Vanguard VEO HD 2 8×42 Binocular Assessment

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Vanguard VEO HD2 Binocular Review on Ireland's Wildlife

Professionals: Top quality optics that ship premium options and a high-performance viewing expertise at an inexpensive worth level. Sharp, contrasty picture impresses in a spread of difficult viewing situations. Shiny, vivid colors that make the picture “pop”.

Cons: Twist up eyecups are plastic, relatively than steel, Vanguard Guarantee dropped from 25 years to solely 10 since I reviewed their predecessor, eye-placement proved a bit finicky for me (occasional blackout of areas on the periphery of the sector), however prone to be a private problem that will not have an effect on you. Slight greenish/yellowish color bias… though solely noticeable while you evaluate alongside different premium binoculars.

Worth: GBP£399.99 (c.€455.00) — at time of writing on sale for £299.99 (c. €345.00)

Score: Really useful

Vanguard is a Chinese language model that has quietly developed to turn out to be an actual contender within the congested mid-range optics market. I’ve been notably impressed with their Endeavor vary of binoculars previously (I reviewed the ED, EDII and EDIV right here and located all three to supply nice efficiency and excellent worth for cash). The VEO line seems to be a revamp of their older fashions, utilizing the identical (or very comparable) optical methods paired with a brand new carbon composite physique development.

When you’re on the lookout for a top quality binocular at a mid-range costs level, the Vanguard Veo HD2 is definitely value a glance.

Take a look at the Veo HD 2 8×42 on Vanguard’s web site.

Purchase the Vanguard Veo HD2 on Amazon:

Vanguard VEO HD2 8×42 Full Assessment

Vanguard VEO HD2 8x42 Binocular Review Ireland

After being impressed by each incarnation of Vanguards Endeavor vary of binoculars through the years, I used to be eager to see how their newest twin hinge premium providing, the VEO 2 HD stacked up. Let’s discover out….

First Impressions

A lot as the unique Veo ED gave the impression to be a contemporary reboot of Vanguards Spirit ED binocular, so VEO HD 2 feels very very similar to a refreshed Endeavor EDII. Evaluating the specs of the 2 binoculars, the optical methods and options, excluding the Endeavor EDII’s premium Magnesium Alloy housing, are just about equivalent (together with using Vanguard’s a lot vaunted Hoya ED Glass). The VEO HD2 is a contact lighter, thanks presumably to that Carbon Composite development Vanguard talks about. Name me quaint, however I’d take the extra 50g or so for a Magnesium Alloy physique any day.

That stated, the Veo HD2 is a brilliant, modern-looking binocular that feels strong, with a pleasant heft to it and a high-quality really feel that means it’ll go the gap.

Stability, Dealing with and Construct High quality

Vanguard’s twin hinged designs have at all times been very snug to carry and to make use of, and so they look nice. The VEO HD2 isn’t any exception. It’s properly balanced, feels strong and properly put collectively, and usually seems like a premium little bit of equipment.

Vanguard VEO HD Birding and Wildlife Binocular

Your complete physique is roofed in a barely textured exhausting inexperienced rubber armour from Mitsubishi (I’m not too certain why entrepreneurs felt it vital to emphasize that reality) that’s tactile, and appears and feels nice. It gives a very good grip, is snug to carry, and helpful indents on the underside of the barrels assist information your palms to the perfect place for optimum stability and dealing with.

Vanguard pushes the all new Carbon Composite physique development as a profit in its advertising — however basically what it boils all the way down to is that the binocular itself is constructed out of a carbon fibre strengthened plastic polymer, relatively than the premium steel (Magnesium Alloy) utilized in earlier fashions at this worth level.

That’s a little bit of a disgrace… however to be trustworthy, if Carbon Composite wasn’t plastered everywhere in the packaging and advertising materials, I’d haven’t any manner of understanding. The binocular feels strong and each bit as sturdy and properly made as its predecessors. When you do know although, there’s no getting round the truth that it seems like a little bit of a downgrade.

My private choice has at all times been for single hinge binocular designs — particularly the extra up to date single-hinge design with a narrower hinge excessive on the physique, permitting for a real, inimpeded wrap-around grip. I’ve at all times discovered the decrease hinge will get in the best way on twin hinge designs, and whereas you will get used to them, I’d relatively not should.

That stated, there are advantages to twin hinge development. They lend general power, and every particular person hinge might be narrower, with out compromising the general power and stability of the design. It may possibly additionally assist scale back the general weight, and enhance stability… though that may be subjective.

Regardless of my private choice, Vanguards twin hinge binoculars stay a few of the most snug and finest dealing with binoculars I’ve ever used… and the VEO HD2 picks up the place the Endeavor left off in that regard, with nice stability and a snug all-around person expertise.

Focus & Dioptre Adjustment

The steel focus wheel is ample, and the knurled rubber central ring affords loads of grip. Focus motion is as easy and fluid as any binocular I’ve used, and the resistance stage is properly balanced. About 2 1/2 anti-clockwise turns take you from a quoted close-focus distance of c. 2m to infinity. Whereas that’s extra focus journey than you’ll discover in lots of binoculars, I by no means discovered focusing to be too sluggish on the VEO HD2, and the picture snaps with out having to hunt backwards and forwards.

Dioptre adjustment is within the common place beneath the right-hand eyepiece, and is lockable, which suggests there’s no hazard of it slipping upon getting it arrange.

Eye Cups and Eye Aid

Like most prime quality roof-prism binoculars as we speak, the VEO HD2 options twist-up eye-cups with 4 stops (absolutely down, two intermediate stops, and absolutely up). This could assist you to modify the eyecups to afford you the total area of view, though for me, even with the eyecups absolutely prolonged, the eyepiece lenses had been nonetheless a bit too shut for my eyes. It made positioning the binoculars appropriately tougher than it needs to be, and meant I’d often get disconcerting peripheral blackouts on the fringe of the sector of view, forcing me to reposition the bins.

A quoted eye-relief of 19mm is great, and may imply most spectacle wearers can have no drawback utilizing these binoculars with their glasses on.

One different factor to notice right here — the eyecups seem like plastic relatively than steel, which suggests they may very well be extra susceptible to wreck and put on and tear. Nonetheless, the excellent news is, if they’re broken they are going to unscrew, so Vanguard can simply ship out a substitute which you can change your self. Eyecups are the only most frequent level of failure on any binocular — and it’s very helpful to have the ability to change a broken eyecup your self, relatively than sending the entire instrument again to the manufacturing unit for restore.

Weatherproofing

Like all binoculars at this worth level, the VEO HD2 is absolutely sealed and weatherproof, and purged with inert fuel to stop inside fogging and condensation. Throughout testing the binocular suffered no ill-effects regardless of the worst an Irish late winter/early spring may throw at it.

Optical Efficiency

Picture High quality and Area of View

The view via the VEO HD2 is great: brilliant, sharp, contrasty and stuffed with element.

It’s pin sharp from the centre, and stays good throughout many of the area, softening only a tad as you get out in direction of the very edge. The sector of view is nice, although not distinctive for an 8×42 at 7.1 levels (124m/1000m).

On stability the view via the VEO HD2 is great, with little or no to criticise for an instrument at this worth level.

Color Constancy, Distinction and Chromatic Aberration

Broadly talking the view via the VEO HD2 seems impartial, with no actual perceptible color bias to the bare eye. The picture is punchy with good distinction, and colors seem pure and vibrant. When you use the VEO HD2 alongside different premium binoculars, there does seem like an ever so barely perceptible bias in direction of the inexperienced/yellow finish of the spectrum, however that is by no means obvious in the event you’re utilizing the instrument in isolation.

Chromatic aberration (color fringing) is dealt with properly, and I by no means observed it when viewing high-contrast topics beneath regular, and even fairly excessive area situations. As with virtually any binocular, you may induce fringing by purposely viewing excessive distinction scenes on the very fringe of the sector of view… however that’s not the way you’ll be utilizing the binocular.

Low Gentle Efficiency and Coatings

All air to glass surfaces within the optical system of the VEO HD2 are fully-multi-coated with Vanguard’s proprietary suite of coatings designed to enhance mild transmission and scale back glare and stray mild reflections. Coupled with high-quality Japanese ED glass and high-performance BAK4 Roof Prisms the picture produced stays brilliant and clear even in difficult situations, and whereas it unsurprisingly falls wanting one of the best binoculars on the market, the VEO HD2 can greater than maintain its personal in opposition to competitors in its personal worth band, and can proceed ship as the sunshine fades.

The VEO HD2 additionally has a particular protecting armour/hydrophobic coating utilized to the exterior lens surfaces. This not solely protects the extra fragile coatings beneath, but in addition means the floor will get much less soiled, wants cleansing much less usually and, crucially, is way simpler to scrub when it does turn out to be essential.

Equipment

The VEO HD2 comes with the standard assortment of equipment you’d anticipate with a top quality optical instrument. There’s a new-design neoprene carry case, a snug neoprene neck-strap, an eyepiece rainguard you may tether to the strap, and detachable tethered goal lens covers. You’ll additionally discover a microfibre cleansing material within the field.

Guarantee

Vanguard gives a 2 yr normal guarantee and a ten yr prolonged guarantee while you register your buy of one in every of its VEO line of optics.

Full particulars of the guarantee can be found on the Vanguard UK web site right here.

Conclusion

The Vanguard VEO HD 2 is an attention-grabbing reboot of what was already a really succesful binocular design within the Endeavor ED II (which continues to be listed on the Vanguard web site on the market). Whereas the change from magnesium alloy to a polycarbonate (basically a plastic polymer) physique seems like a downgrade the optics, the focusing and the whole lot else concerning the VEO HD2 is great.

While you weigh all of it up, the Vanguard VEO HD2 gives loads of binocular for the cash. When you’re available in the market for a high-performance mid-range birding and wildlife binocular, it’s definitely one I’d suggest including to your shortlist.