Vanguard VEO HD 2 8×42 Binocular Evaluation

Animal Everyday June 29, 2023 0 Comments

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 affordable worth level. Sharp, contrasty picture impresses in a variety of difficult viewing circumstances. Shiny, vivid colors that make the picture “pop”.

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

Vanguard is a Chinese language model that has quietly developed to turn into 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 comparable) 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.

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 Evaluation

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 like 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 similar (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 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’s going to go the gap.

Stability, 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 isn’t any exception. It’s nicely balanced, feels stable and nicely put collectively, and usually appears like a premium little bit of equipment.

Vanguard VEO HD Birding and Wildlife Binocular

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

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

That’s a little bit of a disgrace… however to be sincere, if Carbon Composite wasn’t plastered all around the packaging and advertising and marketing materials, I’d haven’t any means of realizing. 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 moderately not should.

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

Regardless of my private choice, Vanguards twin hinge binoculars stay among the most comfy and greatest 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 cushty all-around consumer expertise.

Focus & Dioptre Adjustment

The metallic 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 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 sluggish on the VEO HD2, and the picture snaps with out having to hunt forwards and backwards.

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 you have it arrange.

Eye Cups and Eye Aid

Like most prime 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 will let you modify the eyecups to afford you the total area of view, though for me, even with the eyecups totally prolonged, the eyepiece lenses have been nonetheless a little bit too shut for my eyes. It made positioning the binoculars appropriately tougher than it needs to be, and meant I’d sometimes get disconcerting peripheral blackouts on the fringe of the sphere of view, forcing me to reposition the bins.

A quoted eye-relief of 19mm is superb, and may 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 moderately than metallic, which suggests they could possibly be extra inclined to wreck and put on and tear. Nevertheless, the excellent news is, if they’re broken they may unscrew, so Vanguard can simply ship out a alternative that you could substitute your self. Eyecups are the only most frequent level of failure on any binocular — and it’s very useful to have the ability to substitute a broken eyecup your self, moderately than sending the entire instrument again to the manufacturing unit for restore.

Weatherproofing

Like all binoculars at this worth level, the VEO HD2 is totally 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 might throw at it.

Optical Efficiency

Picture High quality and Discipline of View

The view via the VEO HD2 is superb: vivid, sharp, contrasty and stuffed 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 sweet, although not distinctive for an 8×42 at 7.1 levels (124m/1000m).

On stability the view via the VEO HD2 is superb, 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 hues 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 underneath regular, and even fairly excessive area circumstances. As with virtually any binocular, you would induce fringing by purposely viewing excessive distinction scenes on the very fringe of the sphere 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 circumstances, and whereas it unsurprisingly falls in need of the perfect binoculars on the market, the VEO HD2 can greater than maintain its personal towards 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 additionally means the floor will get much less soiled, wants cleansing much less typically and, crucially, is way simpler to scrub when it does turn into crucial.

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 cushty 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 material within the field.

Guarantee

Vanguard provides a 2 yr normal guarantee and a ten yr prolonged guarantee once you register your buy of certainly one 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 fascinating reboot of what was already a really succesful binocular design within the Endeavor ED II (which remains to be listed on the Vanguard web site on the market). Whereas the change from magnesium alloy to a polycarbonate (primarily a plastic polymer) physique appears like a downgrade the optics, the focusing and every little thing else concerning the VEO HD2 is superb.

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