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 situations. Brilliant, vivid colors that make the picture “pop”.
Cons: Twist up eyecups are plastic, moderately than steel, Vanguard Guarantee dropped from 25 years to solely 10 since I reviewed their predecessor, eye-placement proved somewhat 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 whenever you evaluate alongside different premium binoculars.
Value: GBP£399.99 (c.€455.00) — at time of writing on sale for £299.99 (c. €345.00)
Score: Beneficial
Vanguard is a Chinese language model that has quietly advanced to change into an actual contender within the congested mid-range optics market. I’ve been significantly 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 techniques paired with a brand new carbon composite physique development.
When you’re in search of a top quality binocular at a mid-range costs level, the Vanguard Veo HD2 is actually 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
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 techniques and options, except for 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 brilliant, modern-looking binocular that feels stable, with a pleasant heft to it and a high-quality really feel that implies it is going to go the gap.
Stability, 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, they usually look nice. The VEO HD2 is not any exception. It’s effectively balanced, feels stable and effectively put collectively, and usually seems like a premium little bit of package.
Your complete physique is roofed in a barely textured onerous inexperienced rubber armour from Mitsubishi (I’m not too certain why entrepreneurs felt it necessary to emphasize that truth) that’s tactile, and appears and feels nice. It gives grip, is comfy to carry, and useful indents on the underside of the barrels assist information your palms to the best 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 all the way down to is that the binocular itself is constructed out of a carbon fibre strengthened plastic polymer, moderately 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 sincere, if Carbon Composite wasn’t plastered all around the packaging and advertising materials, I’d haven’t any approach of figuring out. The binocular feels stable 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 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 way in which on twin hinge designs, and whereas you will get used to them, I’d moderately not must.
That mentioned, there are advantages to twin hinge development. They lend total power, and every particular person hinge could be narrower, with out compromising the general power and stability of the design. It could possibly 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 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 steadiness 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 clean 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 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 you have it arrange.
Eye Cups and Eye Reduction
Like most prime quality roof-prism binoculars as we speak, the VEO HD2 options twist-up eye-cups with 4 stops (totally down, two intermediate stops, and totally up). This could let you alter 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 somewhat too shut for my eyes. It made positioning the binoculars accurately 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 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 moderately 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’ll unscrew, so Vanguard can simply ship out a alternative which 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, moderately than sending the entire instrument again to the manufacturing facility 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 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 Area of View
The view via the VEO HD2 is great: vibrant, 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 nice, although not distinctive for an 8×42 at 7.1 levels (124m/1000m).
On steadiness 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 hues 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 for those who’re utilizing the instrument in isolation.
Chromatic aberration (color fringing) is dealt with effectively, and I by no means observed it when viewing high-contrast topics underneath regular, and even fairly excessive area situations. As with nearly 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 vibrant and clear even in difficult situations, and whereas it unsurprisingly falls in need of one of the best 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 change into crucial.
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 fabric within the field.
Guarantee
Vanguard gives a 2 yr normal guarantee and a ten yr prolonged guarantee whenever 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 attention-grabbing 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 seems like a downgrade the optics, the focusing and all the pieces else concerning the VEO HD2 is great.
Whenever you weigh all of it up, the Vanguard VEO HD2 gives plenty of binocular for the cash. When you’re available in the market for a high-performance mid-range birding and wildlife binocular, it’s actually one I’d suggest including to your shortlist.
Take a look at 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:
| Vanguard Veo HD2 8×42 Specs | ||
| Optics Model | Binocular | |
|---|---|---|
| Magnification | 8x | |
| Goal Lens | 42mm | |
| Glass | HOYA Additional Low Dispersion (ED) Glass | |
| Prism Kind | BaK4 | |
| Lens Coating | Multiguard® 7 | |
| View Angle | 7.1° | |
| Area of View | 124m/1000m | |
| Close to Focus | 2.0m | |
| Physique Materials | Carbon Composite in premium Mitsubishi Rubber Armour | |
| Weight | 710g | |
| Dimensions | 152.5 x 127.5 x 54mm | |
| Waterproof | Sure IPX 7 | |
| Fogproof | Sure | |
| Lockable Dioptre | Sure | |
| Exit Pupil | 5.2mm | |
| Eye Reduction | 19mm | |
| Twilight Issue | 18.3 | |
| Relative Brightness | 27.5 | |
| Eyepiece Diameter | 42.3mm (can use VEO PA-62 for digiscoping) | |
| Guarantee | 2 Years | |
| Prolonged Guarantee | 10 Years | |
| Collection | VEO HD2 | |
| Utility | Birdwatching, Nature & Outside | |
| Color | Inexperienced | |
| Equipment | Binocular carry case, neck strap, eyepiece lens covers, goal lens covers & lens cleansing fabric | |
| Different | 3 stops twist-out eyecups | |
Acknowledgements
I’d wish to thank Vanguard UK for offering the VEO HD2 8×42 for assessment on Eire’s Wildlife.
NB. Eire’s Wildlife has no particular affiliation to any optics or gear producer, and all evaluations on the location are fully impartial and goal. When you’re an optics or gear producer and wish to submit your product for assessment on the location, please drop us a line utilizing the contact type and we will take issues from there.