Vanguard VEO HD 2 8×42 Binocular Overview

Wildlife

Vanguard VEO HD 2 8×42 Binocular Overview

sharol

January 23, 2024

Vanguard VEO HD 2 8×42 Binocular Overview

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Vanguard VEO HD2 Binocular Review on Ireland's Wildlife

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

Cons: Twist up eyecups are plastic, somewhat 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 prone to be a private concern 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: Advisable

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 comparable) optical methods paired with a brand new carbon composite physique building.

In the event you’re searching for a top quality binocular at a mid-range costs level, the Vanguard Veo HD2 is actually price 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 Overview

Vanguard VEO HD2 8x42 Binocular Review Ireland

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 seemed 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 methods and options, aside from the Endeavor EDII’s premium Magnesium Alloy housing, are just about an identical (together with using Vanguard’s a lot vaunted Hoya ED Glass). The VEO HD2 is a contact lighter, thanks presumably to that Carbon Composite building 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 brilliant, modern-looking binocular that feels strong, with a pleasant heft to it and a high-quality really feel that implies it is going to go the gap.

Steadiness, Dealing with and Construct High quality

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

Vanguard VEO HD Birding and Wildlife Binocular

All the 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 truth) that’s tactile, and appears and feels nice. It offers an excellent grip, is comfy to carry, and useful 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 building 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 bolstered plastic polymer, somewhat 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 trustworthy, if Carbon Composite wasn’t plastered all around the packaging and advertising materials, I’d haven’t any means of figuring out. The binocular feels strong and each bit as sturdy and effectively 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 desire has at all times been for single hinge binocular designs — particularly the extra modern 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 somewhat not must.

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

Regardless of my private desire, Vanguards twin hinge binoculars stay a few of 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 stability and a snug 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 effectively 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 implies 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 the moment, the VEO HD2 options twist-up eye-cups with 4 stops (totally down, two intermediate stops, and totally up). This could will let you regulate 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 little bit too shut for my eyes. It made positioning the binoculars appropriately tougher than it ought to be, and meant I’d often 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 great, 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 somewhat than metallic, which implies they may very well be extra inclined to wreck and put on and tear. Nonetheless, the excellent news is, if they’re broken they’ll unscrew, so Vanguard can simply ship out a alternative which you could exchange your self. Eyecups are the one most frequent level of failure on any binocular — and it’s very useful to have the ability to exchange a broken eyecup your self, somewhat 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 gasoline 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 Subject of View

The view by the VEO HD2 is great: shiny, sharp, contrasty and filled 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 the 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 by 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 by 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. In the event you use the VEO HD2 alongside different premium binoculars, there does seem like an ever so barely perceptible bias in the 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 effectively, and I by no means seen it when viewing high-contrast topics below regular, and even fairly excessive area circumstances. As with virtually any binocular, you possibly can 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 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 gentle transmission and cut back glare and stray gentle reflections. Coupled with high-quality Japanese ED glass and high-performance BAK4 Roof Prisms the picture produced stays shiny and clear even in difficult circumstances, and whereas it unsurprisingly falls wanting the most effective 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 far simpler to scrub when it does grow to be vital.

Equipment

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

Guarantee

Vanguard presents a 2 yr commonplace guarantee and a ten yr prolonged guarantee while 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 continues to be listed on the Vanguard web site on the market). Whereas the swap from magnesium alloy to a polycarbonate (basically a plastic polymer) physique seems like a downgrade the optics, the focusing and every thing else in regards to the VEO HD2 is great.

While you weigh all of it up, the Vanguard VEO HD2 presents a number of binocular for the cash. In the event you’re out there for a high-performance mid-range birding and wildlife binocular, it’s actually one I’d advocate including to your shortlist.