with respect to all the data available on the presentation documentation, the Noctivid is at least in line with the best of the competition, but in addition to this it is above all thanks to the combination of its extraordinary technical innovations that the new Leica binoculars offer the observer color fidelity, brilliance, plasticity and contrasts different and superior to any observation experience one may have ever experienced with another instrument, as well as extraordinary relief for the eyes and superior twilight efficacy. Full integration of diopter adjustment with the world's strongest and most precise focus, open bridge shape, most compact size in class and the most perfect center of gravity ensure the best possible ergonomics and the now legendary ultra-robust Leica mechanics is a I invite you to use the Noctivid without sparing it.
It is a binocular intended for those who can and know how to appreciate a superior observation experience, for those who are always looking for the best, for those who are curious to question their instrument without fear of a surprise. Without the contribution of the knowledge of lenses developed by Leica in the photographic field, in which it has been the most prestigious camera manufacturer in the world for decades, surely these binoculars would not exist. The Leica Noctivid 8 × 42 and 10 × 42 replace the corresponding Ultravid HDplus models in the Leica Sport Optics catalog and will be available from October 2016 at Authorized Leica Sport Optics Dealers. The list price to the public is 2.550 and 2650 euros respectively.