Vanguard VEO HD 2 8×42 Binocular Evaluate

Execs: Top quality optics that ship premium options and a high-performance viewing expertise at an affordable value level. Sharp, contrasty picture impresses in a variety of difficult viewing situations. Vivid, vivid colors that make the picture “pop”.

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

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

Ranking: Really helpful

Vanguard is a Chinese language model that has quietly advanced to grow to be an actual contender within the congested mid-range optics market. I’ve been notably impressed with their Endeavor vary of binoculars prior to now (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 related) optical programs paired with a brand new carbon composite physique development.

For those who’re searching for a top quality binocular at a mid-range costs level, the Vanguard Veo HD2 is definitely value a glance.

Try the Veo HD 2 8×42 on Vanguard’s web site.

Purchase the Vanguard Veo HD2 on Amazon:

Vanguard VEO HD2 8×42 Full Evaluate

After being impressed by each incarnation of Vanguards Endeavor vary of binoculars over time, 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 programs and options, aside from the Endeavor EDII’s premium Magnesium Alloy housing, are just about an identical (together with the usage of 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 mentioned, the Veo HD2 is a great, modern-looking binocular that feels stable, with a pleasant heft to it and a high-quality really feel that means it would go the gap.

Steadiness, Dealing with and Construct High quality

Vanguard’s twin hinged designs have all the time been very comfy to carry and to make use of, they usually look nice. The VEO HD2 is not any exception. It’s nicely balanced, feels stable and nicely put collectively, and customarily appears like a premium little bit of equipment.

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

Vanguard pushes the all new Carbon Composite physique development as a profit in its advertising — however primarily what it boils right down to is that the binocular itself is constructed out of a carbon fibre bolstered plastic polymer, reasonably than the premium steel (Magnesium Alloy) utilized in earlier fashions at this value 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 don’t have any method of understanding. The binocular feels stable and each bit as sturdy and nicely made as its predecessors. When you do know although, there’s no getting round the truth that it appears like a little bit of a downgrade.

My private choice has all the time 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 all the time discovered the decrease hinge will get in the best way on twin hinge designs, and whereas you will get used to them, I’d reasonably not must.

That mentioned, there are advantages to twin hinge development. They lend total power, and every particular person hinge may be narrower, with out compromising the general power and stability of the design. It will probably additionally assist cut back the general weight, and enhance steadiness… though that may be subjective.

Regardless of my private choice, Vanguards twin hinge binoculars stay among the most comfy 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 steadiness and a snug all-around consumer 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 degree is nicely 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 gradual 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 after getting it arrange.

Eye Cups and Eye Aid

Like most top quality roof-prism binoculars at this time, the VEO HD2 options twist-up eye-cups with 4 stops (totally down, two intermediate stops, and totally up). This could assist you to modify the eyecups to afford you the complete area of view, though for me, even with the eyecups totally prolonged, the eyepiece lenses had been nonetheless a bit of too shut for my eyes. It made positioning the binoculars accurately tougher than it must 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 superb, and will imply most spectacle wearers could have no drawback utilizing these binoculars with their glasses on.

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

Weatherproofing

Like all binoculars at this value level, the VEO HD2 is totally sealed and weatherproof, and purged with inert fuel to forestall inner 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 Discipline of View

The view via the VEO HD2 is superb: vivid, sharp, contrasty and filled with element.

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

On steadiness the view via the VEO HD2 is superb, with little or no to criticise for an instrument at this value 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. For those who 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 for those who’re utilizing the instrument in isolation.

Chromatic aberration (color fringing) is dealt with nicely, and I by no means seen it when viewing high-contrast topics below regular, and even fairly excessive area situations. As with virtually any binocular, you might 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 Mild 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 cut back glare and stray mild reflections. Coupled with high-quality Japanese ED glass and high-performance BAK4 Roof Prisms the picture produced stays vivid and clear even in difficult situations, and whereas it unsurprisingly falls in need of the most effective binoculars on the market, the VEO HD2 can greater than maintain its personal towards competitors in its personal value 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 additionally means the floor will get much less soiled, wants cleansing much less typically and, crucially, is far simpler to scrub when it does grow to be mandatory.

Equipment

The VEO HD2 comes with the same old 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 possibly can tether to the strap, and detachable tethered goal lens covers. You’ll additionally discover a microfibre cleansing fabric within the field.

Guarantee

Vanguard presents a 2 yr commonplace guarantee and a ten yr prolonged guarantee while you register your buy of one in all 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 fascinating 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 swap from magnesium alloy to a polycarbonate (primarily a plastic polymer) physique appears like a downgrade the optics, the focusing and every little thing else in regards to the VEO HD2 is superb.

Once you weigh all of it up, the Vanguard VEO HD2 presents a whole lot of binocular for the cash. For those who’re out there for a high-performance mid-range birding and wildlife binocular, it’s definitely one I’d advocate including to your shortlist.

Try the Veo HD 2 8×42 on Vanguard’s web site.

Purchase the Vanguard Veo HD2 on Amazon:

Technical Specs

Taken from the Vanguard UK web site:

Acknowledgements

I’d prefer to thank Vanguard UK for offering the VEO HD2 8×42 for evaluate on Eire’s Wildlife.

NB. Eire’s Wildlife has no particular affiliation to any optics or gear producer, and all evaluations on the positioning are fully impartial and goal. For those who’re an optics or gear producer and want to submit your product for evaluate on the positioning, please drop us a line utilizing the contact kind and we are able to take issues from there.